Strategic Planning

Legal Aid of North Carolina: Inspiring Bold Ideas with the Innovation Olympics

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 16:09:29 +0000

Legal Aid of North Carolina: Inspiring Bold Ideas with the Innovation Olympics sierra-chacona… Tue, 04/22/2025 - 12:09

In this project brief, learn how Legal Aid of North Carolina hosted an "Innovation Olympics" for its staff to propose ideas that improve efficiency and service delivery.

Inspiring Bold Ideas with the Innovation Olympics

Grantees will learn how Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC):

1. Empowered staff to see themselves as problem-solvers

2. Facilitated its Innovation Olympics submission, judging, and staff voting process

3. Used these ideas to improve internal and client-facing systems.

Hear from LANC management how the Innovation Olympics captured and elevated game-changing ideas, tools, and processes that staff use on a day-to-day basis.

View Project Brief

"We wanted to find a way to harness the creativity of our staff and turn their ideas into actionable projects."

Scheree Gilchrist

Chief Innovation Officer, LANC

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Leadership Strategic Planning Technology

North Carolina

Leadership Transitions: Key Elements in Legal Aid Succession Plans

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 15:41:50 +0000

Leadership Transitions: Key Elements in Legal Aid Succession Plans sierra-chacona… Tue, 04/22/2025 - 11:41

Learn about the key elements that LSC grantees include in their succession plans to guide them through executive leadership departures.

Key Elements in Legal Aid Succession Plans

Grantees will learn the key elements that LSC grantees, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) and Colorado Legal Services (CLS), included in their organizational succession plans:

1. Organization-wide leadership development

2. Internal and external stakeholder engagement

3. Examples of legal aid stakeholders to include in executive leadership searches.

NLSLA, CLS, and other LSC grantees have shared their succession plans as examples on MPI's Succession Planning webpage here.

View Infographic

"Creating strong succession plans helps legal aid organizations protect client services during leadership changes."

Excerpt from the infographic

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Leadership Leading and Managing an Organization Strategic Planning

The Evolution of Legal Aid

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 19:08:28 +0000

The Evolution of Legal Aid sierra-chacona… Tue, 03/25/2025 - 15:08

In this video series, hear from experienced LSC grantee executive directors about their impact on legal aid and advice for their peers.

A Fireside Chat with Experienced Executive Directors

Grantees will hear from current and retired LSC grantee executive directors (EDs) about:

1. Where they believe their leadership had the greatest impact

2. How did they adapt their organizations to legal aid's evolution throughout their careers

3. What advice they wish to pass on to current and future EDs.

LSC's Office of Training and Technical Assistance (OTTA) recorded this panel interview in April 2024 during its 50th Anniversary Celebration. This valuable opportunity allowed OTTA to capture and share the EDs' insights widely.

Watch on YouTube

"I think that's what I've done for the organization: identifying our key leadership so that when I transition out, I will be passing the torch to a new generation of leadership and legal services."

Yvonne Mariajimenez

President & CEO, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County

Featured Contributors

Vicki Schultz

Moderator

Executive Director, Maryland Legal Aid

César Torres

Executive Director (retired), Northwest Justice Project

Colleen Cotter

Executive Director, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

David Neumeyer

Executive Director, Virginia Legal Aid Society

Jon Asher

Executive Director Emeritus, Colorado Legal Services

Rhodia Thomas

Executive Director, MidPenn Legal Services

Yvonne Mariajimenez

President & CEO, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County

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Leadership Leading and Managing an Organization Strategic Planning

Research Data for Legal Needs Assessments Infographic

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 18:30:48 +0000

Research Data for Legal Needs Assessments Infographic sierra-chacona… Fri, 12/13/2024 - 13:30

In this infographic, learn what types of research data LSC grantees use to incorporate into their legal needs assessments.

Research Data for Legal Needs Assessments Infographic

Grantees will learn about the different types of research LSC grantees compile to complement their direct community research strategies, including:

1. Court data,

2. Literature reviews, and

3. Community reports.

Read how Legal Aid Chicago, Community Legal Aid SoCal, and Montana Legal Services Association incorporated diverse research and data analyses to inform their comprehensive legal needs assessments.

