WASHINGTON COUNCIL OF LAWYERS

Black and brown students, particularly with disabilities, are still often more likely than their peers to be suspended or expelled and funneled out of public schools into the juvenile and criminal legal systems. Our panelists discuss how their organizations are promoting systemic reforms to end disparate discipline practices and policies and foster success for students of color. We will also explore what public interest and pro bono lawyers with or without education law experience can do to sever the pipeline. Our discussion will be led by: Kaitlin Banner, Deputy Legal Director, Washington Council of Lawyers for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs Akela Crawford, Director, Legal Services, Advocates for Justice and Education Seema Gajwani, Special Counsel for Juvenile Justice Reform; Founder & Chief, Restorative Justice Program, DC Office of the Attorney General Henry Floyd, General Counsel at the Daniel Initiative and Washington Council of Lawyers Board Vice-President will moderate the conversation. Thank you to the Greater Washington Area Chapter, Women Lawyers Division, National Bar Association (“GWAC”) and the Washington Bar Association for co-sponsoring this program. Spread the word on social media using #RacialJustice.

Hosted by Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs Join the Washington Lawyers' Committee to meet their new Legal Director, Ryan Downer, hear about our work from our clients, co-counsel, and staff, and find out how to get involved in civil rights pro bono opportunities. Panel topics will include: The Fight for Decarceration and Bringing People Home Workers' Rights Victory for Virginia Tech Students Spread the word and join the conversation on social media using #DCPBW23.

Hosted by Alliance for Justice's Building the Bench Initiative As the Biden administration has committed to prioritizing experiential diversity on the bench, we want to ensure the broadest possible pool of attorneys has a comprehensive understanding of the federal nominations process and is as prepared as possible to position themselves as candidates for judgeships. As you know, judges with a background in criminal legal reform are quite underrepresented in our courts, which is why we are organizing this information session for criminal justice-focused attorneys who may be interested in pursuing a federal judgeship. This will be a confidential, off the record conversation to demystify the process, answer questions, and encourage folks to consider a future on the bench. Please join us on Wednesday, October 18 at 3:00 PM EDT over Zoom to hear from speakers Judge Richard F. Boulware, United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, and Judge Jamal Whitehead, United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. Panelists will give their insights on how judges get nominated, including commissions, timelines, and the ABA process, as well as discuss how judicial candidates should work with the White House, Senate (or in some cases House) offices, Department of Justice, and outside organizations. We are excited to cohost this event along with the Washington Bar Association, the DC Bar, and the Hispanic Bar Association of DC. Please reach out to Mike Salamon at mike.salamon@afj.org if you have any questions.

Hosted by the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program In celebration of Pro Bono Week, The Veterans Consortium (TVC) is partnering with local volunteers and DC area law students to hold two, one-day pop-up legal clinics to serve the needs of veterans. Two clinics will be held via a virtual platform and one clinic is in-person. Clinics: Advice & Referral Clinic for Women Veterans Tuesday, October 24 10:00 am - 4:30 pm ET Virtual Clinic Legal Advice & Referral Clinic for All Veterans Tuesday, October 24 10:00 am - 2:30 pm Virtual Clinic Friday, October 27 10:00 am - 2:30 pm ET DC VA Medical Center (50 Irving St NW) Lawyer volunteers - email Chesley Roberts at chesley.roberts@vetsprobono.org. Only female attorneys are allowed to volunteer for the women’s clinic. Student volunteers sign up here - https://www5.apptoto.com/b/fridayvetsclinic/#form. There is only 1 student left for the Tuesday, October 24th clinic. Spread the word on Twitter (X), Instagram, and Facebook using #DCPBW23!

Sponsored by the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center The Small Business Brief Advice Legal Clinic gives business and transactional attorneys the opportunity to donate their expertise to small businesses.  The Small Business Brief Advice Legal Clinics allow current and aspiring small business owners to speak with an attorney about their legal problems or questions that affect their businesses.  Small businesses serve as the cornerstone for economic development in disadvantaged areas, but many cannot afford legal fees for advice that may determine whether they sink or swim. While only brief advice is given, entrepreneurs are able to engage in one-on-one consultations with an attorney.  Matters that arise include business formation, real estate, employment, intellectual property and joint ventures, and partnership agreements. One to two trainings are held each year for interested volunteers, but it is not required to volunteer. New volunteers often shadow veteran volunteers during their first few consultations. For the volunteer manual, click here.

