2026 MIE National Conference for Legal Aid Managers: Full Schedule

8:00am CDT

Conference Check-In and Breakfast

Tuesday September 22, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT

Bergen Prefunction

Tuesday September 22, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Bergen Prefunction

Break

9:00am CDT

Welcome to the Conference

Tuesday September 22, 2026 9:00am - 9:10am CDT

Bergen 2/3

Speakers

Kesha James

Executive Director, MIE

Tuesday September 22, 2026 9:00am - 9:10am CDT
Bergen 2/3

Plenary Session

9:10am CDT

Leading When the Ground Is Shifting

Tuesday September 22, 2026 9:10am - 10:15am CDT

Bergen 2/3

Maintaining morale, focus, and trust through budget cuts and organizational pressure

Speakers

Tony R Sanders is the founder of Gawlo, a leadership development and consulting firm that helps organizations build scalable leadership development systems. Tony works with organizations across industries to help them strengthen leadership capability, build stronger cultures, and... Read More →

Tuesday September 22, 2026 9:10am - 10:15am CDT
Bergen 2/3

Plenary Session

10:15am CDT

Break

Tuesday September 22, 2026 10:15am - 10:30am CDT

Bergen Prefunction

Tuesday September 22, 2026 10:15am - 10:30am CDT
Bergen Prefunction

Break

10:30am CDT

Authentic Client Partnerships in Advocacy & Communications

Tuesday September 22, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am CDT

Fjords 4

This session will provide best practices and lessons learned regarding how to partner authentically with clients in media, advocacy, and even individual representation cases. Topics will include: how to ensure consent and avoid coercion, how to balance a client's real experiences with what you think your audience wants to hear, how to prepare clients to feel confident and comfortable even in...
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Speakers

Jenna Collins

Director of Supervision & Professional Development, Community Legal Services

Jenna Collins (she/her) is the Director of Supervision and Professional Development at Community Legal Services. She oversees and supports CLS’s supervision and training systems to ensure all staff have access to excellent supervision and training necessary to provide high quality... Read More →

Zakya Hall

Content and Communications Manager, Community Legal Services

Zakya Hall (she/her) serves as Communications and Content Manager at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS). Zakya takes the lead on writing content for CLS, including press releases, publications, website content, award nominations, and other written materials. She also implements... Read More →

Jamie Gullen

Managing Attorney, Community Legal Services

Jamie Gullen is the Managing Attorney of the Employment Unit and Youth Justice Project at Community Legal Services, where she has worked for 14 years. Jamie's work focuses on increasing access to education and employment opportunities for people with juvenile or criminal records through... Read More →

Tuesday September 22, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Fjords 4

Concurrent Session

10:30am CDT

Maintaining Equity Across Staff Capacity & Performance Standards

Tuesday September 22, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am CDT

Bergen 2/3

Speakers

Heidi Behnke

Statewide Project Manager, Georgia Legal Services Program

Heidi Behnke is the Statewide Project Manager for Georgia Legal Services Program and has served with GLSP since 2013. Her role involves monitoring milestones/benchmarks, resource assessment, strategic planning, and more for a variety of projects throughout GLSP’s 154-county region... Read More →

Scott Crain

Director of Advocacy, Northwest Justice Project

Scott is the Director of Advocacy at Northwest Justice Project. He earned his law degree from the University of Minnesota, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Law and Inequality.

Tuesday September 22, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Bergen 2/3

Concurrent Session

10:30am CDT

Trauma-Informed Supervision for Legal Aid Leaders: Your Secret Toolkit for Engagement and Performance

Tuesday September 22, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am CDT

Bergen 1

Today's legal aid supervisors face a wide range of challenges. Alongside supporting diverse teams and managing performance and accountability, they are adapting to emerging technologies like AI, navigating complex union environments, and working to strengthen engagement and retention amid ongoing uncertainty and change. The need for Trauma-Informed Leadership (TIL) has never been greater. In this...
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Speakers

Kathryn Cronin Miller

Founder, A Better Place To Work

Kathryn Cronin Miller, MSW, LCSW, (she/her) helps justice-centered organizations overcome people and culture challenges to create engaged, trusting, and high-performing teams. Since entering the sector in 2005, Kathryn has worked across non-profit, academic, and organizing settings... Read More →

Tuesday September 22, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Bergen 1

Concurrent Session

10:30am CDT

Using AI in Your Law Practice in 2026

Tuesday September 22, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am CDT

Fjords 2/3

Speakers

Todd C. Scott

Vice President of Risk Management, Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Co.

