Law School Consortium holds event: 'Doing Well While Doing Good: How to Incorporate Social Justice into your Successful Solo/Small Firm Practice.'

As you know, the first event of the Law School Consortium Project’s Northern California Collaborative was held on Tuesday, June 28th.  The event was entitled:  “Doing Well While Doing Good: how to Incorporate Social Justice into your Successful Solo/Small Firm Practice.” It was quite successful.

We had 55 practitioners and students attend, with an additional dozen law school and community representatives also present.   We even had two future law students who attended with both excited to start their law school experience knowing that their schools were involved in the LSCP.

The event was videoconferenced between San Francisco and Sacramento (McGeorge and Morrison and Foerster provided the videoconferencing facilities – thanks McGeorge!) and we have a copy of the event for future reference.   McGeorge was also very gracious in securing MCLE credit for all attendees.  CEB provided a 25% discount to NCC members on their publications/manuals.

The event began with a brief discussion about the LSCP and the NCC, followed thereafter successful plaintiff’s attorney Jim Sturdevant provided an inspirational keynote address.   Thereafter, we had a lively panel discussion with Sue Talia (family law lawyer) discussing “unbundling legal services as a way to do well and do good” and Doug Rappaport (criminal defense) and Bob Varma (children’s special education and disability litigation) discussed the ways in which their firms served underrepresented people.  All provided law office management tips and told stories of how they were able to effect change in the community.

Dean Jeff Brand provided a compelling and moving closing address detailing the need for programs like the Law School Consortium Project and the need for law schools to be involved in access to justice issues.  

It was wonderful to see practitioners actively engaging one another, providing advice and insights, and also expressing their appreciation of the presentations, and their excitement about having an organization formed to support them as they worked for the community.

Some of the comments:

  • “I can’t believe there has never been an organization like this before. What a great and obvious idea.”
  • “This was so inspirational.”
  • “I just started as a solo practitioner and to be brought into this network makes me feel support already.”
  • “I have felt so isolated as a solo, I have been waiting for something like this.”

There was just an excitement from those present to be able to be part of something larger, especially something with a focus on serving the community.  In fact, people were so excited and energized, it was hard to get them to leave!

It was a wonderful event and I thank you all for your hard work in making this happen.


Our next steps will be to:
  1. Get everyone linked onto the NCC listserv (including about 35 others who expressed an interest the LSCP but were unable to attend);
  2. Start working on next programming;
  3. Introduce people to our web platform Lowbono.org (where they can take referrals, use the substantive materials and resources we have built up, link to other practitioners in substantive areas of practice); and
  4. Have a very important IN PERSON MEETING of the Steering Committee Board (to determine who can join, each law school’s specific area of specialty, student involvement and the development of substantive practice groups, and discuss joint curriculum – e.g., LOM).   You will be contacted very soon about your availability – please make all efforts to attend.

Lovely A. Dhillon, Esq.
Executive Director
Law School Consortium Project