Washington Council of Lawyers

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Washington Council of Lawyers

We are Washington, D.C.'s only voluntary bar association dedicated exclusively to promoting pro bono and public-interest law.

06/19/2026

Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom fought through a long, non-linear process that made slavery illegal in the United States. There is much to learn on the nuances of Juneteenth and how such a large change became possible. Read about the Historical Legacy of Juneteenth from the National Museum of African American History & Culture: https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth

Washington, DC has a unique history of freedom, resilience, and celebration! Check out Juneteenth celebrations around the city, there's the 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration at Harrison Park and the Ward 7 Juneteenth Parade!

Don't miss ways to celebrate here: https://washington.org/visit-dc/ways-to-celebrate-juneteenth-washington-dc

06/18/2026

The legal hurdles faced by individuals living in poverty are vast. They often face uphill battles with issues impacting the most fundamental human needs: family stability, safe housing, food security, fair employment, and freedom from fear and violence. Pro bono lawyers who take on these cases literally can be life-savers.

Learn more about the wide-ranging legal issues individuals living in poverty face and what pro bono opportunities are available in D.C. and across the country to help address these needs at our 2026 Summer Forum Panel on Poverty Law on Thursday, July 9. Check out the impact our speakers are making in this area of law and how you can join them here: https://wclawyers.org/sf26-poverty-panel-preview/

06/16/2026

T-MINUS 5 HOURS UNTIL EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDS!

Get your ticket for the 2026 Summer Forum now, while you can take advantage of early bird pricing! Don't miss both our keynote speaker, Liz Oyer, and the opportunity to learn more about key issue areas in the public interest community through our 5 substantive panels!

Register now: https://wclawyers.org/260709/

We will preview our panels so you can decide which ones you'd like to see live! First, we are highlighting our Immigration and Human Rights Panel. Navigating a foreign legal system is always hard, but it has become treacherous in ever developing ways. This panel will give you insight into what the field of immigration law looks like today and opportunities in which you can provide assistance.

Learn more about the wide-ranging legal issues immigrants face and what pro bono opportunities are available in D.C. and across the country to help address these needs at our 2026 Summer Forum Panel on Immigration and Human Rights Panel. Learn more here: https://wclawyers.org/sf26-imm-hr/

06/12/2026

CELEBRATING PRIDE!!!
As Pride Month continues and celebrations rise with the fever of the summer, we want to take a moment to honor an incredible legal luminary that blazed pathways for women, q***r, and Black folks, Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray. From being the only perceived woman in their Howard Law School Class and creating the conceptual framework that ended legal segregation in the U.S. to becoming California's first Black deputy attorney general and so much more, Pauli Murray advocated with equal parts brilliance and tenacity. Learn more about Pauli Murray's ground-breaking, history changing legacy here: https://wclawyers.org/26-pride-pauli-murray/

06/10/2026

Happy Pride! From the first brick thrown at Stonewall in 1969, to the first rainbow flag that blanketed the streets of San Francisco in 1978, the LGBTQ+ community has made a legacy of pioneering a life of resilience and joy. This June, keep the legacy alive by finding your community, your voice, and your pride! When there are so many attacks on both the Rule of Law and the LGBTQ+ community specifically, we must rely on the wisdom of our elders to speak loudly and proudly about justice and fairness for all.

Explore opportunities to show your pride with Capital Pride: https://washington.org/visit-dc/capital-pride-events-washington-dc and join the DC Public Library for the D.C. Vibes in American Pride: https://www.dclibrary.org/district-vibes-american-pride-how-dc-changed-american-culture

06/09/2026

Our community has faced so many changes in the last few years. From the impacts of this administration to the rise of AI, it can be challenging to both ensure you have what you need to lead successfully and keep up with the ever-adapting needs of your team. There is also an option for one-on-one interaction through the mentoring component.

Learn from our community leaders so you can continue to keep your team moving forward. Team leaders, current and soon-to-be supervisors, project managers, and anyone responsible for leading a team are welcome. Register now for both sessions to receive discounted pricing. There is also single session registration available.

Session One is Leading in Unprecedented Times on June 30. Session Two is Managing with Today's Technology on July 16. Both sessions are from 12:00-1:30 pm ET via Zoom.

Learn more and register here: https://ow.ly/5L8250Z8THn
Series and single session tickets are available. Member pricing and discounts for series registration is also available.

06/05/2026

Can one person make a difference in our current legal climate? The resounding answer is yes! We'll discuss how at our 2026 Summer Public Interest and Pro Bono Forum.

Over two presidential administrations as U.S. Pardon Attorney, our keynote speaker, Liz Oyer, used her expertise to investigate pardon requests, evaluate the applicant's rehabilitation, and issue a recommendation to the President. In 2025, when she was asked to set aside the standards for the Office of the Pardon Attorney and recommend pardons for individuals her expertise and experience said should not be granted, she was summarily fired.

What came next is a blueprint for how one person can fight for democracy and shepherd the rule of law through unprecedented challenges. Ms. Oyer will discuss ongoing threats to the rule of law, focusing on issues related to the courts, the criminal justice system, and presidential power. She will also discuss her public-interest career and the vital role pro bono volunteers and public-interest lawyers play in upholding these democratic principles.

The Summer Forum takes place on Thursday, July 9, from 12:00 to 3:45 pm at Georgetown University Law Center, McDonough Hall (600 New Jersey Ave, NW). We welcome summer associate classes, summer intern program, practicing lawyers, and anyone who wants to fight to protect the rule of law.

Register here: https://wclawyers.org/260709/

06/03/2026

The 2026 Summer Pro Bono and Public Interest Forum is around the corner, get your tickets while early bird pricing lasts! We are ready to welcome summer associates, summer interns, and lawyers from Washington, DC who are committed to using their legal skills to promote justice. The event kicks off with a keynote discussion with Liz Oyer, former US Pardon Attorney on Thursday, July 9 starting at 12:00 pm at Georgetown University Law Center!

Register: https://wclawyers.org/260709/

06/02/2026

Don't miss the chance to help set D.C. Bar priorities. The 2026 D.C. Bar General and Communities elections end tomorrow, June 3. If you need assistance making your choices, check out our endorsements. https://wclawyers.org/2026-dcbar-candidate-endorsements/.

Make your voice heard!

05/18/2026

Law students! Join us for Fellowships 101! This program is both for students interested in understanding more about what fellowships are and those that know they want to apply and need some tips to make that application shine!

Join us on Thursday, June 4 from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm ET via Zoom.

Register today: https://wclawyers.org/06-04-26/

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