Todd is MLM’s VP of Risk Management and has been with Minnesota Lawyers Mutual since 1994. He has served as VP of Risk Management and Member Services for MLM since 2002, and previously worked as Attorney/Claims Representative for MLM, and also was the head of MLM’s technology... Read More →

Tuesday September 22, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Fjords 2/3

Concurrent Session

11:45am CDT

Conference Lunch (Provided)

Tuesday September 22, 2026 11:45am - 1:15pm CDT

Bergen Prefunction

Tuesday September 22, 2026 11:45am - 1:15pm CDT
Bergen Prefunction

Break

1:15pm CDT

Beyond the First Day: Creating an Onboarding Experience That Improves Retention and Engagement

Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT

Fjords 2/3

This session explores how intentional onboarding directly impacts employee retention, engagement, and workplace culture. Participants will analyze why effective onboarding matters, identify common onboarding failures, and practice strategies that improve employee connection and long-term success. The seminar combines discussion, interactive activities, reflection, and collaborative problem-solving...
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Speakers

Dr. Nadia Soulouque

Chief Human Resources Officer, Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida

Dr. Nadia Soulouque is an accomplished Chief of Human Resources Officer with a passion for creating fair and pleasant workspaces.
With 20 years of experience in the field, she has developed a strong proficiency in employee relations, strategy development, and inclusivity. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a commitment to employees and has a proven track record of creating cultures that allow safe... Read More →

Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT
Fjords 2/3

Concurrent Session

1:15pm CDT

If You Build It, Bring Them Along With You: Managing Big Change across Different Levels of Staff

Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT

Fjords 4

This session will provide tips and strategies for navigating major changes, both positive and negative, across various levels of staff. Best practices and solutions will be discussed in the context of varying organizational size, as well as in the context of LSC-funded vs. non-LSC-funded organizations. The session will examine common scenarios such as strategic plan design and implementation;...
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Speakers

Brooke Weitzman

Executive Director, Community Counsel

Brooke is the Executive Director of The Elder Law and Disability Rights Center (ELDR Center). As a civil rights attorney, she represents communities that would not otherwise have access to a lawyer. Weitzman helped to reduce the criminalization of poverty through litigation and advocacy—including... Read More →

Kate Marr

Executive Director, Community Legal Aid SoCal

Kate Marr is the Executive Director of Community Legal Aid SoCal (CLA SoCal), one of California's largest nonprofit legal aid organizations serving Orange and Los Angeles Counties. A proud legal aid lifer, Kate has devoted her entire 25-year career to advancing access to justice for... Read More →

Monica Glicken

CEO/Executive Director, Public Law Center

Monica Eav Glicken is the CEO/Executive Director and General Counsel of Public Law Center, a nonprofit, pro bono legal services organization that empowers low-income and vulnerable communities throughout Orange County, CA, through its free legal services. Monica previously led PLC’s... Read More →

Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT
Fjords 4

Concurrent Session

1:15pm CDT

Practical Strategies for Supporting Early-Career Advocates in a Digital Workplace

Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT

Bergen 1

As younger generations enter the workforce, legal aid leaders are tasked with developing skilled, resilient attorneys in an increasingly digital environment shaped by virtual courts, electronic communication, and remote advocacy. Meeting the demands of this new landscape requires leaders to rethink how they train, supervise, and support early-career attorneys. This session explores the performance...
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Speakers

Sarah Rhine

Deputy Director, Community Legal Aid Society, Inc.

