MISSION

We are civil rights lawyers and advocates working to secure racial equity and economic opportunity for all. We provide legal representation through partnerships with the private bar, and we collaborate with grassroots organizations and other advocacy groups to implement community-based solutions that advance civil rights.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

We are committed to the unfinished business of our nation’s civil rights movement. Our vision is to root out and dismantle deeply entrenched systems of discrimination, racism, and economic oppression. We believe in the power of the law to uplift and give voice to those individuals, organizations, and communities most impacted by poverty and racial disparity, including racial and ethnic groups, religious minorities, women, immigrants, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities.

WHAT WE DO

We identify and disrupt patterns of discrimination. Through longstanding partnerships with member law firms, we provide high quality legal assistance to clients and communities in litigation and transactional matters. We collaborate with community leaders, advocacy organizations, and attorneys to craft and implement community-based solutions and policy reform. We use a broad range of advocacy tools that include direct legal services, impact litigation, policy advocacy, community education, and coalition building. Our current legal practice areas focus on education, housing, voting and civic empowerment, public safety, and community economic development.

CORE VALUES

COLLABORATION

Partnerships are central to the success of our mission. Our collaboration with law firms and individual attorneys, grass roots groups, educational institutions, and other advocacy organizations is vital to our ability to secure successful legal outcomes, and strengthens our capacity to help clients and communities achieve their broader social justice goals.

EMPOWERMENT

By listening and providing information, tools, and legal support, we strengthen communities’ capacities to advocate for themselves on the issues they identify as priorities.  

EQUITY

Recognizing the broad reach of discrimination, we challenge oppressive practices, advocate for expanded access to opportunity, and promote the fair allocation of resources so that everyone has a chance to succeed.

IMPACT

By matching clients with attorneys, we increase the likelihood of successful outcomes in individual matters, and develop high impact advocacy strategies to address underlying policies, practices, systems, and structures that perpetuate poverty and racial disparities.

INNOVATION

In a constantly changing environment, we utilize a multi-faceted advocacy tool box to develop solutions for today’s most pressing civil rights challenges. We work with clients and community leaders to craft the “right strategy at the right time” to secure the outcomes they seek.