The National Legal Aid and Defender Association will be hosting concurrently its Substantive Law and Litigation and Advocacy Directors Conferences on July 21-24, 2010 in Chicago. These two distinct conferences have been brought together in order to facilitate dialogue between advocates and foster the exchange of information and knowledge as it relates to the work of civil legal aid.

These events are being developed by NLADA in partnership with a large number of the leading poverty law experts currently practicing in the United States. The conference design teams have been acutely aware in designing these events of the compelling need of the legal aid advocacy community to come together to strategize and learn together during a time of ever-deepening financial and economic unrest that has had a brutal impact upon low-income communities in every section of the country.

2010 Substantive Law Conference

The Substantive Law Conference is for advocates from across the country seeking training on the substantive law fundamentals essential to quality representation of low-income people and communities.

The conference is designed for less experienced practitioners and practitioners seeking a refresher on the fundamentals including relatively new advocates (those with approximately five or fewer years of experience), those changing specialties and generalists. Participants with greater levels of experience in their current practice areas, however, have also found the Substantive Law Conference an engaging, informative and valuable learning experience.

Participants will gain vital information, sharpen their skills and exchange ideas with colleagues from across the country. Visit the Substantive Law Conference website for more information.

2010 Litigation and Advocacy Directors Conference

The Litigation and Advocacy Directors Conference is a gathering of experienced advocacy directors, senior litigators, policy analysts and cutting-edge managing attorneys - the next generation of litigation and advocacy directors - provides a not-to-be-missed opportunity to 1) learn and share cutting-edge advocacy strategies, (2) explore major trends affecting low income people, and (3) discuss effective planning and management of litigation and advocacy.

Please visit the Litigation Directors conference web page for details about this conference.

The two keynote speakers, Tom Perez, President Obama’s Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, and Peter Edelman, long-time passionate champion of the legal aid and low-income communities, will provide attendees with an important national perspective to many of the issues they struggle with on a day-to-day basis.

NLADA has decided to extend the registration deadline for both of these conferences for those who register online using a credit card to June 25. Those registering by check need to stick with the current deadline of June 18. NLADA has set up on their website a method for room-sharing at the conference hotel that should make the event a very affordable learning opportunity for you and your staff.

Contact Hillary Evans (h.evans@nlada.org or 202-452-0620 ext. 219) with your questions about the Substantive Law or Litigation and Advocacy Directors Conferences.

Substantive Law Online Registration
Substantive Law - Download Registration Form

Litigation Directors Online Registration
Litigation Directors - Download Registration Form