| | | | | | Fall 2025 Frontline Justice Exchange | | Welcome to the Fall publication of the Frontline Justice Exchange, a newsletter dedicated to sharing community justice worker updates, resources, and conversations. Please share our newsletter with anyone else who might be interested in this work! | | | | | |
Dear Friends,
Fall has arrived, the leaves are turning, and I’ve been pulling out my blankets, knitted scarves, and hats, prepping for the cold November wind. I found one of my favorite scarves while traveling through Marfa, Texas, a while ago. It’s made of soft wool and weaves together a bunch of vibrant colors into a long stripey cloth that wraps around my shoulders and neck several times to block out the cold, and its cheery colors warm my heart. When I pulled it out from my closet last week, a line from Moby Dick ran through my mind: “We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us to our fellow men.”
For me, these words get right to the heart of our mission at Frontline Justice – strengthening the threads that bind our communities together – justice, compassion, and hope. Each day at Frontline Justice, we feel those fibers move. Someone reaches for help. Another extends a hand. Courage and compassion meet, and something more substantial is made between them. Every act of kindness and justice echoes out – widening the circle and strengthening the threads that hold us all.
This month’s newsletter highlights the many ways our connections are driving change — from progress on the regulatory front, to new community-led initiatives, to justice workers doing the work to help their neighbors. I love hearing about the threads that connect us all, and how, by weaving them together, we are moving closer to a world where justice truly belongs to everyone. | |
I hope you are keeping warm and that you will stay in touch.
Take good care, | | | | Frontline Justice National Leadership Council Updates | |
On October 1, we held our first National Leadership Council quarterly office hour. We enjoyed catching up with the Council members who attended and look forward to continuing these quarterly meetings moving forward!
| | | | Training & Credentialing SNAP Training Pilot Cohort is Open | | | |
The National Community Justice Worker Task Force is exploring education pathways and lightweight, accessible training for justice workers, starting with SNAP benefits. We are in the final stages of localizing SNAP training for Alaska, Arizona, Wisconsin, Texas, and California.
Huge thanks to the subject matter experts at Alaska Legal Services Corporation, Community Legal Services, Lone Star Legal Aid, Legal Action Wisconsin, and Judicare for their collaboration!
Interested in bringing this training to your organization? Email training@frontlinejustice.org. We are assembling our inaugural pilot cohort now! | | AI Q&A for Justice Workers | | | |
As we grow the workforce of justice workers, we also need to scale support and supervision. One way technology can help is by making it easier for justice workers to get trusted, just-in-time advice.
Over the past 2 months, Frontline Justice has been working with Josef, an award-winning legal AI company, to test a SNAP-focused Q&A tool with eight justice workers at Alaska Legal Services Corporation. The tool is trained on ALSC’s SNAP handbook for justice workers, and responds in actionable, simple language.
Here’s what makes it special: a human-in-the-loop model. An attorney or experienced justice worker can edit an answer once, adding details and practical advice. Any justice worker with a similar question later will get an immediate, trusted answer that might otherwise have taken 20 minutes of research and a supervisor call.
Initial findings were positive – by the end of the test, justice workers asked over 100 questions in a week, and rated their likelihood of continuing to use the tool at 4.8/5. | | | |
Our next Community Café will be on December 3rd, where we will be in conversation with Nancy Drane, Executive Director of the District of Columbia Access to Justice Commission, and National Leadership Council Chair Jim Sandman, as we learn more about D.C.’s recent proposal to authorize justice workers in the district. Register to attend.
On Groundwork, we have the Community Café Debrief group, where you can stay connected with attendees, continue conversations, and dig deeper. Join today! | | | | | |
📆Legal Services Corporation Rural Justice Task Force MeetingThis week, the Frontline Justice team is in Madison, WI, for the Legal Services Corporation’s (LSC) Rural Justice Task Force (RJTF) meeting, “Rural Reach: Access to Justice That Meets People Where They Are.” We were excited to hear the two-year report from the RJTF at the October 29 convening, where they discussed how rural communities are uniquely impacted by our nation's access to justice crisis and proposed innovative solutions.
We thank Ascendium, LSC, and Quarles for the chance to partner on this event. Working together is how we address challenges, create workarounds, and develop justice worker solutions unique to rural areas and other legal deserts. You can read the full press release here.
