Following the success of our last two virtual cost conferences, we launched new training courses to maximize the cost of legal aid for legal aid lawyers. Dozens of Chicago-area legal aid lawyers are participating in a prestigious NITA (National Institute of Trial Advocacy) training this week, thanks to an inventive partnership between NITA, the Chicago Bar Foundation and the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. To be eligible for this type of training, your organization must meet the following criteria for public interest programs: To accomplish our mission, we dedicate resources to programs aimed at improving the skills of those who represent underserved communities. To demonstrate this commitment, our Board of Directors allocates a percentage of the reserves dedicated to our public service each year, as well as donations and grants. While many public service organizations turn to NITA to coordinate the training of their lawyers, our resources for the public service and volunteer faculty resources are limited. We do our best to accommodate organizations that apply and meet our public service criteria by also expanding low-cost programs. Our clinics offer a great way to donate your time and expertise through a limited approach by providing essential legal advice to clients who become professionals. To attend an in-person training session, check out our training calendar and sort by desired training opportunity. The training has two components.
On Monday, sixteen experienced legal aid lawyers completed a two-day teacher training program during which they learned NITA methodology in order to become NITA certified instructors. These lawyers, along with experienced NITA instructors, then taught during a three-day advocacy skills program where forty legal aid lawyers have the opportunity to enhance their work as litigation lawyers. Thanks to Skadden, these programs take place in state-of-the-art facilities. The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network is hosting free continuing legal education for Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) beneficiaries on May 24-25, 2022. The event is open to all VOCA beneficiaries who help provide legal services to victims of crime. All applications must be submitted by April 22, 2022. Acceptance is limited to programs where a private lawyer agrees to attend the training with the Executive Director or Development Director responsible for fundraising. The conference has been pre-recorded and will be available for two days. The sessions will focus on how to save time and money, perfect packages for MSAC to assess, reject and process legal aid cases. The Texas Access to Justice Commission, in partnership with the American College of Trial Lawyers and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, organizes an annual training academy for lawyers working in legal aid firms or other nonprofit legal aid organizations. The Pre-Trial Academy is held in odd-numbered years and the Trial Academy in even-numbered years.
NITA is the leading provider of practice-based training for the legal profession and is widely used by many of the country`s largest companies, including Skadden, to train its employees in qualified and ethical legal defense. However, due to financial constraints, this type of training – which typically costs more than $2,500 per person for lawyers in private practice – would be out of reach for most lawyers working in voluntary and legal aid organizations. This rigorous NITA training is incredibly valuable to lawyers, their programs, and the clients they serve,” said Margaret Benson, Executive Director of Chicago Volunteer Legal Services. Courts also benefit when legal aid lawyers are able to use high-quality programs like NITA, she added. Skadden`s state-of-the-art facilities have taken the program to a whole new level, and their generous sponsorship demonstrates significant support for the legal aid community. The Chicago Bar Foundation (CBF) brings together Chicago`s legal community to improve access to justice for those in need and make the legal system fairer and more efficient for all. As a nonprofit arm of the Chicago Bar Association, CBF`s work is made possible by the generous contributions of thousands of dedicated individuals, more than 200 law firms and corporations, and many other dedicated partners. With this strong support, the CBF awarded more than $4.6 million in grants in 2013 and continues to play a leadership role in several innovative access to justice initiatives. For more information about CBF, contact Bob Glaves at 312-554-1205 or bglaves@chicagobar.org. Technological trainingTechnological advances enable more efficient service delivery and better service to underserved areas and individuals. To ensure that the legal aid community can make the best use of technology to advocate on behalf of its clients, the Board trains mutual legal aid staff on the latest software and tools. To learn more about our technology training for legal aid agencies, visit our Technology page.
The Trial Academy will be an intensive four-day training course presented by the ACTL faculty and will benefit lawyers working in any area of law. The training, which takes place at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law, includes live demonstrations of the skills of experienced litigators who have distinguished themselves as some of the best litigators in the country. After the daily demonstration, Academy participants will have the opportunity to practice their skills and receive personalized professional reviews to develop and refine experimental techniques. Topics include voir dire, opening statement, direct cross-examination, and cross-examination and closing arguments. The Legal Aid Agency provides civil and criminal legal aid and advice in England and Wales. Our work is essential to the fair, effective and efficient functioning of civil and criminal justice. We are a provider organization that orders and negotiates legal aid with providers (lawyers, lawyers and the not-for-profit sector). Legal aid organizations operate with very small budgets to provide services to low-income Texans. Too often, these limited budgets do not allow legal aid lawyers to receive the training they need to best advocate for their clients. The Commission supports training opportunities for legal aid organisations to help their lawyers keep their legal and technological skills up to date.
Although the American College of Trial Lawyers volunteers its time to help train legal aid lawyers, it costs about $600 per participant to cover expenses such as accommodation and travel for the Trial and Pre-Trial Academy. To sponsor legal aid litigation training, please contact ATJmail@TexasATJ.org or 512.427.1855 / 800.204.2222 ext. 1855. Send your questions and suggestions: volunteers@atlantalegalaid.org. Our pro bono resources are a great way to connect to related sites with additional volunteer resources such as self-help forms, standard advocacy, and more. Guides and checklists are practical and flexible tools that allow lawyers to receive advice on how to handle new or unknown cases. Our volunteer resource library includes a number of sample forms, briefs, recorded training, and sample guides. To attend an in-person training session, check out our training calendar and sort by desired training opportunity.