View Infographic

“By examining various research methodologies, LSC grantees can enhance their own data collection and analysis strategies, yielding actionable insights and allowing more effective service delivery."

Excerpt from the infographic

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Data Outcomes Strategic Planning

Research Data for Legal Needs Assessments

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 16:29:11 +0000

Research Data for Legal Needs Assessments sierra-chacona… Mon, 11/25/2024 - 11:29

In this infographic, learn what types of research data LSC grantees use to incorporate into their legal needs assessments.

Research Data for Legal Needs Assessments

Grantees will learn about the different types of research LSC grantees compile to complement their direct community research strategies, including:

Court data,
Literature reviews, and
Community reports.

Read how Legal Aid Chicago, Community Legal Aid SoCal, and Montana Legal Services Association incorporated diverse research and data analyses to inform their comprehensive legal needs assessments.

Read the Infographic

"By examining various research methodologies, LSC grantees can enhance their own data collection and analysis strategies, yielding actionable insights and allowing more effective service delivery.”

Excerpt from the Infographic

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Data Outcomes Strategic Planning

Community Research Strategies in Legal Needs Assessments

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 19:14:44 +0000

Community Research Strategies in Legal Needs Assessments sierra-chacona… Wed, 09/25/2024 - 15:14

In this infographic, learn about how grantees use community research methodologies to gain insight into their client populations' needs.

Evaluating Access to Justice: Community Research Strategies in Legal Needs Assessments

Grantees will learn about different types of community research methodologies that can help inform their legal needs assessments like:

1. Community focus groups;
2. Key stakeholder interviews; and
3. Community surveys.

Read how Legal Aid Chicago, Community Legal Aid SoCal, and Montana Legal Services Association tailored these community research methods to learn about the unique needs of their client populations.

View Infographic

“By examining the similarities and differences in [community research] approaches, LSC grantees can gain insight into various strategies for gathering comprehensive data on legal needs, each tailored to the unique characteristics of the communities they serve."

Excerpt from the infographic

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Outreach Strategic Planning

LSC Technology Baselines: Fundraising and Marketing

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 18:04:05 +0000

LSC Technology Baselines: Fundraising and Marketing sierra-chacona… Tue, 08/27/2024 - 14:04

Learn how leveraging customer relationship management software programs and websites boosts fundraising in this info video.

Fundraising and Marketing

Grantees will learn about strategies to boost fundraising by:

1. Making donation seamless with consistent branding and calls to action;

2. Promoting donation campaigns on social media; and

3. Tracking donors and fundraising with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software.

Learn tips and strategies on branding, online presence and outreach, and using CRM software to create efficient fundraising processes.

Watch Video on YouTube

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Media Outreach Strategic Planning Technology

A Culture of Systems Change

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 16:17:08 +0000

A Culture of Systems Change sierra-chacona… Tue, 08/27/2024 - 12:17

Learn about Legal Services NYC's litigation process and considerations for identifying potential impact litigation cases in this infographic.

Legal Services NYC’s Impact Advocacy: A Culture of Systems Change

Grantees will learn how Legal Services NYC (LSNYC):

1. Maximized resources to achieve the greatest possible benefits and systemic solutions;

2. Partnered in and out of the court systems to achieve the best possible outcome; and

3. Coordinated impact advocacy across five programs.

Discover how LSCNYC outlined the program’s litigation process and the factors to consider when identifying potential impact litigation cases.

Read Infographic

“LSNYC understands that potential impact litigation cases can come from any practice area, as well as outside the organization.”

Christine Clarke

Chief of Litigation and Advocacy, Legal Services NYC

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Leading and Managing an Organization Outcomes Strategic Planning

New York

Generating Financial Support for Legal Aid

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 14:54:39 +0000

Generating Financial Support for Legal Aid sierra-chacona… Tue, 08/27/2024 - 10:54

Learn tips and strategies for successful fundraising from The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland in this project brief.

