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DC Legal Aid Transformations Network 

Advancing a user-centered system, grounded in wellbeing, anti-racism, and anti-poverty, starting with creating a coordinated intake and referral system in DC and evolving into a “network of networks” for connectivity, alignment, and action.

The DC Legal Aid Transformations Network will host its next convening in person on

December 14

Registration is open.

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ABOUT THE DC LEGAL AID TRANSFORMATIONS NETWORK
Black Water

Why Are We Here?

It’s challenging to get legal help in the District of Columbia.  Too many people in crisis need help, and we don’t make that easy for them. It is understood that wealth and power have the advantage in civil court. Therefore, in June 2021, the DC Bar Foundation brought together nearly 60 legal aid providers, funders, community activists, social services providers, government, technology, and other stakeholders to discuss how to reimagine a more equitable civil justice system in DC. The DC Legal Aid Transformations Network (DC LATN) grew out of this convening. ​

DC Legal Aid Transformation Network Public Data Dashboard

This Public Data Dashboard Portal will provide a bird’s eye view of the DC Legal Aid Transformations Network and how we are connected. Over a two-year span, in June 2021 and Fall 2022 we conducted two network surveys to gain insight about how the network is doing, the progress we’ve made and about the existing ecosystem of organizations and community stakeholders that currently support access to legal aid for District residents.

WHERE ARE WE NOW

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On June 15, 2021, 57 legal aid providers, funders, community activists, social service providers, and other stakeholders met for the first time to build a network that would help to ensure that every DC resident has a fair and equitable experience with civil legal aid. It was facilitated by Kelly Bates and Curtis Ogden of the Interaction Institute for Social Change (IISC), which works to build collaborative capacity in individuals, organizations, and networks working for social justice and racial equity.

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The goals of this first convening were to generate:

  • Greater understanding of the value of network building for civil legal aid;

  • A common analysis of the challenges and opportunities for civil legal aid;

  • Movement toward a shared vision of what is possible as a network to address these challenges and harness opportunities; and

  • Next steps, including actionable ways to collaborate moving forward.

 

We exceeded these goals, officially established the DC Legal Aid Transformations Network, and invited attendees to participate in the first network survey by Visible Network Labs. The purpose of the survey is to generate data on the connections and trust between participants and provide guidance on targeting network support moving forward. 

You can learn more about the network by reading the following articles from DCBF's newsletter:​

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