Sarah Spangler Rhine is the Deputy Director of the Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI). Before assuming this role, she served as Managing Attorney of CLASI’s Housing Unit, where she helped implement Delaware’s Right to Representation for tenants facing eviction. Sarah previously... Read More →

Kathryn Cronin Miller

Founder, A Better Place To Work

Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT
Bergen 1

Concurrent Session

1:15pm CDT

The Accountability Shift: Reframing Accountability from Discipline to Leadership

Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT

Bergen 2/3

Speakers

Tony R Sanders

CEO & Founder, Gawlo

Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT
Bergen 2/3

Concurrent Session

2:30pm CDT

Coffee Break (Provided)

Tuesday September 22, 2026 2:30pm - 2:45pm CDT

Bergen Prefunction

Tuesday September 22, 2026 2:30pm - 2:45pm CDT
Bergen Prefunction

Break

2:45pm CDT

Beyond Silos: Collaborating on Shared Grants and Clients

Tuesday September 22, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT

Fjords 2/3

Cross-team collaboration on shared grant deliverables is one of the most practical ways to address the growing need to deliver equal or greater client and community impact with fewer resources. LAFLA managing attorneys will share their strategies and practical tools used for shared grant supervision, staff teamwork, and cross-team management.

Speakers

Amy Withmory

Managing Attorney, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles

Amy Withmory is the Managing Attorney of the Survivor and Family Justice (SFJ) Workgroup at LAFLA. SFJ provides trauma-informed legal services for survivors of domestic violence, including restraining order and family law assistance. Amy oversees SFJ’s domestic violence clinics... Read More →

Andrew Kazakes

Managing Attorney, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles

Andrew Kazakes is a managing attorney at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, where he represents low-income clients with a broad range of public benefits issues as part of LAFLA’s Economic Stability Work Group. He previously held positions with LAFLA’s Eviction Defense Center... Read More →

Sheyda Joolharzadeh

Managing Attorney, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA)

Sheyda manages LAFLA’s nationally recognized and award-winning Medical Legal Partnership (MLP) workgroup. Her career at LAFLA spans more than 11 years across multiple teams, including the organization’s Eviction Defense Center and Housing and Communities workgroups. In 2019, after... Read More →

Tuesday September 22, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT
Fjords 2/3

Concurrent Session

2:45pm CDT

Integrated Advocacy at Cabrini Green Legal Aid

Tuesday September 22, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT

Fjords 4

CGLA leaders would present on how their legal practice model has evolved over time to be more rooted in and partnering with impacted community leaders. CGLA's integrated advocacy approach to our holistic legal aid with social work support, and our systemic reform efforts, are responsive to community needs, and led by community members. Our Leadership Council, active over 10 years, of former...
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Speakers

Aisha Edwards

Executive Director, Cabrini Green Legal Aid

Aisha Cornelius Edwards has worked in public service and policy for more than 25 years. She is currently the Executive Director of Cabrini Green Legal Aid (CGLA), which provides holistic legal services that include social support services and advocacy for individuals and communities... Read More →

Tyla Greenwood-Rucks

Managing Attorney of Client Intake & Legal Support, Cabrini Green Legal Aid

Tuesday September 22, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT
Fjords 4

Concurrent Session

2:45pm CDT

Not an AI Expert—Still Calling the Plays: Managing Staff in an AI-Enabled Legal Aid Environment

Tuesday September 22, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT

Bergen 2/3

Legal aid managers are increasingly responsible for supervising staff who use artificial intelligence tools—often without formal training in AI or technology. Yet regardless of how technology evolves, managers remain responsible for quality, ethics, client service, and organizational accountability. Grounded in the conference theme, "Rooted in Resilience: Community-Centered Management...
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Speakers

Brandon Slack

Director of Marketing & Head of Product, Just-Tech

Brandon Slack is Head of Product & Marketing at Just-Tech, LLC, a national legal technology company serving nonprofit legal aid organizations. He co-created JTAI (jtai.law), a purpose-built AI platform enabling knowledge management, agent-based chat intelligence, and intake automation... Read More →

Kanisha Taylor

Regional Managing Attorney, Florida Rural Legal Services

Melva Denise Harris-Rozier

Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County

Tuesday September 22, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT
Bergen 2/3

Concurrent Session

2:45pm CDT

Strategies for Managing Up

Tuesday September 22, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT

Bergen 1

Managing up is an essential leadership skill that helps you get what you need to do your work well, advocate effectively for yourself and your team, and build a productive working relationship with your manager and other organizational leaders. This interactive session will introduce a practical set of skills and approaches that participants can apply to manage up more effectively.

