2017 NLADA Annual Conference

As lawyers on the front lines, we bear witness to widespread injustices affecting our clients, many of which are not as visible to the broader public. This panel discussion will address the vital role, and significant potential of, using impact litigation to reverse these systemic issues and how to do so effectively from within a public defender or civil legal services office. The panelists will provide an overview of impact litigation models and how those models can benefit from and serve advocates and offices whose primary focus is direct representation. The workshop will address creating and developing internal capacity to pursue impact litigation, effective internal collaborations, and how to partner with external organizations and law firms when internal capacity is unavailable. Panelists will discuss best practices from two vantage points – advocates within legal aid and defender organizations and advocates at external partners with whom we may seek to collaborate.