📆Frontline Justice National Community Justice Worker Task Force Meeting Following the forum, Ascendium, Education Design Lab, and Frontline Justice will host our National Community Justice Worker Task Force convening on October 30 in Madison. The meeting will bring together national and local nonprofit leaders, justice advocates, policy influencers, adult education specialists, researchers, and design partners to review emerging insights concerning training and credentialing models, explore implementation strategies, and identify shared priorities for advancing the community justice worker movement in the next year.
📆Frontline Justice to host NLADA Post-Conference Community Justice Worker Huddle Frontline Justice will be present at the 2025 NLADA Annual Conference to continue expanding awareness about the power of community justice work. As an opportunity to further connect with community leaders and changemakers, we’ll be hosting an NLADA Post-Conference Community Justice Worker Huddle.
The Huddle will allow us to gather to: - discuss challenges justice workers face and to problem-solve,
- share resources and updates on regulatory reform, and
- explore ways to build equitable, community-centered legal pathways.
📆United for ALICE to host 2026 National ALICE Summit in Miami, Florida
United for ALICE will host its 2026 National ALICE Summit January 5-7, in Miami, Florida. Our very own Nikole Nelson and Dr. Alicia Mitchell-Mercer will be in attendance to present "Scaling Justice for ALICE: A Community-Based Approach to Civil Legal Help."
This session will be co-presented with the United Way of Indian River County in Vero Beach, FL. They will discuss the access to justice crisis, highlight Indian River’s multilingual Self Help Centers and virtual legal kiosks across the county, and explore how community justice workers can build on these local efforts to close the civil justice gap.
📆Legal Services Corporation’s (LSC) Innovations in Technology ConferenceFrontline Justice will be heading to San Antonio for the LSC Innovations in Technology Conference. We’d love for you to stop by our booth and connect with us. We’ll also be sharing new ideas across two sessions — one led by Nikole Nelson, Celine Ta, Matthew Burnett, and Mandy Mobley Li, exploring technology, AI, and the evolving landscape of justice work, and another led by Dr. Alicia Mitchell-Mercer, Rachel Royal, and Theresa Gyura, focused on innovative approaches to legal project management.
Stay tuned for more details once the full program is announced.
📆American Bar Association (ABA) Equal Access to Justice ConferenceSave the date! The 2026 ABA Equal Access to Justice Conference will be held in Charlotte, NC, May 13-16. This will be one of the largest national gatherings of advocates and changemakers working to close the justice gap.
Frontline Justice will be hosting a community justice worker pre-conference on May 11, so be sure to save the date! Registration details will be announced early in the new year.
Learn more about EJC | | Frontline Justice Around Town | |
🗣️Nikole Presents to Utah Regulatory Reform CommitteeFrom defining community justice workers to discussing regulations and developments for asynchronous training courses, Nikole reflected on the real-time evolution of justice reform and possibilities for Utah.
☕September Community Café RecapDeanna Pantín Parrish facilitated our September Community Café, where Kentucky State Senator Cassie Chambers and AppalReD Legal Aid's Advocacy Director Evan Smith joined us to discuss the recent Kentucky Justice Worker Summit. They shared learning experiences for building successful summits in other communities, ultimately aimed at growing the community justice worker movement.
This session provided an excellent opportunity to dive deeper into building the summit, connecting communities, care systems, and courts to reimagine justice in action.
⚖️Nikole Testifies to New York State Chief Judge’s Hearing on Civil Legal Services On September 18, Nikole testified at the Civil Legal Services hearing in New York. Along with several other leaders, she discussed the ongoing unmet needs for civil legal services and the need to reassess the resources necessary to combat those challenges. Watch the recap here.
🌆Yakima’s 2025 Access to Justice Conference Nikole joined Craig Shank, board member of the Practice of Law Board, and Michael Terasaki, manager at Pro Bono Council, for a livestreamed discussion, "Increased Access to Justice through Community Justice Workers and Washington’s Entity Regulation Pilot.” View the recording here.
💻Community Justice Worker Lunch & Learn On September 29, Nikole joined the D.C. Access to Justice Commission for their virtual lunch & learn, “Community Justice Workers–A Discussion,” addressing the crisis and emphasizing the evidence-driven need for community justice work. Learn more and access the recording.