Speakers

Kelly Tautges

Founder, Coach & Consultant, K. Tautges Consulting

Kelly Tautges is a consultant, facilitator, and coach who helps mission-driven leaders, teams, and organizations navigate complexity, strengthen collaboration, and turn ideas into meaningful action. She brings more than 20 years of experience in leadership, organizational development... Read More →

Tuesday September 22, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT
Bergen 1

Concurrent Session

4:00pm CDT

Break

Tuesday September 22, 2026 4:00pm - 4:15pm CDT

Bergen Prefunction

Tuesday September 22, 2026 4:00pm - 4:15pm CDT
Bergen Prefunction

Break

4:15pm CDT

Enhancing Your Organization's Training and Professional Development Approach

Tuesday September 22, 2026 4:15pm - 5:30pm CDT

Fjords 2/3

Tuesday September 22, 2026 4:15pm - 5:30pm CDT
Fjords 2/3

Concurrent Session

4:15pm CDT

From Performance Gaps to Growth: Building Effective Performance Improvement Plans

Tuesday September 22, 2026 4:15pm - 5:30pm CDT

Bergen 1

Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) can be an important supervisory tool in a manager’s toolbelt to help a struggling staff member, but they are often not used as frequently or effectively as they should be. In this session, we explore what a PIP is, when it should be used, and best practices for drafting not only the PIP itself, but progress reports during the period of the PIP. You will hear...
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Speakers

Jessica Maas

Managing Attorney, Michigan Advocacy Program

Jessica R. Maas is the Managing Attorney of the Lansing office of Legal Services of South Central Michigan (a division of the Michigan Advocacy Program), a role she has held since 2021. Jessica manages a staff of 15-20 full-time employees and 5-10 law students at any given time. Prior... Read More →

Tuesday September 22, 2026 4:15pm - 5:30pm CDT
Bergen 1

Concurrent Session

4:15pm CDT

Using Data to Make People-Centered Decisions of Any Size

Tuesday September 22, 2026 4:15pm - 5:30pm CDT

Bergen 2/3

Legal aid managers make decisions every day—some small and immediate, others shaping programs, staffing, and long-term strategy. In an environment of complex community need and limited resources, data can be a powerful tool to support those decisions. But to be effective, data must be used in ways that remain grounded in people: clients, advocates, and communities. This session explores how...
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Speakers

Barbara Barreno-Paschall

Managing Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

Barbara Barreno-Paschall is a Managing Attorney at The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland and leads the Economic Justice Group, which assists clients in bankruptcy, consumer, employment, estate planning and probate, and tax matters.

Previously, Barbara served as Vice Chair and Commiss... Read More →

Susan StVincent

Chief Operating Officer, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles

As LAFLA’s Chief Operating Officer, Susan StVincent supervises the IT, Facilities, and Human Resources departments, with the goal of improving inter-departmental collaboration and making LAFLA a better place to work for all staff. Susan joined LAFLA in 2019 as the Managing Attorney... Read More →

Tuesday September 22, 2026 4:15pm - 5:30pm CDT
Bergen 2/3

Concurrent Session

4:15pm CDT

Weaving Community Voice Throughout Your Strategic Decision-Making Process

Tuesday September 22, 2026 4:15pm - 5:30pm CDT

Fjords 4

The client communities that we represent have been historically disinvested in, and are currently being stripped of their rights, power and dignity. As we develop our internal strategic plans, implement policies and make decisions- how are we intentionally creating space for the community input that is so mission connected? This session will include the perspective of 3 community members in the...
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Speakers

Denice Ko

Deputy Director, Community Law Center

Our small nonprofit has everyone wearing many hats. I look forward to trainings and resources covering a wide range of topics.