The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland: Generating Financial Support for Legal Aid

Grantees will learn how The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland (CLA):

1. Built a dedicated team to diversify its funding portfolio;

2. Bolstered community support through a five-year fundraising campaign; and

3. Hosted successful annual fundraising events to secure sponsorships.

Learn about CLA’s successful fundraising tips, tricks, and strategies for donor recruitment and retention, event planning, and fundraising goals.

Read Project Brief

“Cleveland Legal Aid strives to secure sponsorships early in the year and then works to promote its generous sponsors routinely before, during, and after each sponsored event. This brand recognition helps develop trusted relationships with its sponsors so they will continue supporting the organization’s work year after year.”

Excerpt from the Project Brief

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Outreach Strategic Planning Technology

Capital Fundraising Campaign

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 14:50:55 +0000

Capital Fundraising Campaign sierra-chacona… Thu, 08/08/2024 - 10:50

Learn about capital fundraising and grassroots outreach with Anishinable Legal Services in this project brief.

Anishinabe Legal Services: Capital Fundraising Campaign

Grantees will learn how Anishinabe Legal Services (ALS):

1. Executed a capital fundraising campaign to construct a modern headquarters;

2. Advertised capital fundraising through grassroots outreach efforts; and

3. Improved the quality of legal aid to Reservation communities through its new headquarters.

Learn from ALS about how its capital fundraising campaign for the new headquarters improved client services, increased staff morale, and fulfilled a major objective of its strategic plan.

View Project Brief

“It is our belief that this [new headquarters] has not only created a much more accessible, safe, and inviting space for our low-income Native American community members, but it has also increased our efficiency and allowed us to serve greater numbers of clients at higher levels of service.”

Cody Nelson

Executive Director, Anishinabe Legal Services

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Outreach Strategic Planning Native American Grant Program

Minnesota

Strategic Planning

Legal Aid of North Carolina: Inspiring Bold Ideas with the Innovation Olympics

Inspiring Bold Ideas with the Innovation Olympics

Lone Star Legal Aid: Juris: The Legal Research Chatbot

Nevada Legal Services: Building a Statewide Legal Kiosk Network

Considerations for Integrating Generative AI into Legal Aid

More on Legal Aid Management

More Model Practices & Innovations

Leadership Transitions: Key Elements in Legal Aid Succession Plans

Key Elements in Legal Aid Succession Plans

LSC Asks Executive Directors: What Has Meant the Most to You about Your Career in Legal Aid?

The Evolution of Legal Aid: A Fireside Chat with Experienced Executive Directors

The Importance of Succession Planning

More Management Resources

More Model Practices & Innovations

The Evolution of Legal Aid

A Fireside Chat with Experienced Executive Directors

Featured Contributors

Seasoned Wisdom: Veteran Legal Aid Leaders Share Their Insights

LSC Asks Executive Directors

The Importance of Succession Planning

More Management Resources

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Research Data for Legal Needs Assessments Infographic

Research Data for Legal Needs Assessments Infographic

“By examining various research methodologies, LSC grantees can enhance their own data collection and analysis strategies, yielding actionable insights and allowing more effective service delivery."

Model Practices & Innovations: Strategic Planning

Community Research Strategies in Legal Needs Assessments

Comprehensive Needs Assessments and Priority Setting

More on Strategic Planning

More Model Practices & Innovations

Research Data for Legal Needs Assessments

Research Data for Legal Needs Assessments

"By examining various research methodologies, LSC grantees can enhance their own data collection and analysis strategies, yielding actionable insights and allowing more effective service delivery.”

Leveling Up Staff as a Strategy for the Future

A Culture of Systems Change: Legal Services NYC’s Impact Advocacy

Comprehensive Needs Assessments and Priority Setting

More on Strategic Planning

More Model Practices & Innovations

Community Research Strategies in Legal Needs Assessments

Evaluating Access to Justice: Community Research Strategies in Legal Needs Assessments

“By examining the similarities and differences in [community research] approaches, LSC grantees can gain insight into various strategies for gathering comprehensive data on legal needs, each tailored to the unique characteristics of the communities they serve."