Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s Post

Growing the next generation of immigration lawyers and policy makers!!

EMD has the most informative posts! This story of proactivity is insightful. 💡 #schoolsafety #churchsafety #publicsafety

Teaching future lawyers to be community champions brings me immense joy! 🎓 At Wake Forest University School of Law we empower our students to become more than just legal professionals – we mold them into community lawyers. What does that mean? It means equipping them with the tools to use their legal expertise, research, and advocacy skills to uplift communities. They’re not just defenders of the law; they’re allies in the fight against injustice. From supporting grassroots campaigns to guiding community movements, our students learn to amplify voices, challenge unjust systems, and empower individuals to engage in local governance. Every lesson, every discussion, and every case study is a step towards nurturing compassionate, effective advocates who make a tangible difference in people’s lives. Teaching future lawyers isn’t just about shaping legal minds; it’s about fostering agents of change who are committed to making our communities stronger, fairer, and more resilient. 🌟 #CommunityLawyers #SocialJustice #Empowerment 🏛️

We’re honoring the female employees, past staff members, and board members who have propelled LAWO into the reliable and well-established nonprofit law firm that it is today for #WomensHistoryMonth. Today, we proudly feature retired staff attorney B. Janelle Butler Phifer. Janelle dedicated her entire career to helping underrepresented populations. From her time at the Ohio Attorney General’s office, where she worked on a task force that eventually led to Ohio’s first domestic violence law, to her role as one of the first Black female attorneys to practice law in Toledo, and the first Black woman to hold the position of Executive Director of the Toledo Legal Aid Society, Janelle has been breaking barriers since the 1970s. More recently, Janelle represented clients through LAWO's Outreach Office at the Lucas County Department of Job and Family Services, helping families and individuals with bankruptcy, divorce, public benefits issues, probate matters, housing disputes, and consumer issues. She retired from LAWO in 2023. What was the best part of your job? Civic, community, and client service, advocacy, and engagement. What are you most proud of (in or out of work)? My faith. Motherhood. Individual client advocacy and/or resulting system changes. I was honored to give a voice that resulted in improvement in a client’s livelihood and removal of barriers to client advancement and providing equal justice under the law through service. Representation matters. Do you have any advice for other women that you’d like to share? I recently attended a CLE presented by Kate Ahern, J.D., LL.M. As a result, I gleaned that it is important to establish personal and professional priorities unique to your day-to-day life. Your priorities should not be overly broad; they should be small action steps that lead you away from procrastination, perfectionism, guilt, people pleasing, and feelings of imposter syndrome. Priorities should assist you in remaining focused and knowing your value and worth. Your priorities should be revisited and adjusted periodically. You deserve to be a lawyer without burning out.

Eliza Burton "Lyda" Conley was a remarkable Wyandot woman who paved the way for Native American women in law. After graduating from the Kansas City School of Law, Lyda Conley became the first woman to be admitted to the Kansas Bar Association. Throughout her legal career, she fought tirelessly to protect the Huron Cemetery, now the Wyandot National Burying Ground. In doing so, Lyda Conley became the first Native American woman to argue a case before the United States Supreme Court. This case served as a precedent for the protection of Native American burying grounds. It was the first case in which the plaintiff argued that the burying grounds of Native Americans were entitled to federal protection. Through her advocacy, Conley gained the support of Kansas Senator Charles Curtis, who belonged to the Kaw Nation. Senator Curtis proposed and led the passage of legislation in 1916 which prevented the sale of the Huron Cemetery and established the land as a federal park. The Huron Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, and in 2016, it was designated a National Historic Landmark. Through her unwavering dedication to advocating for tribal sovereignty, protecting tribal lands and legal achievements, Lyda Conley has inspired Native women to pursue legal careers. #LydaConley #NativeAmericanLawyer #TribalSovereignty #NativeAmericanRights #LegalAdvocacy #WomenInLaw #WomensHistoryMonth

Please join us in congratulating Domonique Flowers, Staff Attorney with the the Courtroom Advocacy Project, for having his article published in Volume 54, Issue 1! His article is titled, “Passing the Mantle: The Transformative Initiatives of Harry Cummings, Ashbie Hawkins, and the Next Generation of African American Lawyers in Maryland, to Utilize the Legal System and Advance the Racial Progress of African American Citizens.” Please find the link to read here: https://lnkd.in/eH5nVsfs

🏠 A Historic Milestone for Housing Justice in Pennsylvania! ⚖️I am thrilled to see that Pennsylvania is taking a monumental step forward by offering free legal representation to low-income renters facing eviction or other housing-related issues. For the first time ever, this critical support is available, and it’s a win for fairness and dignity for so many individuals and families across our state.We have long recognized the pressing need for counsel, and it’s inspiring to see this recognition turn into meaningful action. Ensuring legal support for vulnerable renters isn't just about addressing housing instability—it's about protecting basic human rights and paving the way for healthier, more resilient communities.This initiative is a reminder of what can be achieved when we advocate for what’s right and work collaboratively towards justice.#HousingJustice #EvictionPrevention #LegalSupport #Pennsylvania https://lnkd.in/gCFrTUtx

This month’s episode of Let’s Talk Law will focus on two key organizations, Leadership Seminole and Love4Vets, exploring their missions, legal perspectives, and impacts on the community, especially the veteran population. We will explore how leadership, community involvement, and the law come together. https://lnkd.in/eRsCazKE #LetsTalkLaw #CLS #LegalServices #LegalAid

The legal profession is full of black, gray, and navy. I remember I went to a bar association event and ran into a dear friend of mine. When I walked up to him, he said… “In a sea of black, gray, and navy, there’s Allison… in RED!” That epitomizes my life. I’ve always been somewhat of a misfit – a misfit making mischief. That’s how I got thousands of children out of foster care. That’s how I started a law firm with what was considered a “poverty practice“ (i.e., child abuse, and neglect parental representation) and spun it into a multi-million dollar practice in only 3 1/2 half years. That’s how I started a coaching business hanging out on social media and spun it into a multi-million dollar company in under 3 years. That’s how I’ve always lived my life. I don’t fit in. I don’t have to. I don’t want to (anymore). And I have an amazing international coaching business serving those law firm owners who also dare to be themselves, to NOT fit in. If you don’t fit the standard, write your own standard. #businessowner #businessleader #leadership #lawfirmowner #lawfirmmentor #businessoflaw

EMBRACING IDENTITY & JUSTICE 🌟🌈✊ River City, let's celebrate! 🎉 Our new AB 994 law is live, and it's a BIG WIN for respect and identity. Here's the quick, woke scoop: 📸 Mugshots? Only with self-chosen names and pronouns! 🚫 No more posting for non-violent cases, unless there's a big need. 🕒 Photos? Gone in 14 days, unless it's really necessary to keep them. Why? Because everyone deserves to be seen for who they truly are. It's about justice, equality, and smashing the old norms. And guess what? We, the River City Guardians, didn't just support this - we championed it! 🚀 We're all about creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful River City. This law? It's just one step forward in our journey of progress and love. 💙🌈 Stay proud, stay safe, River City! Chief Sharris (they/them)