Equal Justice Works

Founded in 1986 as the National Association for Public Interest Law (NAPIL), the organization works with law schools, law firms, corporate legal departments and nonprofit organizations to provide the training and skills that enable attorneys to provide legal assistance to the poor and other vulnerable populations.{{cite web |url=http://www.metrocorpcounsel.com/current.php?artType=view&artMonth=September&artYear=2006&EntryNo=5585 |title=A Noble Mission: Filling The Pipeline With Public Service Lawyers |website=Metropolitan Corporate Counsel |date=September 2006 |access-date=March 19, 2008}}{{Cite web |title=What a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Do For You |url=https://www.gibsonhillpc.com/houston-personal-injury-attorneys/ |access-date=2024-03-25 |language=en-US}}

Research has shown that early public interest experience for law students and new lawyers leads to a lifelong commitment to justice, but that debt keeps many law graduates from taking public interest jobs.{{cite news|last=Mangan|first= Katherine|title=Debt Keeps Many Law Graduates From Taking Government Jobs|newspaper= The Chronicle of Higher Education|date=January 26, 2007 |url=http://chronicle.com/daily/2007/01/2007011802n.htm |access-date=March 19, 2008}} Equal Justice Works has contributed to the research and advocacy of loan repayment assistance programs and the College Cost Reduction And Access Act of 2007.{{cite web|title=Social law is victim of debt|publisher= The Times Higher Education Supplement |date=February 16, 2007|url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=207865§ioncode=26 |access-date=March 19, 2008}}

One hundred ninety-five law schools (including 189 of the country's 196 American Bar Association-accredited law schools){{cite web|url=http://www.abanet.org/legaled/approvedlawschools/approved.html|title=ABA-Approved Law Schools|publisher=abanet.org|access-date=2008-03-17|archive-date=2008-05-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509190202/http://www.abanet.org/legaled/approvedlawschools/approved.html|url-status=dead}} are members of Equal Justice Works and participate in programs to develop public interest training and opportunities.

"Equal Justice Works Fellowships" is the largest postgraduate legal fellowship program in the United States.Dodson, Doreen. “From the Chair: NAPIL Announces an Expanded Fellowship Program for Public Service Lawyers.” American Bar Association’s Dialogue Magazine, v.2, #3. April 1998. The projects proposed by the Fellows are varied and tend to reflect unresolved social and legal issues including immigration, health care and civil liberties.{{cite web|last=Lore|first= Michelle|title=Minnesota firms sponsor Equal Justice Works fellowships|publisher= Minnesota Lawyer|date= October 8, 2007|url=http://www.dolanmedia.com/view.cfm?recID=259961 |access-date=March 19, 2008}}{{cite web|last=Griffin|first= Greg|title=Denver lawyer puts power back in hands of disabled Kmart shoppers|publisher= Knight-Ridder Tribune|date= March 15, 2006|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-143359068.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104061957/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-143359068.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |access-date=March 19, 2008}}

The organization publishes The E-Guide to Public Service at America's Law Schools, an online resource of public service opportunities, curricula, and financial-aid programs. Equal Justice Works also hosts an annual Conference and Career Fair for employers, job seekers and law school professionals.{{cite book|last=Ambrogi|first= Robert|title=Essential Guide to the Best and Worst Legal Sites on the Web|publisher= ALM Publishing|location= New York, NY |year=2004| isbn= 1-58852-117-6}}

Through "Summer Corps"—a partnership between Equal Justice Works and AmeriCorps—350 law students serve at nonprofit legal aid organizations every summer.{{Cite web|url=https://law.mc.edu/academics/law-centers/public-service-law/funding-your-public-interest-work|title=Funding Your Public Interest Work {{!}} Mississippi College School of Law - Mississippi College|website=law.mc.edu|access-date=2020-04-28}}

Equal Justice Works is governed by a board of directors made up of about 30 law firm partners, corporate counsel, legal educators, and executives from legal services agencies. The CEO is Verna L. Williams.{{cite web |url=https://www.equaljusticeworks.org/about/ |title=About Us |website=Equal Justice Works |access-date=16 April 2025}}

From 1995 to 2022, David Stern was Executive Director. During this period Equal Justice Works’ budget grew from under $2 million to over $21 million, to support more than 200 positions in the postgraduate fellowship program.{{cite web |url=https://www.equaljusticeworks.org/news/equal-justice-works-announces-david-stern-retiring/ |title=Equal Justice Works Announces David Stern Retiring |website=Equal Justice Works |date=29 July 2021 |access-date=16 April 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.equaljusticeworks.org/news/equal-justice-works-announces-executive-director-position-opening/ |title=Equal Justice Works Announces Executive Director Position Opening |website=Equal Justice Works |date=14 March 2022 |access-date=16 April 2025}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official|http://www.equaljusticeworks.org}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080321095849/http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/programs/summercorps/general Summer Corps]

Category:Organizations established in 1986

Category:Legal organizations based in the United States

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Washington, D.C.

Category:Legal advocacy organizations in the United States

Category:1986 establishments in Washington, D.C.

Category:Service year programs in the United States