Each year, we recognize outstanding lawyers who make exceptional contributions to the pro bono and public-interest community and celebrate the hundreds of public-interest and pro bono professionals who dedicate time, expertise, finances, and compassion to helping their neighbors. That is why we are pleased to announce our annual Awards Ceremony will now be known as the Justice Impact Awards – a time for us to come together, recharge our collective batteries, celebrate our accomplishments, commiserate on our challenges, and be inspired. It will continue to be our annual pro bono and public interest celebration. At this year’s ceremony, we will recognize the recipients of these awards: Presidents Award for Public Service Nancy Drane D.C. Access to Justice Commission Legal Services Wes Heppler Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless Government Chris Jennison Federal Aviation Administration Law Firm Ted Howard Wiley Rein LLP Corporate Legal Department Pat McGlone Ullico, Inc. Join us for a celebratory evening of delicious food & drink, inspiring community connections, and the chance to celebrate our local pro bono and public-interest advocates who work tirelessly to increase access to justice! VIRTUAL AUCTION! You can also support our mission of ensuring our justice system treats everyone fairly, regardless of money, position, or power through our virtual auction. Bidding is open now and closes at 8:00 pm ET on Thursday, December 7th. Treat your loved ones (or yourself) with fabulous items sure to brighten their day while doing good! We hope you will Bid Early and Often! A big thank you to our 2023 Justice Impact Awards Sponsors! Champion Arnold & Porter Compass Lexecon Kirkland & Ellis Trailblazer Latham & Watkins Defender Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld Covington & Burling DLA Piper Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP Hogan Lovells Sidley Austin Steptoe Foundation TM Financial Forensics Pioneer AlixPartners ArentFox Schiff Cleary Gottlieb Crowell & Moring Dechert You can also honor this year's award recipients by sponsoring the Justice Impact Awards. For more information, please contact our Executive Director, Christina Jackson, at cjackson@wclawyers.org or 202-451-8129. Share the news on social media using #JusticeImpactAwards23!

Moving exhibits into evidence through objections and roadblocks is an art that is learned through practice. Weaving through evidentiary minefields and strategizing in real time to preserve the record and uphold your case can be a fraught feat. Building a working understanding of the process is vital to be able to plan ahead and confidently respond to hurdles both expected and unexpected. Learn how to enter evidence at trial and navigate potential objections you might get or want to make with Litigation Skills Series: Exhibits & Evidentiary Foundations. Through lecture and demonstration, litigation experts will teach the basics of admitting evidence—including business records, charts, photos, ledgers, drawings, letters, emails, social media posts, and other documents. The course will be a hands-on presentation where we will learn and practice the most common evidentiary issues through demonstration and audience participation. This training is appropriate for public-interest, law firm, in-house, and government lawyers, as well as law students who have taken evidence and have trial-practice or mock-trial experience. The Exhibits & Evidentiary Foundations faculty include: Kate Oler, Special Master on the United States Court of Federal Claims Greg Lipper, LeGrand Law PLLC CLE credit for this training is: 2.0 CA general, 2.1 NJ general, and 2.0 NY general. There may be reciprocal in other jurisdictions. Scholarships are available thanks to the generosity of the D.C. Bar Foundation. To apply for a scholarship, please complete this online scholarship form.

SOLD OUT! Waitlist Available. We are excited to again offer our Mediation Skills Training on Tuesday, October 10, from 12:00-3:00 pm. Mediation is an important skill to learn as it can effectively resolve disputes with minimal costs and significant advantages to both parties in a wide variety of types of cases. The training begins with a presentation focused on mediation and negotiation theory. Stephen Altman,  principal of Altman Dispute Resolution Services, is an accomplished negotiator, mediator, and litigator who has resolved multi-million-dollar government-commercial disputes and diverse civil conflicts.  He is a mediator for the DC Superior Court and the US Court of Appeals for DC and teaches courses in negotiation. Stephen has worked with government agencies, commercial enterprises, and non-profit organizations. He will explore tips for effective client preparation, using leverage in negotiations, and identifying the Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement (BATNA). Then, each participant will have the opportunity to participate in two different mock mediation sessions of a typical landlord/tenant case. In one mediation, participants will play the role of the lawyer representing one of the parties, and in the other, they will play the role of the client. The meditations will be conducted by experienced mediators, including from the Multi-door Dispute Resolution Division of the D.C. Superior Court. This is not a CLE training. Seats at this training are limited, so save your spot today!

