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Our Second Legal Aid Day in Sacramento was a Great Success!
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When legal aid shows up at the Capitol, policymakers listen. On February 27th, 2019, LAAC convened our 2nd Annual Legal Aid Day in Sacramento at the State Capitol. We coordinated and assembled over 30 attorneys and advocates from organizations across the state - from Sonoma down to San Diego - that provide services for a variety of legal aid issue areas impacting low-income Californians, such as housing, child care, and public benefits.
LAAC staff and volunteers met with nearly 40 legislators or their staffers who participate in caucuses and committees (including Budget and Judiciary) that make critical decisions implicating the work of legal aid organizations. We informed lawmakers about:
- what legal aid does,
- how free legal services to low-income people in their region strengthens the safety net,
- and how California is behind many other states in supporting legal aid through the state budget.
In mobilizing the legal aid community at Legal Aid Day in Sacramento, we were able to ensure that our legislators heard the legal aid community's collective voice!
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Nominate a Colleague or Client for an Award of Merit
We are now accepting applications for 2019 nominees!
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*2017 Award of Merit Winners
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The LAAC
Awards of Merit are the California legal services community's opportunity to recognize the importance of legal services and to honor a few of the many who have made contributions to the field during the past year.
LAAC will present four awards, one from each category below, at the 2019 Pathways to Justice Conference in San Francisco in June. The four awards categories are:
Legal Services Attorney, Non-Attorney staff (Paralegal, Community Worker, other Support Staff), Individual Volunteer or Board Member for a legal services program, and client of a legal services program engaged in advocacy or assistance to the program.
Nomination deadline:
April 5th
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Looking for summer funding for your summer law clerks?
LAAC is now accepting applications for the Dan Bradley Fellowship!
In honor of former LSC President
Dan Bradley
, LAAC offers the
Dan Bradley Fellowship to fund law students who want to spend their summer working at a LAAC member legal aid organization up to $3000 each year. This year we are proud to announce we will be offering two fellowships, in large part because of fundraising efforts we made in 2018 and your generous donations. Thank you!
The Fellowship is awarded to outstanding students who want to pursue a career in public interest law and who want to spend their summer working in a rural area or on a rural issue. The Dan Bradley Fellowship not only gives law students the opportunity to explore a career in legal services, it offers legal services programs a new source of dedicated and energetic summer staff.
Application Deadline: April 5th
Please direct any questions you might have to Harmony King at hking@laaconline.org.
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Advocating for Increases to the Equal Access Fund
LAAC is hard at work to increase the Equal Access Fund again this year.
Assembly Member Mark Stone has officially requested that the legislature
increase the Equal Access Fund by $20 million (on top of the current base of $20 million, for a total of $40 million).
Assembly Budget Subcommittee #5 will hear that request during its hearing on March 25, 2019 at 2:30 p.m. We need your help! The more advocates we have in the room at the hearing, the better. If you are able to attend or if you would like to send a letter of support, email Lorin Kline at [email protected] for more information.
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Legal Services Trust Fund Commission Update:
The State Bar's Stakeholder Working Group process to examine the Legal Services Trust Fund Commission came to a close following the Board of Trustees' votes on all remaining issues last week. The final results were all positive: the LSTFC will remain in existence, it will stay the same size, and its current vacancies will be immediately filled.
LAAC was happy to be able to keep everyone informed and involved during this process. Thank you to everyone that showed up to meetings and provided input - the legal aid community came together with a strong voice, and we were heard. LAAC will remain vigilant moving forward.
LAAC is paying attention, will keep you informed, and will organize any response that is needed.
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Bring "Legal Aid Day in Sacramento" to Your District!
Webinar: Engaging State Legislators at the Local Level
On Thursday, April 11, 2019 at noon, Salena will provide an overview of how to engage your legislator on important legal aid issues right within your own district.
Register now!
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Join us for LAAC's 4th Annual Technology Summit!
LAAC is excited to announce our 2019 Annual Technology Conference:
Client CARE: Collecting Analytics for Readability and Effective Delivery of Services
This year's summit will focus on improving usability of legal aid websites and technology through data analytics and best practices.
The Summit will be held in Los Angeles on Friday, April 19, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
If you are interested in presenting at LAAC's 4th Annual Technology Summit, or have any questions about the Summit, please contact LAAC Program Associate Safia Kartoum at [email protected]
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Save the Date for Pathways to Justice Conference!
Pathways to Justice 2019 will be from Monday, June 3 to Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at the Judicial Council of California Milton Marks Conference Center in San Francisco, CA. More information available at the LAAC in-person trainings, or email [email protected].
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LAAC's
Self-Care Corner
Spring is here! One of the best ways to care for yourself is to get outside and have some fun. Check out an outdoor movie, or participate in the
Holi Color Festival happening throughout the state, or hit the trails and warm up under the sun. Just remember to hydrate and protect your skin. And have fun!
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Last chance for a huge discount on mindfulness for attorneys!
Essential Mindfulness for Lawyers® Beginning Inquiry
is a 6-course program that offers a deep dive into classical mindfulness as it relates to the issues lawyers and other advocates face daily. Offered in a series of short videos, the program includes written materials and over a dozen, downloadable, guided meditations. The corporate price for Beginning Inquiry is $225, but through March 31st, 2019, legal aid attorneys and staff can take the program for just $55, through the LAAC website!
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Check out our FREE upcoming webinars!
If you are interested in putting on a webinar training through LAAC or have any trainings questions, please contact [email protected].
New webinars are in the works - check back on our website, soon!
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