Learning Lab

Below is a schedule or our webinar offerings for this series. We are still working on adding more, so check back periodically for updates!

MARCH 19, 3PM EDT

Shannon Lucas, Executive Director, Michigan Advocacy Program

Jennifer Viser, Director of Development and Communications, Michigan Advocacy Program

This session will outline the practice of the Director of Development and the Director of Advocacy collaborating on fundraising goals for the agency. Session would provide a blueprint on how to use advocacy to support funding requests; to identify advocacy that would be right for fundraising; how to handle competing fundraising projects within your agency; and how to build fundraising and advocacy discussions into your strategic plan to avoid mission drift.

APRIL 1, 3PM EDT

Brian Mikelbank, Associate Professor of Urban Studies, Cleveland State University

The idea of using data to measure impact and guide decision making can be intimidating for Legal Aid organizations.  It’s easy to let uncertainty creep in and keep your organization from the potential benefits that working with data can deliver. This webinar has three parts: Why bother with data analysis at all? Second, it will highlight important lessons learned over the last 10 years by sharing examples of different data-based projects, both internally and externally facing. Finally, it’s important to recognize that it’s not always easy! Drawing on these same experiences, the webinar will address a number of critical points in the data analysis timeline that demand extra attention to keep things moving in the direction of progress. 

APRIL 15, 3PM EDT

Larry McDonough, Senior Fellow at the National Housing Law Project

At a time when rents, eviction rates, and homelessness rates are rising, it is critical to know the legal strategies for protecting tenants and helping them stay stably housed. This session will provide an overview of eviction defenses for tenants in federally subsidized housing programs and in the private rental market, with a Q&A for advanced topics; provide an update on new federal developments, such as the 30-day eviction notice under the CARES Act and various federal rules; and introduce attendees to the latest edition of the National Housing Law Project's HUD's Housing Programs: Tenants' Rights, widely known as "The Green Book."

April 9th, Time TBD

Chaz Kohlrieser, Director of Social Work, Rising for Justice

Michanda Myles, Network Project Manager, DC Bar Foundation

Rebecca Gallahue, Director of Legal Support, Legal Aid DC

Laurence Boylan, Supervising Attorney, Maryland Legal Aid

Mental health disorders and housing insecurity have risen in the United States, which opens individuals and families to increased stress and mental and physical health problems. In general, we know that evictions disproportionately affect low-income people of color, and the health consequences of eviction likely widen both racial and socioeconomic disparities in health as well.

How can we leverage the collective force of attorneys, social workers, and social service providers to achieve equity and justice for all at the intersection of the legal system and life? A unique feature of Rising for Justice’s social work program is that it embeds within our legal team such that clients receive both services simultaneously. The social work division partners with clients and their attorneys to assess clients for potential benefits, determine what services in the community may help, and support clients through the stressful process of walking through their legal cases. This structure allows our legal and social work teams to collaborate to achieve the best results for our clients. We know that other organizations are also exploring, building, and pioneering similar structures – all to elevate, empower, and educate communities impacted by the legal system.

This panel will explore how collaborative structures that include social workers, attorneys or social services reinforce the coordination of services between disciplines to promote sustainable success for their clients impacted by the legal system.

April 28, 3PM EST

Denise Smith, NASAMS

Megan Leschak, NASAMS

In times of uncertainty and adversity, the importance of supportive legal advocacy and civil legal advocacy communities cannot be overstated. As we face challenges that threaten the fabric of our society, fostering strong support within our networks becomes essential for both legal professionals and those they serve. These communities not only create a sense of belonging but also empower individuals to understand their rights and access the resources they need. We will discuss how to build these supportive communities and how to sustain ourselves emotionally, mentally, and physically as we press forward in doing this critical work.

Date TBD

Patricia Foxen, Director of Community Engaged Research, NLADA 

Michael Mrozinski, Chief, Community-Focused Initiatives, NLADA

Historically, the definition of quality in public defense representation has been determined by case disposition and, more recently, by public defense leaders, academics, and policy experts. Despite some scholarship urging a more rigorous client-focused approach, the voices of clients and impacted communities have been notably absent from the conversation. This session will delve into the client centered and community-focused research that the National Legal Aid & Defender Association is undertaking to develop community-driven metrics for quality public defense representation. Key topics for this session will include the importance of collecting and integrating qualitative data from diverse clients and communities, lessons learned from a series of focus groups with defenders and community members across New Jersey, and ongoing efforts to distill and implement a set of community-driven quality metrics.