2020 Pro Bono Coordinators Retreat & Poverty Law Conference are going virtual

Mark your calendar: Aug. 31 – Sept. 15, 2020

Considering the COVID-19 pandemic and valuable feedback and concerns expressed from several legal aid staff members, the difficult decision has been made to forgo the 2020 annual conferences... in their traditional forms. Our team thoughtfully deliberated numerous safety and travel considerations for all speakers and attendees who attend and participate in the PBCR and PLC.

The LAD remains steadfast in its mission to provide support services to legal aid providers and quality education so legal advocates can help low-income Texans gain access to the courts and our justice system.

Registration is Now Open

	PLC	PBCR
I’m a licensed Texas attorney. Click here to register.			I’m a licensed Texas attorney. Click here to register.
I’m a non-attorney/out-of-state licensed attorney *and* previously attended PLC. Please read instructions first - PDF. Click here to register.			I’m a non-attorney/out-of-state licensed attorney *and* previously attended PBCR. Please read instructions first - PDF. Click here to register.
I’m a non-attorney/out-of-state licensed attorney; this will be my FIRST time to participate in PLC. Click here to register. Once your account is setup, you will be redirected to the PLC registration page.			I’m a non-attorney/out-of-state licensed attorney; this will be my FIRST time to participate in PBCR. Click here to register. Once your account is setup, you will be redirected to the PLC registration page where you will click the PBCR registration link.

Poverty Law Conference: Aug. 31 – Sept. 14

The virtual 2020 Poverty Law Conference, scheduled August 31-September 14, will be a two-week, three session “lunchtime” training on the most relevant poverty law issues affecting low-income and poor Texans at this time. The PLC offers targeted continuing legal education with a specific public interest focus and features presentations from some of the most knowledgeable poverty law practitioners and private attorneys in their respective fields.

Pack your lunch with CLE - Check out the 2020 Virtual PLC At-A-Glance Agenda or full agenda with session descriptions

All sessions will be recorded and available later for viewing to all registered conference members. The LAD is working to provide closed captioning for this conference. If you need other accommodations, please let us know by August 4 by emailing probono@texasbar.com.

Pro Bono Coordinators Retreat: Sept. 15

The virtual 2020 Pro Bono Coordinators Retreat, scheduled September 15, will be a one-day, three session training for pro bono coordinators from legal aid offices, law firms, law schools, and/or corporate law departments. The PBCR is designed to increase the quantity and quality of civil legal aid available to the low-income and poor Texans through pro bono efforts.

Check out the 2020 Virtual PBCR At-A-Glance Agenda or full agenda with session descriptions

Important Dates

The period for submitting a session proposal has closed. Learn more about session proposals.
Poverty Law Conference (PLC): Aug. 31-Sept. 14, 2020.
Pro Bono Coordinators Retreat (PBCR): September 15, 2020.
PBCR and PLC online registration will open July 1.

REGISTRATION FEES

In light of the pandemic and its far-reaching impact, PLC registration fees have been rolled back to the 2019 rates.

Because the 2020 PLC is virtual, no scholarships will be awarded.

PBCR and/or PLC speaker: No charge ($25 speaker fee waived this year)

Pro Bono Coordinators Retreat attendee*: $50

PLC attendees:
Civil legal aid employees**, military legal assistance officer, or
2019-20 Pro Bono College member: $100

Government attorney: $150

Law students (any law student must be currently registered in an accredited
law school): No charge

Private attorney: $200

*PBCR attendees must be pro bono coordinators who work for or are employed by a legal aid office, law firm, law school, and/or corporate law department.

**Civil legal aid employees includes any staff member employed by an LSC or TAJF-funded program, a domestic violence organization, self-help center, or other qualifying organization. Please call/email to discuss your organization’s eligibility if not listed above.

Materials

All materials will be made available online to registered participants as they are received. All registered participants will be able to access live webinars as well as the scheduled webinars on demand at the conclusion of each conference.

What to Expect

A multi-tracked substantive curriculum focusing on all aspects of poverty law practice, including, but not limited to, family, housing, consumer, immigration and public benefits
The opportunity to learn from successful practitioners, within legal services and the private sector
A broad-based program offering valuable sessions, whether you are a seasoned advocate, generalist, or new legal services attorney
An open forum where you can meet and network with colleagues who represent low-income and poor Texans
CLE credit at a cost that can't be beat and of the quality you've come to expect from the Legal Access Division of the State Bar

Who Should Attend PLC

Executive directors of legal services programs
Managers of legal services programs
Legal services employees
Civil legal aid advocates
Advocates who provide legal assistance to low-income members of the military
Pro bono program managers and staff
Private attorneys who provide pro bono services in civil cases
Law students interested in providing legal services to the poor

Questions?

Contact Catherine Galloway by email or phone: cgalloway@texasbar.com or 512-427-1892.

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