About the National Equal Justice Library (NEJL), a special collection at Georgetown Law Library
The National Equal Justice Library (NEJL), housed at Georgetown University Law Center’s Law Library, is a repository of archival papers, oral histories, photos and memorabilia about the history of civil legal aid and indigent criminal defense in the United States. It also includes a collection of domestic and international publications on legal aid including an expanding collection of materials about legal aid in other countries.
The NEJL documents the rule of law as practiced by civil legal aid and indigent criminal defense attorneys in the United States on behalf of the poor, the disenfranchised and the incarcerated.
The National Equal Justice Library is located at the Edward Bennett Williams Law Library, Georgetown University Law Center, 111 G Street, NW Washington DC 20001.
About the Consortium for the National Equal Justice Library (Consortium)
The Consortium for the National Equal Justice Library (Consortium) is the governing entity responsible for the creation, oversight and funding of the National Equal Justice Library, a special collection at Georgetown Law Library (see above). The Consortium is an independent 501(c)(3) organization. It has offices at the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) in Washington, DC.
The Consortium conducts oral histories and produces programs and products for the advancement of access to justice, civil legal aid, and indigent criminal defense.
The Consortium’s volunteer Board of Directors consists of appointments by the Board, by the American Bar Association, and by the National Legal Aid & Defender Association.
Partner organizations
National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA)
Founded in 1911, NLADA is America’s oldest and largest nonprofit association devoted to excellence in the delivery of legal services to those who cannot afford counsel. Because the quality of justice in America should not depend on how much money a person has, NLADA leads a broad network of advocates on the frontlines to advance justice and expand opportunity for all by promoting excellence in the delivery of legal services for people who cannot afford counsel. Effective local advocacy requires a strong national advocate. NLADA provides advocacy, guidance, information, training and technical assistance for members of the equal justice community, especially those working in public defense and civil legal aid. For more than a century, we have connected and supported people across the country committed to justice for all. NLADA has more than 800 civil legal aid and public defender program members that collectively represent thousands of attorneys in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. See www.nlada.org for more information.
American Bar Association (ABA)
Founded in 1878, the ABA is committed to advancing the rule of law across the United States and beyond by providing practical resources for legal professionals, law school accreditation, model ethics codes and more. The Division for Legal Services works to expand access to justice for all persons through the provision of, and appropriate funding for, legal assistance, counsel, and representation in the nation’s civil, criminal, and military justice systems. The ABA Resource Center for Access to Justice Initiatives serves judicial, private bar, and legal aid leaders who work together to provide people of low and modest income with meaningful access to their justice systems. The Center’s two main focuses are: (1) Supporting the growth and development of state-based Access to Justice Commissions; and (2) Collecting and analyzing data on the various sources of funding for civil legal aid. See www.americanbar.org for more information.