Client Track – No More Throw Away People: Clients as Leaders in the Co-Production of Justice

Too often individual clients and the client communities are only viewed as consumers of legal services. Law is most effective as an instrument and tool of justice when the attorneys respect the viewpoint, experiences and perspective of their clients. Equal justice requires the effective use of financial and human resources. Respecting clients and client communities as equal partners in the battle against racial and economic justice and for fairness, equality, liberty and dignity will require programs, staff, boards, funders and clients to engage in a paradigm shift. Given federal and state funding restrictions and budgetary limitations, the equal justice community should consider the implications of viewing clients as leaders in the co-production of justice.

This year’s client track seeks to explore how to develop and sustain leadership capacity in the client community so that clients and lawyers can work to co-produce justice.