NLADA Annual Conference 2026

The NLADA Annual Conference is the premier skills-building and knowledge-sharing event for the civil legal aid, public defense, and public interest law communities. More than 700 equal justice advocates come together each year to participate in substantive workshops on topics critical to helping effectively meet the legal needs of low-income people.

The 2026 NLADA Annual Conference will take place in St. Louis, Missouri, from November 4 to November 6, 2026. This event serves as a national convening of public defenders, civil legal aid practitioners, and client and community advocates from across the country. The conference program will engage attendees in sessions that explore ways civil, criminal, and community advocacy protects rights, secures benefits, and defends against harms. Sessions will also highlight opportunities for collective impact and interdisciplinary collaboration.

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.