LET’S UNITE TO CLOSE THE JUSTICE GAP — ONCE AND FOR ALL

Tens of millions of Americans suffer from a hidden crisis of civil justice. But there is hope in a big and unifying new idea: the community justice worker.

Community justice workers are frontline helpers like shelter volunteers, faith leaders, community health workers and others who are trained to give their community critical legal help on everyday issues that lawyers aren’t providing.

Join us in transforming access to justice for everyday Americans.

Join our mailing list

“

The opportunity to become a Community Justice WorkeR was a no brainer.”

Jen Paninagar Kiokun, a Community Justice Worker and member of the Qutekcak tribe in Alaska, helps people in her community access Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which provide food assistance to families, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

Jen Paninagar Kiokun

Seward, Alaska

In November 2022 the Alaska Supreme Court was the first in the country to authorize a waiver that allows Community Justice Workers that are trained and supervised by Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC) to provide legal advice and representation without a law license. Through this program and its work ALSC has helped Alaska residents access $5.5M in SNAP benefits, ending months-long delays in distribution.

“

Members of my community are shut out from ways to vindicate their own rights”

The Reverend John Udo-Okon is a pastor and Justice Advocate in the South Bronx, which has among the highest poverty and unemployment rates in New York. His assistance to community members’ debt collection cases is in addition to running a mobile food pantry and other social and pastoral services.

Reverend John Udo-Okon

South Bronx, New York

Reverend John is a plaintiff in a civil rights lawsuit against New York State, Upsolve v. James, which challenges New York’s unauthorized practice of law (UPL) statute on First Amendment grounds. In 2022, a district court judge authorized him to begin helping people with debt collection cases with training and support from the nonprofit Upsolve while the case is on appeal in the Second Circuit.

“

Increasing access to difficult systems through a familiar language is critical.”

Rachel Wagner is the Spanish-speaking Support Specialist at the Massachusetts Trial Court Service Center. The first person litigants encounter when they arrive, Rachel works to make the court an accessible and equitable environment for dozens of court users every day.

Rachel Sylvia Wagner

Boston, Massachusetts

Social justice organizations like the Court Service Centers (CSCs) have increasingly prioritized hiring staff members with a wide variety of language skills to cater to the demographics of the public. Be it Spanish, Haitian Creole, or Vietnamese, the CSC is part of a larger justice effort to make systems more accessible for non-native English speakers, combating systems that disadvantage people of color and those in poverty.

Join the Movement

LET’S UNITE TO CLOSE THE JUSTICE GAP — ONCE AND FOR ALL

LET’S UNITE TO CLOSE THE JUSTICE GAP —ONCE AND FOR ALL

LET’S UNITE TO CLOSE THE JUSTICE GAP —ONCE AND FOR ALL

“

The opportunity to become a Community Justice WorkeR was a no brainer.”

“

The opportunity to become a Community Justice WorkeR was a no brainer.”

“

The opportunity to become a Community Justice WorkeR was a no brainer.”

“

Members of my community are shut out from ways to vindicate their own rights”

“

Members of my community are shut out from ways to vindicate their own rights”

“

Increasing access to difficult systems through a familiar language is critical.”

“

Members of my community are shut out from ways to vindicate their own rights”

“

The opportunity to become a Community Justice Worker was a no brainer.

”

“

”

“

Members of my community are shut out from ways to vindicate their own rights.

”

“

”

“

Most people will talk to me, but they’ll never talk to an attorney because they don’t identify with that as an option.

”

Featured Updates

Frontline Justice Submits Public Comment to Virginia State Bar

Frontline Justice Exchange - February

Nikole Nelson Joins the LawNext Podcast to Give an Update on What's Happening at Frontline Justice

Latest News

Frontline Justice Submits Public Comment to Virginia State Bar

Latest

Frontline Justice Submits Public Comment to Arizona Judicial Council About Proposed Community Justice Worker Program

Frontline Justice Exchange - December Newsletter

Frontline Justice and Ascendium Partner to Launch a National Standards Taskforce for Community Justice Worker Training!

Frontline Justice Exchange - September Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Join our next community café!

Events

Come to a Frontline Justice Event

Want to stay in the loop?

Join the Movement

Join the Movement