There are many ways to praise pro bono – from newsletters to annual galas.  Pro bono volunteers may receive praise from their peers and various external partners.  How does this recognition impact the volunteer, their organization, and broader access to justice initiatives?  How can praising pro bono help retain current volunteers and recruit new volunteers?  Join this panel to discuss the relationship between praise and pro bono culture as well as tackle the underlying tensions inherent in centering the volunteer versus those served. We'll hear from: Susie Hoffman, Public Service Partner, Crowell & Moring LLP Victoria N. Lynch-Draper, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager, Wiley Rein LLP Darryl Maxwell, Director, Nonprofit & Small Business Legal Assistance Programs, D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center Cheryl Zalenski, Counsel, Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service and Director, Center for Pro Bono, American Bar Association Our discussion will be moderated by Jen Masi, Pro Bono Director, Children’s Law Center. All who coordinate a pro bono program at a law firm, government agency, in-house legal department, or legal services provider are welcome! Best Practices is free to attend, but registration is required, and donations are encouraged to support our programs! RSVP today and invite a friend or colleague to join you!

Our annual Fall Kickoff is the first event of our new board year. Join us for food, drink, and the chance to build a stronger public-interest community. At this casual happy hour, you can learn about how to get involved in our work, meet our new board members,  and mingle with other members of the pro bono and public-interest community. Don't miss this chance to see old friends and make new public-interest connections, including our new board members!  You also can join one of our standing committees, learn about our trainings and programs, and sign up for upcoming events. Our Fall Kickoff is free, thanks to our hosts Goodwin Procter. We hope you will attend, and invite friends to join you!  Spread the word!  #FallKickoff23

This event is co-sponsored by Amara Legal Center and NVRDC. Join us for a two-part series on navigating the invisible barriers to justice that clients experience when seeking to exercise their legal rights. These introductory discussions will give insight into the client experience when they try to navigate the legal system after experiencing a lifetime of trauma or one extremely traumatic event. Being mindful of centering your client takes practice and can be tricky to navigate. Join us for this candid discussion to see examples and ask questions about assisting clients with trauma and experiencing trafficking in a safe environment with experts from the legal field. Part Two will focus on identifying human trafficking and sex trafficking as underlying issues in any practice area. The goal of this training is to familiarize all legal and paraprofessionals with the signs of trafficking and how to respond when navigating the client relationship and supporting their client holistically. This panel will take place Wednesday, August 16 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. Both sessions are appropriate for new and experienced attorneys, pro bono professionals, law students, and other legal professionals such as paralegals and legal assistants that participate in the intake and fact-collection process of a case. Join our conversation on social media using #LunchLearn.

This event is co-sponsored by Amara Legal Center and NVRDC. Join us for a two-part series on navigating the invisible barriers to justice that clients experience when seeking to exercise their legal rights. These introductory discussions will give insight into the client experience when they try to navigate the legal system after experiencing a lifetime of trauma or one extremely traumatic event. Being mindful of centering your client takes practice and can be tricky to navigate. Join us for this candid discussion to see examples and ask questions about assisting clients with trauma and experiencing trafficking in a safe environment with experts from the legal field. Part One will cover initial contact with a client, whether that be with a paraprofessional, first-time lawyer, or pro bono volunteer. This panel will kick off with a roleplay exercise that illustrates common examples. Our panel will roleplay the scenario and then move into a discussion on identifying and responding to trauma at the point of first contact. This panel will take place Wednesday, July 19 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. Part Two will focus on identifying human trafficking and sex trafficking as an underlying issue in any practice area. The goal of this training is to familiarize all legal and paraprofessionals with the signs of trafficking and how to respond when navigating the client relationship and supporting their client holistically. This panel will take place Wednesday, August 16 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Both sessions are appropriate for new and experienced attorneys, pro bono professionals, law students and other legal professionals such as paralegals and legal assistants that participate in the intake and fact collection process of a case. Join our conversation on social media using #LunchLearn.

