National Legal Aid and Defender Association

Public defenders fight for justice, and we fight for them. We advocate for the elimination of counsel fees at the state level, with recent work in NJ & VA. Please donate to NLADA this #GivingTuesday to support our work ensuring everyone has a right to counsel, regardless of income. bit.ly/49qvjhP

Job Loss Is The Domino That Pushes People Into Homelessness New research shows homelessness often begins with a single lost paycheck revealing how low-wage workers bear the brunt of a failing safety net.

"Homelessness is not caused by personal failure — it is what happens when work no longer protects people from poverty." see how a single lost paycheck can trigger rapid downward spirals for people surviving on razor-thin margins:" https://ow.ly/L2Ek50Xxi3v

Mutual of America Financial Group will match all donations up to $20,000 until the end of the year! Your donation will help us coordinate our members to meet with lawmakers and fight for critical funding for civil legal aid and public defense.

Donate today to support #A2J: bit.ly/49qvjhP

We are there for legal aid providers like Maureen from Philadelphia Legal Assistance when they have compliance questions about their LSC funding. Please consider donating to NLADA this #GivingTuesday so we can help our members focus on what matters — their clients.

Donate: bit.ly/49qvjhP

We're bringing next year's Appellate Defender Training to Jackson, MS! Join us for four days of comprehensive training designed to guide you through the full spectrum of appellate practice — from brainstorming to brief writing and oral advocacy.

Sign up: learninglab.nlada.org/ADTMS26

Drastically fewer KC tenants are being evicted from their homes. What’s changed Right to Counsel, which launched in 2022, has drastically cut the number of evictions in Kansas City through free legal representation, according to a report. Here’s how it works.

Despite Kansas City landlords filing for the highest amount of evictions in recent history, the number of tenants being kicked out has dropped by 21%, thanks to local organizations providing free tenant legal representation. Read how Right to Counsel has secured almost 50% in tenant victories:

This event is taking place tomorrow at 3 p.m. Eastern Time! Join our members for our monthly community discussion on changes to federal funding; implications for state and local funding; private philanthropy opportunities; coalition building and other supports for access to justice efforts.

It's hard to believe I've been at @nlada.bsky.social for eight years and counting! I'm proud of the work that we do to support legal aid and public defense across the country, and I hope you'll join our efforts by donating to NLADA this #GivingTuesday.

Public defenders defend the civil and constitutional rights of everyone — not just those who can afford it. But who supports public defenders? We do.

Please consider donating to NLADA this #GivingTuesday to support NLADA’s advocacy work and ensure everyone has a right to counsel: bit.ly/49qvjhP

Square graphic featuring a shopping basket in a grocery store. Quote from the National Alliance to End Homelessness reads: “Last year roughly 771,480 people experienced homelessness on a single night, the highest on record since HUD began this count. Rising costs create an impossible choice between paying for housing and other necessities like healthcare, groceries, or clothing.” Additional text reads: “Our neighbors deserve better than an impossible choice.” Banner on bottom reads “Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week” and shows the logo of the National Housing Law Project.

It’s Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, and Trump’s SNAP lapses are forcing even more families to decide: pay the rent, or put food on the table. As winter approaches we’re continuing the fight to keep poor and working families across our country fed, housed, and healthy.

a woman is talking on a cell phone and says `` i have a job opportunity '' ALT: a woman is talking on a cell phone and says `` i have a job opportunity ''

The @voice4humanneed.bsky.social is seeking its next Executive Director — a strategic and values-driven leader committed to strengthening the fight for economic and racial justice.

If you're ready to guide CHN’s next chapter, learn more and apply: www.chn.org/voices/coali...

Report shows Wisconsin among worse states for legal access A recent report found that low-income Americans in rural areas received insufficient legal assistance for 94% of their civil legal issues. Released Oct. 27 by the Legal Services Corporation, a major funder of civil legal aid, the report referenced 2022 Justice Gap data. The report discussed barriers...

A recent report shows that rural-heavy states like Wisconsin struggle to provide low-cost legal services due to attorney shortages and a lack of community trust. Frontline Justice is working to help meet the demand, using their community justice worker model to rebuild trust and provide quick help.

The panelists pose for a photo. Mary Welch, Northwest Justice Project; Marilyn Lovo, Ayuda; Chi-Ser Tran, Community Legal Services; Jailine Aparicio, Maryland Legal Aid

Last month at the NLADA Conference, Supervising Attorney in the SSI Unit and Language Access Project Chi-Ser Tran presented on a panel called “Walking the Talk: Advancing Language Justice in Legal Services Organizations – Ethical Imperatives in a Changing Landscape.”

Recent funding challenges for #A2J initiatives have left many wondering what their next step will be. Join us next Friday at 3 pm ET for a community discussion on how these challenges affect our work, along with strategies to find more funding and general support.