Amy Petkovsek

Executive Director, Community Law Center

Amy Petkovsek is the Executive Director of the Community Law Center in Baltimore, Maryland. She oversees a team advocating for restoring power to neighborhoods and local communities through innovative legal assistance. Amy was previously the Deputy Chief Counsel at Maryland Legal... Read More →

Tuesday September 22, 2026 4:15pm - 5:30pm CDT
Fjords 4

Concurrent Session

5:30pm CDT

Conference Social (Snacks Provided, Cash Bar)

Tuesday September 22, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm CDT

Bergen Prefunction

Tuesday September 22, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm CDT
Bergen Prefunction

Break

8:00am CDT

Attendees of Color Networking Breakfast

Wednesday September 23, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT

Fjords 4

Wednesday September 23, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Fjords 4

Break

8:00am CDT

Conference Breakfast

Wednesday September 23, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT

Bergen Prefunction

Wednesday September 23, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Bergen Prefunction

Break

9:00am CDT

Hot Topics in Civil Legal Aid Management

Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am CDT

Bergen 2/3

Legal aid organizations are navigating a period of real flux — hybrid arrangements, shifting demographics, growing polarization, and uncertainty around funding are all reshaping how programs operate and connect with the people they serve. This panel discussion will explore how civil legal aid programs are maintaining strong community ties amid these changes, both in terms of priority and...
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Speakers

Brenda Marrero

Chief Operating Officer, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia

Brenda (she/her/ella) is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS). As CLS’s first COO, Brenda works closely with the Executive Director, Deputy Director and CFO in furthering important strategic initiatives and operations systems. Brenda... Read More →

Yvonne Mariajimenez

President & CEO, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County

Yvonne began her career at NLSLA more than 48 years ago, as a Paralegal/Interpreter. She was the NLSLA Deputy Director for 25 years, and became President and CEO in 2019. She is a self-proclaimed beneficiary of the transformative work legal aid provides to low-income families. When... Read More →

Angela Hoogeveen

Managing Attorney, Indiana Legal Services

Luke Grundman

Director of Litigation, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid

Luke Grundman has made legal aid casework his career. He started with Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA) as an Equal Justice Works Fellow in 2009, spent five years fighting foreclosures and predatory lending, staffed a medical-legal partnership clinic for two years and then managed the... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Bergen 2/3

Plenary Session

10:15am CDT

Break

Wednesday September 23, 2026 10:15am - 10:30am CDT

Bergen Prefunction

Wednesday September 23, 2026 10:15am - 10:30am CDT
Bergen Prefunction

Break

10:30am CDT

I Have To Negotiate That? - Supervision In A Unionized Workforce

Wednesday September 23, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am CDT

Bergen 2/3

This session will cover key aspects for new or veteran supervisors managing a unionized workforce, including relationships with union stewards and representatives, an overview of the NLRA and NLRB fundamentals and compliance (such as tips for avoiding unfair labor practices and obligations for complying with an employee's Weingarten rights), common union contract provisions to be aware of, and...
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Speakers

Bryan J. Morben

Shareholder, Fredrikson & Byron P.A.

Bryan focuses a significant portion of his practice representing and advising employers with traditional labor law and union matters. He counsels both union and non-union employers on their obligations under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), has handled and obtained favorable... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Bergen 2/3

Concurrent Session

10:30am CDT

Integrating Community Based Organizations into Legal Aid Intake Systems: Lessons from the Field

Wednesday September 23, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am CDT

Fjords 4

Most legal services programs maintain strong partnerships with other organizations serving low-income households in their community. But rarely are those partnerships truly integrated into a legal services program’s intake system. This session will provide two different examples, from two very different perspectives – one rural and statewide, one urban and issue-specific – on how legal...
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Speakers

Joanne Werdel

Managing Attorney, Philadelphia Legal Assistance

Joanne Werdel is a Managing Attorney at Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA), where she oversees the organization’s housing work, and provides support to the unemployment compensation and farmworker teams. Prior to joining PLA in 2013, Joanne served as litigation counsel for the... Read More →