🏥Camden Coalition: Putting Care at the Center Recap | | | |
Oct. 15-Oct.17, the Camden Coalition partnered with The National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership (NCMLP) to host the annual Putting Care at the Center Conference. While attending, Frontline Justice co-hosted collaborative networking events with NCMLP, led a roundtable strategy discussion, and participated in buzz talks. We are grateful to our friends at the National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership for letting us tag along with them!
| | Community Justice Worker Spotlight: Hayden Ramsey | |
Hayden was never one to let the grass grow under her feet. A culinary school grad, world traveler, and former restaurant owner, she appreciates and enjoys life. But change is inevitable, and when the world was experiencing the recession, she felt the impact—hard. Struggling to afford food and keep the power on, she felt powerless. The challenges persisted as she navigated complex systems and applications for support, only to be denied SNAP benefits.
Despite facing fear, vulnerability, and uncertainty, Hayden remained hopeful and transformed her situation. For Hayden, the loss became the lesson. Knowing how quickly change can turn to crisis, she knows that a solution is not one-size-fits-all and works to restore joy and empower people to gain access to aid before it’s too late.
Now, as a community justice worker, Hayden supports families in navigating the complex SNAP appeal process to ensure they receive benefits. Her experience became a guide for working together, helping others move forward, and restoring hope. Read Hayden’s full story here. | | | | | | Jhody Polk Is Awarded The David Prize | We send a special congratulations to Jhody Devon-Polk, Design Advisory Council Member for the National Community Justice Workers Task Force, on receiving The David Prize! Jhody was 1 of 5 winners to receive the $200k, no-strings-attached award.
From practicing law behind bars to founding the Jailhouse Lawyer Initiative, she has turned lived experience into a movement for legal empowerment in New York neighborhoods.
| | | | Alicia Mitchell-Mercer and Rachel Royal Receive Awards from the North Carolina
Bar Association | Congratulations to Frontline Justice COO, Dr. Alicia Mitchell-Mercer, and Program Coordinator, Rachel Royal, on being recognized at the North Carolina Bar Association’s (NCBA) annual meeting in July 2025 for their contributions to the Disaster Legal Services Project supporting Tropical Storm Helene survivors in their home state of North Carolina.
With vision and care, they served as case managers, connecting survivors to legal support and streamlining systems for a more effective referral process.
Since the project launched in the fall of 2024, over 160 survivors have received critical legal support. We’re proud of Alicia and Rachel’s leadership and commitment to standing with communities.
| | | | Regulatory Reform Watch: Keeping an Eye on Justice | |
So much is happening in the world of regulatory reform. Here’s a quick roundup of recent developments you’ll want to know about.
✅Conference of Chief Justices and COSCA Resolution
In July 2025, the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ) and the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA) jointly adopted Resolution 1-2025, encouraging states to consider new categories of authorized justice practitioners as part of a broader effort to expand access to civil legal services.
✅American Bar Association (ABA) Endorses Resolution 605
On August 2, 2025, the American Bar Association followed with Resolution 605, extending the endorsement of the national lawyer community and urging jurisdictions to authorize community justice worker programs.
✅Frontline Justices Submits Public Comment on Proposed Revisions for ACJA §7-211(F)
On September 15, 2025, Frontline Justice submitted a public comment on the proposed revisions to ACJA §7-211(F): Online Exam Proctoring Fees for Community Legal Advocates. The comment addressed concerns with the current fee structure and recommended a new provision to eliminate financial burdens on under-resourced individuals, nonprofits, and training providers. Read the Amendment and review our public comment.
✅Frontline Justice Issues Public Comment to Reconsider Education and Licensure Barriers for Tennessee
The community justice worker movement is gaining momentum in Tennessee! The Tennessee Supreme Court is inviting public comments on reshaping the legal profession to make justice more affordable and accessible for Tennesseans. This involves reassessing how legal education and licensure practices and processes can address the justice gap crisis.
You can also amplify your voice! This is a powerful chance to open the door and explore alternative legal pathways to empower communities. Take part in shifting the future of justice for the “Volunteer State.”
The deadline for submitting public comments is March 16, 2026. Learn more and submit your comment.
✅Justice Work Movement in Illinois
We’ve got action in Illinois! On September 23, 2025, Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis and the Illinois Supreme Court announced the conceptual approval of a new community justice worker program. Learn more here.
✅Montana Legal Services Association Proposes Advocacy Program for Lay Advocates
The Montana Legal Services Association is getting closer to equal access to justice for all through its recent proposal to authorize certified lay advocates to provide limited legal services in Justice and City Courts. Read the Montana Supreme Court Order and full proposal.
The deadline to submit a public comment for this proposal is 60 days from the court order date of September 30.
Public comments can be filed by mailing a written comment to the Clerk of Supreme Court, 215 N. Sanders St., Room 323, Helena, MT 59601.
