Pre-Conferences November 3-4, 2026 | Conference November 4-7, 2026 | St. Louis, Missouri
NLADA's 2026 Annual Conference is a space for learning, sharing, and strategizing that strengthens access to justice for people and communities with limited financial resources. The conference program this year will engage attendees in sessions exploring how civil, criminal, and community advocacy protects rights, secures benefits, and defends against harm. Sessions will also highlight opportunities for collective impact and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Register Meet Host Committee Conference Schedule Exhibitor & Sponsorship Prospectus Sessions List
Sessions for Everyone at NLADA Annual Conference
NLADA brings together advocates and allies devoted to the delivery of legal services to those who cannot afford counsel. Sessions at the Annual Conference encompass a wide range of topics, some focused on priority issues for each of NLADA’s core communities – civil legal aid, client advocates and public defenders - and others that are intentionally designed for a broader, interdisciplinary audience – social workers, justice workers, organizers, pro bono and community partners, court staff, law schools, etc.
Click below to view a preliminary list of conference sessions relevant to some of the different groups attending NLADA’s Annual Conference.
Meet the 2026 Annual Conference's Keynote Speaker
NLADA is pleased to welcome the Reverend Bethany Johnson-Javois, President and CEO of Deaconess Foundation, as our keynote speaker at the 2026 NLADA Annual Conference. A nationally recognized leader working at the intersection of faith, philanthropy, and public systems accountability, Reverend Johnson-Javois has spent more than two decades advancing community-centered approaches to health, justice, and institutional accountability.
Meet the 2026 Host Committee
Fifteen local leaders — spanning civil legal aid, public defense, and client communities across Missouri — have spent the year shaping AC26, from programming to local partnerships. The committee is co-chaired by Shawntelle Fisher (SoulFisher Ministries), Stacey Lannert (Missouri State Public Defender), and Karen Warren (Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc.).
2026 NLADA Annual Conference Awards
NLADA is accepting nominations for six awards that recognize outstanding contributions to civil legal aid and public defense.
- Arthur Van Briesen Award
- Denison Ray Award
- Emery A. Brownell Award
- Mary Ellen Hamilton Award
- New Leaders in Advocacy Award
- Reginald Heber Smith Award (the "Reggie")
Please submit a nomination by the deadline, Friday, July 31, 2026.
Sponsorship and Exhibitor Opportunities
Interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at this year’s conference? Click here for this year’s prospectus or reach out to Kate Denman, Director Development Operations at [email protected] for more information.
Book Your Room
Reserve your stay at the official hotel for the 2026 NLADA Annual Conference. The discounted conference room block at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton is SOLD OUT! NLADA has secured a 3rd hotel block at the Hyatt Centric Downtown St. Louis.