Margaret Robinson

Managing Attorney, Philadelphia Legal Assistance

Margaret Robinson is a Managing Attorney at Philadelphia Legal Assistance and supports the Family Law Unit, the Medical Legal Community Partnership, the Taxpayer Support Clinic and the General Intake Unit at PLA. Margaret joined PLA in 2007 after graduating cum laude from Northwestern... Read More →

Keenan Carroll

Director of Community Engagement and Development, Utah Legal Services

Wednesday September 23, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Fjords 4

Concurrent Session

10:30am CDT

Malpractice and Ethics Hot Topics

Wednesday September 23, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am CDT

Fjords 2/3

This session examines the malpractice exposure and ethics questions that most affect those who manage and supervise legal work in legal aid organizations. We will discuss the recent US Supreme Court case, Berk v. Choy, and its impact on litigation. We will explore how to define and document the scope of representation and frequent missteps which may impact legal aid organizations. We will address...
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Speakers

Aram V. Desteian

General Counsel, Bassford Remele

Aram Desteian is a shareholder and General Counsel at Bassford Remele, where his practice focuses on professional liability and legal ethics. He co-chairs the firm’s Lawyers Professional Liability and Professional Responsibility practice groups and regularly assists lawyers in preventing... Read More →

Holly N. Lechner

Attorney, Bassford Remele

Holly Lechner is an attorney at Bassford Remele, where her practice focuses on lawyers’ professional responsibility, health care, and intellectual property law. She assists clients with legal ethics and professional responsibility matters and brings litigation experience that includes... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Fjords 2/3

Concurrent Session

10:30am CDT

Trust is Built Before You Need It: Communication Strategies for Leading Through Organizational Change

Wednesday September 23, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am CDT

Bergen 1

Legal aid managers are frequently required to lead through uncertainty, including mergers, leadership transitions, funding changes, restructuring, and evolving community needs. In these moments, communication is one of the most critical management tools, but also one of the most difficult to execute effectively. This session provides a practical, skills-based framework for communicating during...
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Speakers

Dori Rapaport

Co-Executive Director, Justice North

Anne M. Hoefgen

Co-Executive Director, Justice North

Anne Hoefgen is Co-Executive Director of Justice North, a nonprofit legal aid organization serving low-income individuals and families across 33 counties in Northern Minnesota. Prior to assuming her current role, Anne served as Executive Director of Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Bergen 1

Concurrent Session

11:45am CDT

Lunch On Your Own

Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:45am - 1:15pm CDT

Bergen Prefunction

Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:45am - 1:15pm CDT
Bergen Prefunction

Break

1:15pm CDT

Beyond the Courtroom: Leveraging Collaboration and Community to Build Resilient Organizations

Wednesday September 23, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT

Fjords 4

As legal aid organizations continue to navigate evolving workplace dynamics, fostering connection, collaboration, and organizational culture has become more important than ever. This session will explore how cross-office and cross-organizational initiatives can strengthen staff engagement, support retention, and build resilience across geographically dispersed and hybrid work environments. ...
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Speakers

Jessica Mastellar

Deputy Director, Central Minnesota Legal Services

Jessica Mastellar serves as Deputy Director of Central Minnesota Legal Services, where she provides broad organizational leadership across operations, compliance, strategic planning, pro bono engagement, and intake services. With nearly 12 years of experience at CMLS, Jessica has... Read More →

Luke Grundman

Director of Litigation, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid

Sam Manning

Program Manager, Legal Services State Support

Sam Manning is an attorney based in the Twin Cities with over a decade of experience in public interest law, spanning housing, immigration, and human rights advocacy. He currently serves as Program Manager at Legal Services State Support in St. Paul. Before serving as Program Manager... Read More →

Amy Burroughs

Supervising Attorney, Central Minnesota Legal Services

Amy Burroughs is the Supervising Attorney of the Anoka office at Central Minnesota Legal Services, where she leads the office’s legal advocacy work and provides mentorship, guidance, and support to staff attorneys. In this role, Amy focuses on building strong, client-centered legal... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT
Fjords 4

