National Legal Aid & Defender Association

Public defenders defend the civil and constitutional rights of everyone — not just those who can afford it. But who supports public defenders? We do. On behalf of our public defender members, we advocate for the elimination of counsel fees at the state level, with recent advocacy work in New Jersey and Virginia. Please consider donating to NLADA this #GivingTuesday to support our advocacy work and ensure everyone has a right to counsel, regardless of their income. Share your gift via Paypal today: https://lnkd.in/eB_tEyD8

According to Legal Services Corporation, more than 76% of low-income veterans have faced civil legal issues, whether it’s housing, healthcare, or debt. On behalf of legal aid providers and public defenders across the U.S., we're honored to serve you because you've served our country. #veteransday #legalaid #publicdefender

#GivingTuesday is less than a month away. Please donate here (https://lnkd.in/eivyPTjT) to ensure we can continue to host events like the Annual Conference which brings together equal justice leaders from across the nation. Together we can advance #equaljustice for all. #LegalAid #PublicDefender

Last week, hundreds of legal aid lawyers, public defenders, and client advocates came together at #NLADA25 in Washington, DC under one goal: promoting and uplifting the work of #equaljustice. We are beyond grateful for all of our speakers, attendees, partners, and sponsors for their presence and support in making this conference a total success! We hope you made new connections, learned from your colleagues, and, most importantly, enjoyed yourselves. We can't wait to see you next year in St. Louis, MO for #NLADA26! #legalaid #publicdefender

Day 2's opening plenary at #NLADA25 spoke truth to power and justice — using lessons learned from the past to build a brighter, more equitable future. We started this morning paying tribute to individuals we lost this year. Most notably, we celebrated the life and legacy of Ms. Rosita Stanley, NLADA's former board vice chairperson and longtime friend of the organization. We later received powerful words from our opening keynote and panel. Media Matters for America President and CEO Angelo Carusone offered critical lessons for advocates pursuing truth and justice for their clients — breaking down how news and social media influence the way we see current events. Our panel, Integrated Advocacy to Advance Opportunity, highlighted the often unseen costs that incarcerated people and their families pay due to being involved with the legal system. Many thanks to the Stanley family, Angelo, and our panel for joining us this morning! Sincere Allah, Sankofa Academy Consulting Marilyn Harp, KANSAS LEGAL SERVICES, INC. Ateeyah Hollie, Southern Center for Human Rights Elissa Johnson, FWD.us #legalaid #publicdefender

"We are not just defenders of justice — we are architects of the future." #NLADA25 began yesterday with a dynamic Meeting of Members, during which NLADA leadership provided updates on the Association’s initiatives and discussed how the justice community continues to adapt to an evolving national landscape. The session featured opening remarks from NLADA Board President Maria Thomas Jones, followed by NLADA Mutual Insurance President and CEO Jo-Ann Wallace, and NLADA President and CEO April Frazier Camara. Later in the meeting, we listened to an in-depth discussion on the criminalization of homelessness and poverty in the United States. As public defenders, legal aid attorneys, and client advocates, we witness every day how people are punished by our justice system simply because they lack resources. We would like to thank our colleagues for sharing their expertise earned through years of working towards #equaljustice. Kirsten Anderson, Southern Poverty Law Center Ramina Davidson, National Low Income Housing Coalition Tiffany Hickey, Disability Rights California Joy Johnson, Legal Aid Justice Center Michael Santos, RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund Eric Tars, National Homelessness Law Center We're excited to learn, celebrate, and share community with you for the next few days! Welcome to #NLADA25! #legalaid #publicdefender

Day 1 of #NLADA25 is currently underway! This morning, members of our staff joined conference attendees to visit Capitol Hill, where they met with staffers to speak about the government shutdown and its effects on everyday working people in our country. Millions of individuals depend on programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, housing support, and more — and a lack of funding for them dramatically increases the need for legal services. Several members of our group received the opportunity to meet with Representative Juan Vargas of California, who warmly invited us to discuss funding for essential services. We would like to thank everybody who advocated for change with us or took time in their day to listen to us! #SNAP #shutdown #JustFundIt #NLADA #equaljustice #publicdefender #legalaid

We're still raising funds to help our colleagues attend #NLADA25! Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County President & CEO Yvonne Mariajimenez highlights the value of attending the annual conference. Will you stand with us in support of #equaljustice? https://lnkd.in/gtHyQPUM