Register here: bit.ly/4i0cBQp

Dismantling Housing Protections: The Trump Administration & HUD | How Things Work: The Legal Edition Join attorney Robert Hunter of Relman Colfax (Washington, D.C.) for a compelling discussion with Gary Rhoades (ABA’s Human Rights Magazine) on the Trump Admi...

NEW RESOURCE: @americanbar.org Editorial Board Member Gary Rhoades met with Relman Colfax Attorney Robert Hunter to discuss recent efforts to dismantle key programs within HUD and undercut their fair housing mission.

Watch the full video on YouTube:

Food Stamps May Face Lasting Damage From Trump’s Halt to Funds in Shutdown For the poorest Americans, the end of the longest shutdown in history has left doubt and anxiety around the benefits known as SNAP.

After 43 days, the federal government shutdown is officially over — allowing 42 million families to receive critical SNAP benefits. However, families and experts are concerned that this crucial safety net will be harmed in the future if the government deems it necessary. @nytimes.com reports:

According to @legalservicescorp.bsky.social, more than 76% of low-income veterans have faced civil legal issues, whether it be housing, healthcare, or debt. On behalf of legal aid providers and public defenders across the U.S., we're honored to serve you because you've served for this country.

Next year, we're bringing our annual Appellate Defender Training to Jackson, MS! Join us for four days of comprehensive training designed to guide you through the full spectrum of appellate practice — from brainstorming to brief writing and oral advocacy.

Register: learninglab.nlada.org/ADTMS26

Judge orders Trump administration to deliver full SNAP benefits to states by Friday The administration had said it would distribute partial payments in November, but that the process could take weeks. The Justice Department said it intends to appeal Thursday's order.

Judge orders Trump administration to deliver full SNAP benefits to states by Friday (via @nbcnews.com)

#GivingTuesday is less than a month away. Please donate here (https://tinyurl.pulse.ly/fwtcrfkqz6) to ensure we can continue to host events like the Annual Conference which brings together equal justice leaders from across the nation. Together we can advance #equaljustice for all.

We are officially in the longest federal government shutdown in American history, and now, communities are struggling even more to make ends meet. Join @voice4humanneed.bsky.social on November 6 as they explain recent developments in SNAP, rising health care premiums, and more.

🔗 bit.ly/3JDNRke

Ron Flagg, President @legalservicescorp.bsky.social, shared video remarks with LASP staff at our Sept. 2025 retreat.

"... It's about keeping families in their homes, helping survivors of abuse, supporting veterans & giving everyday Americans a fair chance in a complex system. ..."

#LegalAidMatters

Delayed SNAP benefits worsen West Virginia’s child hunger problem, communities rally to feed kids • West Virginia Watch Child hunger is a problem in West Virginia: roughly one in five kids don’t have enough food. Nearly every county offers free school meals.

Delayed SNAP benefits worsen West Virginia’s child hunger problem, communities rally to feed kids (via @westvirginiawatch.com)

How one legal team is building support for people with cognitive disabilities The Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office has an unusual unit at its office: A team dedicated to working with defendants who have cognitive disabilities. The office helps these people access treatment.

How one legal team is building support for people with cognitive disabilities (via @npr.org)

Congratulations to Miriam Harmatz on receiving the @nlada.bsky.social 2025 Reginald Heber Smith Award! Miriam is Founder & Of Counsel @flhealthjustice.bsky.social.

She co-counseled Medicaid cases with LASP Executive Director Shawn Boeheringer. They're alumni @AppalReD & LS Greater Miami.

#NLADA25

We hope you made new connections, learned from your colleagues, and, most importantly, enjoyed yourselves. We can't wait to see you next year in St. Louis, MO for #NLADA26!

#LegalAid #PublicDefense #JusticeForAll

Last week, hundreds of legal aid lawyers, public defenders, and client advocates came together in DC for one goal: promoting #equaljustice. We are so grateful for all our speakers, attendees, partners, and sponsors for their presence and support in making #NLADA25 a success!

Thank you for joining us at #NLADA25!

From left: Debby Freedman, Executive Director of Community Legal Services of Philadelphia; Lori Molloy, Executive Director of North Penn Legal Services (NPLS); Meredith Rapkin, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc.; and Shawn Boeheringer, Executive Director of Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (LASP).

Shawn Boehringer; Carolyn Johnson, LASP Chief Counsel; Laurel Anderson, LASP Community Engagement Unit Supervising Attorney; and Richard A.J. Prebil, LASP Veterans Advocacy Project Supervising Attorney.

Kesha James, Executive Director of the Management Information Exchange (MIE), with Shawn Boehringer. Kesha is also a member of LASP's Board of Directors and a LASP alumna.

Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. staff and alum.

NLADA conference Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2025 has focused on emerging issues in civil legal aid, public defense & public interest law, & on strengthening strategies to meet legal needs of low-income individuals & families.

#NLADA25

@nlada.bsky.social @clsphila.bsky.social @palegalaidnetwork.bsky.social

And thank you for coming to #NLADA25!