✅Frontline Justice Issues Public Comment for Proposed Pilot Program in Georgia
On October 2, Frontline Justice submitted a public comment to the Georgia Supreme Court for the proposed Pilot Program for Limited Licensed Legal Practitioners (LLLPs).
With one of the nation’s lowest ratios of legal aid attorneys to eligible residents, Georgia’s new proposal represents an important step toward closing the state’s justice gap. Continued refinements to the pilot program will help ensure that the model remains accessible, balanced, and effective in meeting community needs. Read the full comment here.
✅District of Columbia: Community Justice Worker Proposal and Public Comment by Frontline Justice
In July 2025, the D.C. Courts’ Civil Legal Regulatory Reform Task Force released a proposal recommending authorization of a Community Justice Worker program in the District of Columbia. On October 2, Frontline Justice submitted a public comment supporting the proposal and commending the Court for seeking to expand the pool of legal service providers in the U.S. Capitol.
The comment encouraged the Court to adopt a flexible supervision framework that allows community justice workers to be embedded in trusted community spaces like schools, reentry programs, health clinics, and faith centers while maintaining oversight and accountability through partnerships with legal aid organizations.
If you’d like to support these efforts, the deadline to submit a public comment is October 31. Read full proposal and review our public comment. | | Helpful Resources: Insights on Expanding Access to Justice | | Chris Pomorski and Mother Jones shine a light on the access-to-justice crisis, and the bold movement to redefine and expand who can deliver civil legal help. Through the voices of S.M. Kernodle-Hodges, Alicia Mitchell-Mercer, and Jim Sandman, you’ll get their insights on advocacy and on-the-ground experience. | | Rebecca Sandefur and Matthew Burnett talk with Zack Glaser to discuss how justice work is more than a vision; it’s a movement that's reshaping today and empowering communities. | | | | As courts increasingly explore nonlawyer programs, Rebecca Sandefur and Matthew Burnett address three essential questions in this featured Law360 article to help expand justice work and encourage authorized trainings and programs to scale. | | From believer to champion, Nikole Nelson has dared to reimagine justice and helped lead the way forward for the community justice worker movement. Check out this feature on how she’s turning the vision into action. | | | | Nikole Nelson, Alicia Mitchell-Mercer, and ACT NOW Executive Director, Jim Copple, partnered on an educational webinar to spread awareness of the civil system challenges families face and the role of community justice worker models in strengthening them. | | In LawNext’s podcast, “Justice Workers: Reimagining Access to Justice as Democracy Work,” Robert Ambrogi visits with Rebecca Sandefur and Matthew Burnett to discuss the unresolved legal problems of Americans and a practical solution through justice workers. | | | | Rights alone don’t always lead to a solution, which leaves millions of families facing a justice system where a lack of help leaves promises unfulfilled. In this article, Nikole Nelson and Alicia Mitchell-Mercer address how community justice workers can close the gap between rights on paper and help in real life. | | On October 21, the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) opened the door to help forge a bold new pathway for nonprofits, tech innovators, and creative service models to widen the reach and deepen the impact of justice.
Through this pilot project, the WSBA will help shift boundaries and test new ways to deliver legal help. This is an excellent opportunity for organizations and businesses that have developed a community justice worker program or are exploring models. | | | | | | During our time Wisconsin, our team captured the Wisconsin State Capitol in the heart of Madison.
The shining light at night is a gentle reminder that justice shines the brightest when it touches everyone. | | | | | | Did you know, cheese making started before the invention of the wheel, over 7,000 years ago?
Today, there are over 2,000 types of cheese, which can naturally trigger your brain to release dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical.
Happy eating! | | | | | | | | Take Our Community Justice Worker Survey | | The survey is structured around regulatory reforms and initiatives that would enable community justice workers to offer legal advice and/or representation. | | | | - ✅ Has your state authorized a community justice worker program?
Complete this survey. - 📃 Is your state exploring a community justice worker proposal or does it have a working group in progress?
Share your insight. - 🤝 Do you know someone who is better positioned to respond, or would you like more information on how to take the next step forward in getting community justice worker programs authorized in your state?
You can fill this form out.
| | | | | | Frontline Justice empowers a new category of legal helper, the community justice worker, as a scalable solution to the civil access to justice crisis. Justice workers are ordinary people with the knowledge, skills, and ability to support people as they solve their civil legal problems. Justice workers are trained and empowered to help others in their community to use the law to resolve their critical life-altering civil legal needs.
An Initiative of the Office of American Possibilities Fund, a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc.
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