Concurrent Session

1:15pm CDT

Continuing an Organizational Commitment to DEI Work

Wednesday September 23, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT

Bergen 2/3

Speakers

Jenna Collins

Director of Supervision & Professional Development, Community Legal Services

Sandra Chung

Chief Operating Officer, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County

Sandra Chung, NLSLA’s Chief Operating Officer, is committed to improving and increasing access to justice for low-income communities. She previously served as the Director of Grants Management and Compliance as well as a Supervising Attorney at NLSLA overseeing the organization’s... Read More →

Veronica Cook

Deputy Director, Philadelphia Legal Asistance

Wednesday September 23, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT
Bergen 2/3

Concurrent Session

1:15pm CDT

From Overwhelmed to Organized: Project Management Systems for Managing Attorneys

Wednesday September 23, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT

Fjords 2/3

Managing attorneys wear a lot of hats. Client advocate. Supervisor. Trainer. Compliance officer. But somewhere between the caseload and the compliance calendar, there's a job that rarely gets named: project manager. This session is designed for managing attorneys and legal aid managers at any level who are looking for practical, low-barrier tools and systems to bring more structure, visibility,...
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Speakers

Josh Lazar

Founder & CEO, TechThinkTank

Josh Lazar (he/him) is an innovative technologist and sought-after conference speaker with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations turn technology into a practical advantage. He blends practical business insights with motivational experiences, speaking nationally on... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT
Fjords 2/3

Concurrent Session

1:15pm CDT

The Strategic Role of Leaders in Program Innovation and Mission

Wednesday September 23, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT

Bergen 1

The session guides leaders to move their programs beyond tactical decisions and move forward strategic and visionary change. This session begins with an overview of prevalent theories of change at legal aid organizations, followed by an interactive discussion of a case study in which staff leadership, board, and funders of an organization are not fully aligned on program priorities. Through the...
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Speakers

Kimberly Irish Heinonen

Program Director, OneJustice

Kimberly Irish Heinonen (she/her) has nearly 20 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector. Her work as a Program Director at OneJustice includes leading its signature Executive Fellowship Program, which trains legal aid leaders in nonprofit management best practices. Before... Read More →

Monica Glicken

CEO/Executive Director, Public Law Center

Martina Cucullu Lim

Strategy Director, OneJustice

Martina I. Cucullu Lim (she/her), Strategy Director, OneJustice (since February 2024). In addition to designing and facilitating leadership development programs for legal aid professionals, Martina oversees the overall strategy by which OneJustice achieves its mission of expanding... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT
Bergen 1

Concurrent Session

2:30pm CDT

Break

Wednesday September 23, 2026 2:30pm - 2:45pm CDT

Bergen Prefunction

Wednesday September 23, 2026 2:30pm - 2:45pm CDT
Bergen Prefunction

Break

2:45pm CDT

Coaching Skills for Managers

Wednesday September 23, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT

Bergen 2/3

Coaching skills are essential to both leadership and management—of programs and people. A coaching approach to managing others supports reflection, awareness, communication, and accountability. In this interactive plenary session, participants will be introduced to a practical set of foundational coaching skills and explore how they can apply these skills in everyday leadership and management...
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Speakers

Kelly Tautges

Founder, Coach & Consultant, K. Tautges Consulting

Wednesday September 23, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT
Bergen 2/3

Plenary Session

8:00am CDT

9:00am CDT

9:10am CDT

10:15am CDT

10:30am CDT

10:30am CDT

10:30am CDT

10:30am CDT

11:45am CDT

1:15pm CDT

1:15pm CDT

1:15pm CDT

1:15pm CDT

2:30pm CDT

2:45pm CDT

2:45pm CDT

2:45pm CDT

2:45pm CDT

4:00pm CDT

4:15pm CDT

4:15pm CDT

4:15pm CDT

4:15pm CDT

5:30pm CDT

8:00am CDT

8:00am CDT

9:00am CDT

10:15am CDT

10:30am CDT

10:30am CDT

10:30am CDT

10:30am CDT

11:45am CDT

1:15pm CDT

1:15pm CDT

1:15pm CDT

1:15pm CDT

2:30pm CDT

2:45pm CDT

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