National Legal Aid and Defender Association

🚨 Make your voice heard! Millions risk losing health care and vital services if Congress doesn’t act. @voice4humanneed.bsky.social's petition urges leaders to protect ACA coverage and stop harmful funding cuts to healthcare.

✉️ Send a letter to Congress today: https://bit.pulse.ly/nj6ler8pzm

The federal government is shut down. Here's what that means across the country The federal government is currently shut down. NPR's network is following the ways the government shutdown is affecting services across the country.

The federal government is shut down. Here's what that means across the country (via @npr.org)

We have just a few days until registration for Annual Conference closes! Secure your spot by Sunday, October 12 to learn from top legal professionals across the country and stand united in support of #equaljustice for all. Tickets can be purchased here: https://nlada.pulse.ly/ie2vjcijms

This Miami nonprofit’s helped thousands avoid eviction. It’s facing steep cuts Legal Services of Miami provides free legal aid to low-income residents. But federal cuts could spell trouble.

This Miami nonprofit’s helped thousands avoid eviction. It’s facing steep cuts (via @miamiherald.com)

Graphic with light blue background and two cartoon people in foreground. One holds a sign that says “We Matter” and another holds a bullhorn up. A big yellow comment bubble in the middle reads: Share your story! nhlp.org/story

No matter our race, place, or party, we all deserve a safe & stable place to call home. But Trump shutdown our government & wants to give control over our homes to corporations & big banks. How can we stop them? By sharing our stories.

Communities rely on public defenders and legal aid to ensure that their needs are met across the board. Visit nlada.org/justfundit to learn how you can make your voice heard and demand that Congress supports the needs of families and neighborhoods in need of support.

Basic needs such as #WIC, #publichousing, #healthcare and more will be affected over the coming days, as furloughs threaten the government's ability to function at the full capacity that families and neighborhoods require on a day-to-day basis.

Three days into a federal #governmentshutdown, communities are concerned how delays in operations will affect their access to basic needs. As part of our #JustFundIt campaign, NLADA is highlighting which sectors of the government we're keeping an eye on as Congress works toward a budgeting solution.

No County Left Behind: How Legal Aid of North Carolina is Making Justice Accessible The average hourly rate for a private attorney is around $300 - a price that many North Carolina families cannot afford. This steep price tag on legal services creates a justice gap where income becomes a determining factor in representation. Legal Aid of North Carolina is fighting to close that gap...

No County Left Behind: How Legal Aid of North Carolina is Making Justice Accessible (via WRAL-TV)
https://wral.pulse.ly/g2qjnlrnvt

"While Illinois is home to over 70 civil legal aid organizations, the need for free civil legal aid far outpaces available services."

New program looks to address lawyer shortage in Illinois (via
The State-Journal Register)

Graphic titled "HUD and USDA tenants' rights during the government shutdown" that explains what happens during a government shutdown, urges tenants to find legal help so they can know their rights, and notes that most tenants in HUD and USDA housing should not experience a disruption in their housing at this time because of the shutdown. There is a disclaimer at the bottom that notes this is not legal advice and if the shutdown lasts past November, tenants' rights will change and they should seek legal help.

Are you a HUD or USDA tenant? Know your rights during the government shutdown!
🏢Continue paying your portion of the rent
☎️Contact an attorney ASAP if your landlord tries to hike your rent or evict you during the shutdown
🔍Check out nhlp.org/govshutdown for more detailed info on your housing rights

Read #NLIHC President and CEO Renee M. Willis Statement on the Harmful Impact of a Federal Government Shutdown on the Low Income Housing Community: nlihc.org/news/nlihc-p...

We told ya'll Taylor wasn't the only one with BIG news to share❤️‍🔥
✨Introducing Justice on Tap!✨A podcast series serving knowledge, advocacy & action on the pretrial system. When it comes to justice, we don’t wait… we keep it ON TAP ⚖️🍸
#justiceontap #pretrialreform #taylorswift #thelifeofashowgirl

Join us in four weeks in DC for #NLADA25! We're thrilled to welcome reps from Sankofa Academy Consulting, @thesoutherncenter.bsky.social, @fwd.us & Kansas Legal Services for our Opening Plenary! Register by Oct 12 to connect with public interest advocates nationwide.

