Request for Proposals: 2025 NLADA Annual Conference

In response to the shifting national landscape and the evolving needs of the access to equal justice community, NLADA is reimagining the format of the conference to better support strategic collaboration, thought leadership and collective advocacy.  Changes include organizing the conference around priority areas, hosting larger convenings with expert speakers, and using breakout sessions to focus on discussion and action planning.

The three priority areas for Annual Conference are:

• Rule of Law & Due Process: How laws ensure fairness and protect civil rights 
• Government Programs & Funding: How the federal, state and local government does (and does not) work for people 
• Expanding the Narrative: Recognizing, reclaiming and respecting different voices 

Click here for more information and descriptions of each priority.

We invite proposals that create spaces for attendees to share current challenges and brainstorm solutions; that explore policies and practices harming people and communities and ways to respond; and that celebrate the concrete ways our community demonstrates its strength and resilience. Attendees should leave with specific ideas to explore and implement in their programs and communities.

If you choose to submit a proposal, please keep in mind the following criteria that will be used to select approximately 30 breakout sessions.  Note that the number of sessions is much fewer than past years, and undoubtedly we will have to decline some outstanding proposals.  We hope many of those will be submitted for consideration by NLADA at future virtual and in person events.

Session proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• The topic closely aligns with at least 1 of the 3 conference priority areas
• The topic offers opportunity for audience engagement
• The topic provides audience with concrete take-aways, such as relevant information, policies, programs, forms, guidance, etc.
• The topic is relevant to NLADA’s civil, client and defender communities
• The presenters have skills and experience needed to effectively engage an audience of 60-80 people
• Organizational affiliation of presenters aligns with NLADA mission
• Topic can be effectively covered in 60minutes, inclusive of time for Q&A
• Presenter availability on all of Thursday, October 30 and Friday, October 31
• Submitted proposal is complete with all requested information provided

Submit Your Proposal