Section Projects and Initiatives

    The Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice houses three projects and a number of initiatives that seek to galvanize the legal profession to protect and advance human rights, civil liberties, and social justice.

    Section Projects

    The Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice houses three ABA projects: the Death Penalty Due Process Review Project, the HIV/AIDS Impact Project, and the Court Watching Project, which is conducted with the ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense.

    Learn more - about our projects

    Our Initiatives

    Voting Rights Service Initiative

    The Voting Rights Service Initiative is designed to protect and advance the voting rights of vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities, those residing in long-term care facilities and people with limited English proficiency. The Section launched this initiative by partnering with Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law on Election Protection, and by creating a voting rights toolkit to equip community leaders to identify and prevent voter suppression that vulnerable populations may face.

    2020 General Elections Voting Rights Toolkit

    Learn - More

    Civil Rights Connection

    Civil Rights Connection is a multi-component, collaborative initiative designed to connect, convene, and assist members of the civil rights legal community by facilitating meaningful collaborations and providing access to helpful resources. Click the survey below to include your organization in a state-by-state listing of civil rights and social justice pro bono opportunities from across the country.

    Civil Rights Connection Clearinghouse Survey

    View - the Letter

    The Civil Rights Lawyer Webinar Series

    There are so many ways to advance civil rights and social justice, and the time could not be more opportune to explore pathways into the profession of the civil rights lawyer. This four-part series provides insights and perspectives about pursuing a career in the realm of civil rights law. Panelists include law professors, policy advocates, civil rights litigators, public interest lawyers, federal agency attorneys, law clerks, and a range of others who will discuss their career trajectories and lessons learned in their work to advance civil rights.

    Latest Program

    Part 2: Social Engineer

    Learn - More

    Free Legal Answers Volunteer Partnership

    The Section is proud to join ABA Free Legal Answers to offer several volunteer opportunities during the 2020-21 bar year. ABA Free Legal Answers is an online virtual legal clinic through which income-eligible clients can post civil legal questions to be answered by pro bono attorneys from their state. ABA Free Legal Answers continues to serve as a valuable pro bono resource for attorneys and clients as it is entirely virtual and can address many basic legal questions that arise, both typical and pandemic-based.

    Learn - More

    Civil Rights Civics Institute

    As the Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice, we strive to educate both lawyers and the public about related law and policy so everyone can more effectively participate in our democracy. We believe that civic literacy fosters unity. The Civil Rights Civics Institute (CRCI) will consist of short, educational videos answering student questions on a wide range of civil rights related civics topics. We are currently seeking discrete and pointed questions from students that we can answer in short 10–20-minute videos. If you know an educator with access to traditionally underserved students, please refer them to the Civil Rights Civics Institute. You can use this sample email to send to educators, which explains the Civil Rights Civics Institute and the ask.

    Proposed Language for You to Send

    Sample Email

    View - our Committees

    "Equal Justice Under Pod" – The CRSJ Podcast

    Coming Soon!