DC Pro Bono Week always inspires creative ways to get involved! We hope it's inspired you to discover pro bono opportunities like the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center's Advice & Referral Clinic! Volunteer on Saturday, November 18th to gain experience in serving the D.C. community in a variety of matters! At the clinic, you'll provide brief advice (and referrals) to people who otherwise wouldn't have access to legal help. We meet at Bread for the City's Michelle Obama Southeast Center, at 1700 Good Hope Road SE. Parking is available. New for this clinic, we are also meeting at the D.C. Bar Building, at 901 Fourth St NW. Please arrive at 9:00 am, a brief orientation takes place at 9:15 am, and volunteers are asked to stay until the last client is seen, usually at least 3:00 pm. There's no time commitment beyond the clinic itself. As a volunteer attorney, you'll answer questions about consumer law, family law, housing law, public benefits, bankruptcy, and other topics. You don't need to be an expert in these areas of law: D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center staff and expert mentors will be on hand to help. You do need to be a member of the D.C. Bar, or a federal government attorney barred in another state to participate. The deadline to volunteer is Thursday, November 9th by 5:00 pm ET. Once you register to attend, our Program Director and volunteer coordinator, Chris Marin, will be in touch with additional details.

Take a break! Join other public-interest-minded lawyers, summer associates, summer interns, and law students for a well-deserved opportunity to connect. We will discuss expectations for a successful summer and whatever else is on your mind. The Summer Happy Hour will be held at Penn Quarter Sports Tavern. PQST is located at 639 Indiana Ave NW. Across from the Archives-Navy Memorial Metro Stop (Green & Yellow Lines), or just three blocks from the Gallery Place-Chinatown Station (Green, Yellow, & Red line), or just three blocks from the Federal Triangle Station (Blue, Orange, & Silver lines). Metered parking is available on the surrounding streets.

Our Summer Pro Bono & Public Interest Forum is an annual tradition that brings together lawyers, summer associates, summer interns, and others interested in making pro bono or public-interest work a part of their legal careers and provides an introduction to several different types of public-interest practice. We complete the forum with the final two virtual practice-area panel discussions on Thursday, June 22 from 12:00 – 2:30 pm ET. There will be networking time after the panels. The panel topics include: June 22 – Civil Rights & Civil Liberties – 12:00-1:15 pm ET June 22 – Immigration & Human Rights – 1:15-2:30 pm ET The Summer Forum is open to Washington Council of Lawyers members (join), participants in summer associate and summer intern programs, lawyers in law firms, government and public-interest organizations, law students, and others interested in learning more about incorporating public-interest law into their practice. You can attend from anywhere! A single registration provides access to all four days of Summer Forum sessions. And if you missed any of the previous sessions, you can catch up with the recordings which will be sent to all registered attendees. The cost is just $45 for WCL Members; $55 for Government & Public-Interest Lawyers, Interns, and Individual Law Students; and $75 for Law Firm Lawyers, Summer Associates, Corporate Law Department Lawyers, Law Department Interns, and General Public. Look for updates and join the conversation about the Summer Forum using #SumFo23 on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn!

Our Summer Pro Bono & Public Interest Forum is an annual tradition that brings together lawyers, summer associates, summer interns, and others interested in making pro bono or public-interest work a part of their legal careers and provides an introduction to several different types of public-interest practice. We continue the forum with the next two virtual practice-area panel discussions on Thursday, June 15 from 12:00 – 2:30 pm ET. There will be networking time after the panels. Then, you will have the opportunity to attend the remainder of the virtual panel presentations where you can learn more about pro bono and public-interest work in DC and across the country. Each panel will focus on a different practice area, featuring presentations by national and local experts in that legal specialty. The panel topics include: June 15 – Poverty Law – 12:00-1:15 pm ET June 15 – Criminal Law & Death Penalty – 1:15-2:30 pm ET June 22 – Civil Rights & Civil Liberties – 12:00-1:15 pm ET June 22 – Immigration & Human Rights – 1:15-2:30 pm ET The Summer Forum is open to Washington Council of Lawyers members (join), participants in summer associate and summer intern programs, lawyers in law firms, government and public-interest organizations, law students, and others interested in learning more about incorporating public-interest law into their practice. You can attend from anywhere! A single registration provides access to all four days of Summer Forum sessions. And if you missed any of the previous sessions, you can catch up with the recordings which will be sent to all registered attendees. The cost is just $45 for WCL Members; $55 for Government & Public-Interest Lawyers, Interns, and Individual Law Students; and $75 for Law Firm Lawyers, Summer Associates, Corporate Law Department Lawyers, Law Department Interns, and General Public. Look for updates and join the conversation about the Summer Forum using #SumFo23 on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn!