NLADA 2015 Annual Conference

The 2015 Annual Conference reflected the growing realization that fulfilling the ideal of equal justice requires the participation of a diverse group of advocates and community members. Because the conditions that prevent too many people from enjoying the promise of America – such as limited economic opportunities, over-incarceration, inadequate housing, poor access to health care, and racial discrimination – have long histories and complex causes, they can be improved only through sophisticated, multi-dimensional solutions. Providing access to quality counsel for those who cannot afford it must be at the heart of efforts to advance justice. By learning from colleagues, participants found creative ways to improve the lives of low-income or otherwise marginalized people -- particularly when they defined “colleague” broadly across distinctions such as civil or defender, attorney or community advocate, and beyond the legal community.