Investment and Opportunity: How Data & Technology Can Advance Your Mission, Enhance Staff Growth, and Support Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

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This panel will make the case that prioritizing technology and data is an investment toward achieving your mission, an opportunity to leverage untapped talent within your organization, and a concrete step toward advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in our professional community. The panel will feature an executive director, a former paralegal and a former office manager who both evolved into in-house technology experts, and an attorney turned technology consultant. The panelists will advocate for adopting a broad lens to assess who can be a great "tech person" and share concrete advice on how to craft new in-house tech and data roles that set everyone up for success. The panel will also share the successes of a volunteer-driven mentorship program which supports the professional development and advancement of legal technologists of color.

Upon completion of the session, participant will be able to describe why investment in technology and data is crucial to advancing the mission of their organization.
Upon completion of the session, participant will be able to reassess & reprioritize their overall need for in-house technology- & data-focused positions.
Upon completion of the session, participant will be able to craft new technology- & data-focused job positions and postings that will encourage diverse, internal candidates to apply.
Upon completion of the session, participant will be able to describe the volunteer LIFT Collaborative Learning Program and how it is supporting the professional development of legal technologists of color.

Mallory Curran, JD

Attorney & Consultant

Mallory Curran Consulting LLC

Mallory Curran is an attorney and consultant who supports institutions that increase access to justice, improve community health, and seek to end poverty. She works with legal and health care non-profits across the country on a broad range of activities involving legal services and medical-legal partnership, with an emphasis on technology. She is a founder of the LIFT Collaborative Learning Program. Prior to becoming a consultant, Mallory was a civil legal services attorney in Cleveland and New York City. Mallory graduated from The Ohio State University and New York University School of Law.

Silvia Argueta, JD

Executive Director

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles

Silvia Argueta has been the Executive Director at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) since 2008. LAFLA is the frontline law firm for low-income individuals in Los Angeles County. LAFLA is committed to promoting access to justice, strengthening communities, fighting discrimination, and effecting systemic change through representation, advocacy, and community education. Silvia leads a 200+ staff non-profit law firm with five offices, four self-help centers, three courthouse domestic violence clinics, and six medical-legal partnerships. She oversees an annual budget of over $40 million and all aspects of strategy, legal advocacy, finance, fund development, and technology. She recently oversaw an $18 million capital campaign and construction of LAFLA’s new headquarters, a cornerstone of justice that brings respect and dignity to both clients and staff. Silvia’s career has been devoted to achieving equal justice using direct representation, civil litigation and policy to effect change. Prior to joining LAFLA in 1999, she was a staff attorney at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund and prior to that at the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California. She attended UCLA and obtained her degrees in Political Science and French in 1985. She received her law degree from UC Hastings College of the Law in 1989.

Melissa Huerta

Database Specialist

Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County

Melissa Huerta began her career at Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) in 2007 as a receptionist. Since then, she has held various roles both in providing direct services as well in program administration, including as an intake specialist, paralegal, and office manager. In 2023, she transitioned to the role of Database Specialist, a position in which she oversees all aspects of the LegalServer case management system for NLSLA. Melissa's extensive knowledge of program operations, legal procedures, and administrative functions has enabled her to excel as an in-house database specialist. With a strong foundation in various aspects of legal aid, Melissa looks forward to continuing her professional growth in the technology space.

Marabi Madrigal, n/a

Director, Case Management Systems

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)

Marabi is a passionate advocate for the rights of unaccompanied children and the immigrant community. With over 12 years of experience in legal aid, she has channeled her direct client service background into developing technology tools, processes, and practices that enhance the quality of services provided by KIND (Kids in Need of Defense) across its global programs. Her commitment to supporting vulnerable populations through robust technology practices within the legal aid community is affirmed by her role as Advisory Council Co-Chair for LIFT, a volunteer-led initiative focused on developing technical skills in legal aid. Marabi will soon receive a Master’s degree in Information Systems Management from the University of Washington and is a graduate of Boston University. She is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with passionate legal aid professionals in a community dedicated to continuous learning and empowerment.