St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection
1820 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103
Pre-Conferences: November 3rd & 4th | Main Conference: November 4th-7th
NLADA's 2026 Annual Conference is a space for learning, sharing, and strategizing that strengthens access to justice for people and communities with limited financial resources. The conference program this year will engage attendees in sessions that explore ways civil, criminal and community advocacy protects rights, secures benefits, and defends against harms. Sessions will also highlight opportunities for collective impact and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Click Here to View the Conference Schedule!
Click Here for a Preliminary List of Sessions
2026 Registration Rates
Below are the registration rates for this year's Conference.
Please note your conference registration rate may be determined based on your NLADA membership status. If you think your rate reflects the wrong membership status, please email [email protected] to resolve the issues before completing your conference registration. Learn more @ Become an NLADA Member | National Legal Aid & Defender Association.
NLADA Client Member
$295 NLADA Client Members
Community Advocate
$295 Community Advocate Registration Rate
If you are a community or tenant organizer, parent advocate, community justice worker or otherwise work in grassroots advocacy AND ARE NOT employed by a legal services or public defender organization, please fill out this form to request a reduced registration rate. (Note: Attorneys are not eligible for this rate.)
Early Bird Registration (July 13th - September 4th, 2026)
$650 → NLADA Member (Individual)
$850 → Non-Member (Individual)
$550 → NLADA Member Group (4+)
$750 → Non-Member Group (4+)
Regular Registration (September 5th - October 16th, 2026)
$800 → NLADA Member (Individual)
$995 → Non-Member (Individual)
$700 → NLADA Member Group (4+)
$900 → Non-Member Group (4+)
Speaker Registration Rate
$550 Speaker Registration Rate
All Annual Conference Speakers are required to register for the conference at the discounted Speaker Registration Rate. Please wait to register as a speaker until you receive confirmation that your session proposal was accepted.
Local Registration Rate
$550 Local Registration Rate
NLADA is pleased to offer a local registration rate for individuals and programs from Missouri. If you are from Missouri, your registration should automatically appear at the discounted rate. (Please make sure that your profile information is accurate.)
We are also extending this local registration rate to those who work in the St. Louis metropolitan area (IL) and Kansas City metropolitan area (KS). If you work in either of these metropolitan areas, please fill out this form so we can verify your eligibility for this local registration rate.
A $75 late fee will be added to your registration rate for all registrations received after October 16, 2026.
If financial concerns will keep you from attending the 2026 Annual Conference you are invited to apply for financial assistance. A limited number of full and partial waivers are available. Application Deadline: Friday, September 4, 2026.
2026 Pre-Conference Events
MIE New Executive Directors Training
Tuesday November 3rd - Wednesday November 4th, 2026
The MIE New Executive Director Training offers new legal aid program leadership support and guidance in addressing today’s management challenges. With an agenda that touches topics such as the role of the director, leadership, communications, trust, culture change, race equity work, and financial management; participants have the opportunity to engage with peers, hear from experienced leaders, and think intentionally about the many diverse demands on a director’s time and attention. The training also provides space to workshop specific issues pressing for event attendees, learning from colleagues facing similar challenges. Attendees will leave the training with a new array of skills and perspectives, as well as a strong network of new executive directors who will continue to offer support in the future. Deadline to register for this training is Monday, October 12 2026.
Click Here for more information and to register!
Train the Trainer: Building Learning Leaders Across the Equal Justice Community
Tuesday, November 3 - Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Don't just learn about training. Build one! This highly interactive, two-day institute is designed for trainers, facilitators, supervisors, and learning leaders across public defense, civil legal aid, and the broader equal justice community. Bring a real training project you're developing and use it as your working project throughout the institute.
Click Here for more information and to register!
Client Leadership Pre-Conference
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Join fellow client leaders and community advocates for a day of learning, connection, and shared reflection focused on sustaining yourself while sustaining the movement for justice. This year's Client Leadership Training will explore wellness, resilience, and sustainable advocacy practices, offering participants practical strategies, opportunities for peer learning, and space to strengthen the relationships that power lasting change. Whether you're an experienced advocate or stepping into a leadership role, you'll leave with new ideas, meaningful connections, and renewed energy for the work ahead. (This program is reserved for individuals with lived-experience in the criminal justice or civil legal aid space)
Fill out this application if you are interested in participating
Community Justice Workers in Action: Expanding Help Where People Already Turn
Wednesday, November 4th, 2026
Join Frontline Justice for a full-day pre-conference convening that brings together community justice workers, legal aid professionals, community-based organizations, and trusted navigators for shared learning, collaboration, and practical strategies to expand access to justice where people already turn for help.
Click Here for more information and to register!
| Access Date | Quiz Result | Score | Actions |
|---|
Book Your Stay
Paying By Check?
If you are paying by check, please fill out this Pay-by-Check Form and email it to [email protected] to complete your registration.
Are You Speaking at Annual Conference?
View our Speaker Resource Page so important tasks and deadlines
Group Registration Changes
Group registration discounts apply to the participants included at the time of the initial registration. Any additions to a group registration after it has been submitted will incur a $75 administrative fee.
Cancellation Policy
You will receive a full refund if cancelled within 2 weeks of purchase. After 2 weeks, you may request a credit, minus a $75 administrative fee, or you may transfer your registration to another individual at your organization. Credit may be used for a future NLADA conference through 2027. By submitting payment, you are agreeing to these terms.
Media Policy
By registering for the NLADA Annual Conference, you consent to being photographed, recorded, and/or otherwise captured during conference activities. You grant NLADA permission to use, reproduce, and distribute these images and recordings for educational, promotional, marketing, and archival purposes, and acknowledge that all conference media is the property of NLADA. If you do not wish to be photographed or recorded, please notify NLADA staff upon arrival.