1. Community Lawyering Lambreni Waddell, Neighborhood Legal Services
of Los Angeles County
Zoe Cronin, Greater Boston Legal Services

2. Community Lawyering How do we define it? How do we start?
How do we evaluate our effectiveness?
How do we fundraise to support it?

3. DEFINE

4. DEFINITION
In Community Lawyering, legal advocates support community groups and their members to
build power
develop leadership
change systems (laws, administrative practices, economic conditions, or social mores)
further a social movement

5. Community Organizing Community Lawyering Purpose-
Community builds power to advance their own interests
Lawyer increases the capacity of community to advance its interests
Role of the organizer-
Identify & develop community leaders, define the issue, develop an organizing strategy, etc.
Role of the lawyer-
Act as legal consultant, provide legal defense for members, advise on legal implications of a strategy, open doors so community members lead
Tools-
Public demonstrations, political engagement, media advocacy
Legal advocacy, legal education, technical assistance in drafting legislation.

6. DEFINE
Review the LSC regulations so that you are clear about what is prohibited and what is permitted.
§ Prohibited legislative & administrative activities.
§1612.4   Grassroots lobbying.
§ Public demonstrations and activities.
§ Training.
§1612.9   Organizing.
Need additional guidance?
LSC Program Letter 13-5

7. DEFINE Organizing: What is prohibited?
The restrictions prohibit the use of LSC funds or private funding “to initiate the formation, or to act as an organizer, of any association, federation, labor union, coalition, network, alliance, or any similar entity.”
45 C.F.R. § (a).
Organizing that would include activity that violates the prohibitions on grassroots lobbying, attempts to influence, or training is not permitted regardless of the funding source.
LSC Program Letter 13-5

8. DEFINE Organizing: What is permitted?
Organizing supported with non-LSC, non-private funds is permitted, so long as the organizing does not violate other restrictions.
Restriction against organizing does not apply to
informational meetings attended by persons engaged in the delivery of legal services at which information about new developments in the law and pending cases or matters are discussed;
organizations composed exclusively of eligible clients formed for the purpose of advising a legal services program about the delivery of legal services; or
legal advice or assistance by recipients to eligible clients who desire to plan, establish or operate organizations. 45 C.F.R. § (b).
LSC Program Letter 13-5

9. START

10. Why do it? Creates long-lasting bonds and community Do great things
More efficient
Support system
Builds leadership for everyone involved
Changes law and lives

11. START
Create the culture
Engagement
Relationships
Curiosity
Creativity

12. START Choose Your legal advocate wisely
Connection to community or issue
Heart for community- based work
Takes initiative
Thinks big-picture
Approachable

13. START Choose your community partner wisely Trusted & respected
Alignment of goals
Capacity to deliver
Clear process for decision making
Relational

14. START Choose your model
What will be the relationship between the community lawyer and the community partner?
What legal tools does the community partner and/or its members need to achieve the goal?
What does the community lawyer need from the community partner and/or its members in order for the legal tools to be effective?
When, where and how will legal services be delivered?
When, where and how will the organizing take place?

15. FUNDRAISE

16. FUNDRAISE
Community lawyering helps support broad solutions to social problems.
Opens the door to social justice funders.
Integrates your legal practice with the greater community.
Cooperative fundraising will raise more money over time.
Innovations appeal to national and international funders.

17. FUNDRAISE Considerations . . .
Legal role may be smaller than you think
You will have to start project first, then fund it
Craft your deliverables
Continuous dialogue with your funder
How will you evaluate success?

18. EVALUATE

19. EVALUATE
How will the advocate know if he/she is an effective community lawyer?
What would a successful partnership look like?
What will we accomplish? How? When?

20. EVALUATE How is your advocate doing? How strong is the partnership?
How effective is the work?

21. DISCUSSION
Is Community Lawyering something your program already does or wants to do?
How will you support these efforts?
How would you create an action plan for fundraising?

22. CONTACT US
Lambreni Waddell Director of Community Engagement Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County Van Nuys Boulevard Pacoima, CA (818) Zoe Cronin Managing Attorney, Housing Unit Greater Boston Legal Services 197 Friend Street Boston, MA (617)