🔗 learninglab.nlada.org/ac25

Public Defender Judges Diversifying the bench

"Over the last 25 years, Los Angeles County has elected just two people from the public defender's office to a Superior Court judge seat. But there’s a growing push toward getting more people with defense backgrounds on the bench." (via @laist.com)

For millions, legal help remains out of reach. At NLADA, we work to bridge that gap by supporting public defenders, legal aid providers, and advocates who fight for fair representation. Join us in making justice accessible to all! Learn more at https://nlada.pulse.ly/wsrv5mknsn

FactFinder: Attorney shortage in Kansas impacting access to justice in rural counties Nearly 80 percent of all active lawyers in Kansas live in just five counties.

FactFinder: Attorney shortage in Kansas impacting access to justice in rural counties (via @kwch.com)

Millions Could Lose Housing Aid Under Trump Plan Drafts of unpublished rules obtained by ProPublica detail plans that would open the door to full-time work requirements, two-year limits on living in federally supported housing and stripping aid from...

Some 4M people could lose housing aid under new Trump administration rules. As CBPP's Will Fischer warns, “It’s going to cause people to become homeless, kids to be pulled out of their schools, people to lose their jobs.” #GreatRead via @propublica.org: www.propublica.org/article/trum...

Guidelines for Session Proposals Readers will view information and guidelines for submitting a proposed session for the Equal Justice conference.

📝 Submit your proposals to next year's Equal Justice Conference, hosted by NLADA and ABA's Center for Pro Bono, by October 8! We're accepting proposals for all 7 tracks, including Fundraising, Expertise Building, Diversity, and more.

To learn more, visit ABA's website: bit.ly/4mifexm

Pennsylvania now has a legal hotline for grandparents raising grandchildren The statewide free legal line, staffed by attorneys at the SeniorLAW Center, will provide advice and resources to help families navigate the court system.

Pennsylvania launches free statewide legal support program for grandparents raising grandchildren (via @whyy.org)
https://whyy.pulse.ly/wnlwxdzxea

Homelessness is dropping in California counties. But funding cuts could derail that progress Experts worry liberal California will be blacklisted from federal homelessness dollars, effectively counteracting recent progress.

Homelessness is dropping in California counties. But funding cuts could derail that progress (via @calmatters.org)

California sees portion of $84 million in VA grants to aid homeless veterans In California, an estimated 9,310 veterans experienced homelessness last year. Here's what the grants will support.

California sees portion of $84 million in VA grants to aid homeless veterans (via )

Photo of Kutak-Dodds Award recipient Natalie Epps on stage alongside NLADA President & CEO April Frazier Camara and staff from the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia at the 2025 NLADA Exemplar Awards Gala

Photo of attendees socializing at the 2025 NLADA Exemplar Awards Gala

Photo of some of the paintings and sketches displayed on easels as part of the social justice art auction at the 2025 NLADA Exemplar Awards Gala

Thank you to everyone who attended the @nlada.bsky.social Exemplar Awards Gala, donated to NLADA, and/or bid in the social justice art auction last night! Truly inspiring to hear awardees Natalie Epps, Michael Figgins, and Ben Weinberg discuss their paths to distinction in equal justice work.

If you haven’t already, we are still raising funds to support our mission-critical work. Please consider making a personal donation as we defend legal services for all: one.bidpal.net/nlada2025art...

At yesterday’s Exemplar Awards Gala, leading legal minds united in support of a shared mission: advancing equal justice and ensuring opportunity under the law. We are so grateful to everyone who came and celebrated with us for a great cause!

Make no mistake: Capito Care makes life-changing cuts to Medicaid • West Virginia Watch West Virginians for Affordable Health Care has launched a 55 county tour to shine a light on the largest cuts to Medicaid in history.

Make no mistake: Capito Care makes life-changing cuts to Medicaid (via @westvirginiawatch.com)

We appreciate any and everybody doing the work! Thank you for sharing!

NLADA is honored to celebrate THIRTY firms for their pro bono work over the past year. From supporting survivors of domestic violence to providing legal assistance to veterans, #probono lawyers fill in gaps where nobody else can.

Get a list of this year's honorees: www.nlada.org/honor-30-fir...

This year's Exemplar Award winner, Ben Weinberg of Dentons, embodies the importance of #equaljustice for all under the law. We are so grateful to celebrate him this year at our Gala!

Learn more about Ben's work with Legal Aid Chicago and Dentons here www.nlada.org/gala2025

Our first group of award winners has just hit the stage! Congratulations to Natalie Epps of the Public Defender Service of DC and Michael Figgins of the Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma for winning this year's Kutak-Dodds Award!

Learn more about this year's honorees: www.nlada.org/gala2025