National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) Annual Conference 2026
The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) Annual Conference is a premier event dedicated to advancing equal justice for all Americans, particularly those unable to afford legal representation. Organized by NLADA, the 2026 conference will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, from November 4 to 7, 2026. This gathering serves as a national convening of civil legal aid practitioners, public defenders, and client and community advocates from across the country.
The conference program 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. The event aims to strengthen access to justice for people and communities with limited financial resources.
Attendees can expect a range of learning and sharing experiences, including plenary sessions, workshops, networking opportunities, and special programming. The conference provides a wide array of learning and sharing experiences for all attendees, aiming to strengthen partnerships among key players in the civil justice system.
The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) is the nation's leading advocate for front-line attorneys and other equal justice professionals—those who make a difference in the lives of low-income clients and their families every day. NLADA provides training, technical assistance, and other support to ensure the delivery of quality legal services to those who cannot afford counsel.
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Speakers(9)
Adam Weiss
Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Legal Officer at Relativity
Adam Weiss is the Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Legal Officer at Relativity, a leading legal data intelligence company, and will be honored with the 2026 Exemplar Award for his commitment to advancing equal justice.
Dan Glazier
Co-Chair at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
Dan Glazier serves as the Co-Chair of the 2026 NLADA Annual Conference Host Committee and is affiliated with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, providing civil legal aid to low-income individuals.
Deepak Budwani
Chief Financial & Administrative Officer at Santa Barbara County Public Defender's Office
Deepak Budwani serves as the Chief Financial & Administrative Officer at the Santa Barbara County Public Defender's Office, managing financial and administrative functions.
Jenny Hernandez
Senior Immigration Attorney at City of Atlanta Office of the Public Defender
Jenny Hernandez is the Senior Immigration Attorney at the City of Atlanta Office of the Public Defender, specializing in immigration defense and providing Padilla advice to noncitizen clients.
Jumana Musa
Director of the Fourth Amendment Center at National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Jumana Musa is the Director of the Fourth Amendment Center at the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, focusing on constitutional challenges to technology and surveillance in the criminal legal system.
Keisha Hudson
Chief Defender at Defender Association of Philadelphia
Keisha Hudson is the Chief Defender at the Defender Association of Philadelphia, leading a team of public defenders and advocating for systemic reforms in the criminal justice system.
Omotayo B. Alli
Executive Director at Georgia Public Defender Council
Omotayo B. Alli is the Executive Director of the Georgia Public Defender Council, overseeing operations across the state and enhancing indigent defense services.
Shawntelle Fisher
Co-Chair at SoulFisher Ministries
Shawntelle Fisher is the Co-Chair of the 2026 NLADA Annual Conference Host Committee and leads SoulFisher Ministries, an organization dedicated to empowering women and girls impacted by incarceration.
Stacey Lannert
Co-Chair at Missouri State Public Defender
Stacey Lannert is the Co-Chair of the 2026 NLADA Annual Conference Host Committee and works with the Missouri State Public Defender, representing indigent clients in criminal cases.
Event Details
- Date
- November 4-7, 2026
- 4 days
- Location
- 🇺🇸 St. Louis, United States
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Pricing
- $500 - $1,000
- Audience
- Civil legal aid practitioners, public defenders, client and community advocates
- CLE Credits
- CLE accreditation pending
- Attendees
- Over 700 equal justice advocates
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