ABA to host free two-day virtual civil rights boot camp

WASHINGTON— The American Bar Association Civil Rights and Social Justice Section will host a free two-day virtual boot camp titled “The Civil Rights Lawyer Boot Camp.” The webinar is designed to help people understand how to advocate for justice, equality and legal rights and protections.

What:         The Civil Rights Lawyer Boot Camp

                    Sponsored by ABA Civil Rights and Social Justice Section

When:        Friday, March 7 and March 14, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. EST   

Where:        Online

The boot camp is for anyone interested in civil rights issues, law students, recent law graduates, public service lawyers, other working or retired attorneys and lawyers from any background.

“Civil rights law impacts every aspect of legal practice. Now, more than ever, it is critical that the ABA CRSJ helps the legal profession to advance and protect civil rights and civil liberties,” said Lacy Durham, CRSJ chair. “We are doing our part to ensure there are advocates who understand the issues and options for protecting our communities and rights. The Civil Rights Boot Camp will expose attendees to the various dimensions of being a civil rights attorney, explore how these elements can be integrated into their practice and highlight important considerations for practicing in this area.”

Participants will learn about:

• The foundation of civil rights law and the essential legal frameworks
• Practical insight on how to build a career or practice in civil rights law
• How to advocate for underrepresented and marginalized communities
• Navigating the intersection of civil rights law with other practice areas

The event will feature discussions, interactive sessions and training led by civil rights experts. Sessions include:

• “The Many Faces of the Civil Rights & Social Justice Lawyer”
• “Taking on Civil Rights Cases as an Attorney Volunteer: Demystifying the Journey”
• “The Basics of Policy Development & Advocacy”
• “The Power of Class Action Lawsuits: A Primer”
• “Retaliation: The Civil Rights Issue of Our Time”
• “Building Successful Partnerships to Advance Your Cause”
• “Effectively Using Publicity to Help Your Case”
• “A Call to Action: Where We Go from Here”

The full boot camp agenda is here. For media registration, please contact Betsy Adeboyejo at Betsy.Adeboyejo@americanbar.org.

The ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice provides leadership within the legal profession in protecting and advancing human rights, civil liberties and social justice. Representing over 10,000 members with a wide range of professional interests, the section keeps its members abreast of complex civil rights and civil liberties issues and ensures that the protection of civil rights remains a focus of legal and policy discussion.

The ABA is one of the largest voluntary associations of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law. View our privacy statement online. Follow the latest ABA news at www.americanbar.org/news and on X (formerly Twitter) @ABANews.