The Partners for Justice Conference takes place annually, and presents a unique opportunity for legal services program staff, the public and private bar, members of the judiciary, human services agencies, elected officials, and others to discuss critical issues facing people in poverty and the underrepresented across the mid-Atlantic region and how we can improve access to justice.

In 2024, we celebrate our 25th year of this conference, and we invite panelists from over various public interest organizations, government agencies, and law firms across Maryland and the United States to share their thoughts and ideas while leading discussions on key access-to-justice issues.

This conference typically draws an in-person audience of 250 - 300 attendees. In 2023, we broke our own attendance record with 311 attendees. About 50% of our typical audience includes staff of legal services providers.  The other 50% includes representation from judges, social workers, service organizations, private bar lawyers, government lawyers, paralegals, law students, elected officials, and more, providing an opportunity of engagement with various perspectives on access-to-justice issues.

1. Have at least 2, but no more than 3 panelists, and 1 moderator. A panelist cannot be a moderator on the same panel. All panels must have a moderator. If you do not choose a moderator, one will be assigned to you by the Conference Planning Committee.
2. Make sure your panel moderator and panelists all represent different organizations. We allow no more than one representative per organization on a single panel.
3. Be diverse! Make sure that your topic includes diversity across the board. This includes diversity in race, gender, geography, program, and perspective.
4. Sessions should provide key takeaways and encourage discussion. Interactive sessions will be highly considered.
5. Have a well-thought-out submission. While you may leave some fields blank or with "TBD", full submissions are usually selected over ones that need more development.

Each session should last 70 minutes, with an additional 5 more minutes at the end for the audience to complete evaluations for the session (75 minutes total). Be mindful that your 70 minutes includes introductions, content, and questions from the audience. There will be 15-minute breaks between sessions.

Breakdown of the Day

• 8:15 AM - 9:00 AM: Breakfast & Registration
• 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Morning Plenary
• 9:45 AM - 11:00 AM: 1st Morning Panel Session
• 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM: 2nd Morning Panel Session
• 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch & Keynote Address
• 2:15 PM - 3:30 PM: Afternoon Panel Session

• Your Name
• Email Address
• Phone Number
• Organization
• Street Address
• City, State, Zip
• Topic Name
• Draft a brief, 1-paragraph description of topic to be included in program
• An informal description of why you think this session is relevant to the legal services community and the Conference
• Names, organizations, and locations of up to 3 potential panelists
• Name, organization, and location of 1 moderator

If your panel is selected, it is expected that you will:

• coordinate this panel, and be the main point of contact for the panel when the Conference Planning Committee or Coordinator have inquiries about the panel;
• collect and submit your panel's final information, biography profile information, headshots, and electronic materials to be shared with attendees to the Conference Coordinator by deadline;
• invite your colleagues and friends to register for the Conference; and
• make arrangements to be flexible for the full day of the Conference (Wednesday, May 22, 2024) in case you are unable to present at your preferred session time.

If your panel is selected, it is expected that the Conference Planners: 

• reserve the right to make changes in the recommended presenters, program and materials;
• may be in contact with you regarding planning;
• will provide a day-of meeting space, including a projector and screen for presentations, and
• will provide complimentary all-day registration for the panel coordinator, panelists, and moderator.

If a proposal is selected:

• The panel coordinator will submit a session submission form, which will include the complimentary registration of all session participants (1 moderator, 1 coordinator, up to 3 panelists; there may be overlap between coordinator and the other 2 positions).
• All presenters are expected to be available for the majority of the conference day in order to facilitate session scheduling.
• Financial support from PBRC is very limited and panel coordinators and presenters are expected to support all expenses outside of registration. To make a request for special accommodation, contact Kiah Pierre at kpierre@probonomd.org.
• All presenters are expected to attend the Conference, for their session only or for the whole day, in-person, but if travel expenses are a barrier, virtual options may be available. To make a request for virtual presenting, contact Kiah Pierre at kpierre@probonomd.org.