Events

WLC leadership gathered with supporters and members of our community on Tuesday, Sept. 24 for a brief on our NEW strategic plan, approved in June 2024. Speakers included: Avis Buchanan, Co-Lead of the Board Strategic Planning Committee Joanne Lin, Executive Director Ryan Downer, Legal Director and Co-Lead for the Staff Strategic Planning Committee   Read More.

 Watch a webinar conversation with the Washington Lawyers’ Committee about the SCOTUS decision in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson upholding a set of city ordinances that criminalize homelessness. On April 22, 2024, WLC Board member Kelsi Brown Corkran, the Supreme Court Director for the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown Law, argued before the […] Read More.

 On June 25, 2024, we gathered for a book talk with the Honorable Judge David S. Tatel on his upcoming memoir Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice. Judge Tatel served for nearly 30 years on America’s second highest court, the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, where he championed equal […] Read More.

Thank you for joining us Wednesday, May 29th as we celebrate and honor the commitment of our award winners and their organizations at our 2024 Wiley A. Branton Awards Luncheon! Wiley A. Branton Awards Luncheon May 29, 2024 Networking 11:30 am | Program & Lunch: 12:00–1:30 pm JW Marriott 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC […] Read More.

Join us for a virtual panel on civil rights and liberties affecting Asian Pacific Americans in conversation with: Shoba Wadhia, DHS Officer for Civil Rights and Liberties Joanna Derman, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC Amandeep Sidhu, Winston & Strawn Joanne Lin, Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs VIRTUAL PANEL: Civil Rights […] Read More.

On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee and the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association hosted a discussion on the latest victory for workers’ rights in the Supreme Court, Muldrow v. City of St. Louis (decided on April 17), holding that an employee challenging a job transfer need only show some (rather than significant) […] Read More.

On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee hosted a discussion on the Supreme Court’s latest immigration decision (issued Mar. 19) holding that an Immigration Judge’s hardship determination is reviewable by a federal court. For those of you who missed the Wilkinson v. Garland webinar, please click the link below: Immigration Supreme Court Webinar: […] Read More.

On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee hosted a book talk with Professor Tricia Rose on her upcoming book Metaracism: How Systemic Racism Devastates Black Lives–And How We Break Free, a bracing and invaluable new account of what systemic racism actually is, how it works, and how we can fight back. Professor Tricia Rose directs the […] Read More.

Join us for a panel event on WLC’s racial justice strategy for 2024. We will discuss our recently published report on the DC gang database, and our current housing justice and education equity work. The in-person event will be held at Arnold & Porter on February 21st at 12 pm. RSVP below! Bending the Arc: […] Read More.

On October 18th, 2023, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee’s clients, co-counsel, staff, and partners gather to celebrate civil rights pro bono work! Attendees saw the debut of our new Legal Director, Ryan Downer, and learned about workers’ rights and decarceration. Watch the video below to learn more! Thank you to ArentFox Schiff LLP for hosting us […] Read More.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating and honoring the commitment of our award winners and their organizations at our 2023 Wiley A. Branton Awards Luncheon! Photos from the 2023 Branton Luncheon are available here. Check out our Outstanding Achievement Award videos featuring our incredible clients, co-counsel, and staff below. A full recording […] Read More.

The Washington Lawyers’ Committee gathered with its partners and supporters on November 16, 2022 to hear from our clients, co-counsel, volunteers, and staff about some the crucial pro bono work that you help make possible. The breakfast is named in memory of John L. Burke, Jr. For over 20 years, John served with distinction as […] Read More.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating our award winners and their organizations in their commitment to dismantle injustice and pursue lasting change. Read our full program book here! Read More.

The Washington Lawyers’ Committee invites you to join our past and present Co-Chairs, Board Members, and Trustees at the 2022 Founders’ Reception. Monday, April 25, 2022 5:30pm-7:30pm Home of Tersh Boasberg 3136 Newark Street NW, Washington D.C. Read More.

On Monday, May 9, 2022, we gathered for a conversation with Congressman Jamie Raskin about his recent book Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy, sponsored by our Associate Trustees.  In the book Congressman Raskin weaves together the remarkable life of his son, who died by suicide, and the insurrection of the Capitol […] Read More.

The Washington Lawyers’ Committee gathered with our partners and supporters December 1, 2021 hear more about our focus to dismantle injustice based on racial discrimination and to repair the damage of historical racial inequity. Presentations by clients, community members, co-counsel and staff will highlight the crucial work that you help make possible. Participation is free […] Read More.

Thank you for joining our past and present Co-Chairs, Board Members and Trustees at the Committee’s 2021 Virtual Founders Reception! The discussion was led by guests Avis Buchanan, former WLC alumna and head of PDS & Ben Wilson, former Co-Chair of the Board, current Member and leadership at Beveridge & Diamond. Ben and Avis have […] Read More.

The Washington Lawyers’ Committee cordially invites our supporters to join us to hear more about our renewed focus to dismantle injustice based on racial discrimination and to repair the damage of historical racial inequity.  Presentations by clients, co-counsel and staff will highlight the crucial work that you help make possible. Participation is free and open […] Read More.

I regret to announce that the Washington Lawyers’ Committee is forced to cancel the Wiley A. Branton Awards Luncheon, which was scheduled for June 17. After much discussion, we realized that it will be impossible to reschedule the event this year. Read More.

The Washington Lawyers’ Committee came together on November 8, 2019 to share more about our renewed focus to dismantle injustice based on racial discrimination and to repair the damage of historical racial inequity.  Presentations by clients, co-counsel and staff highlighted the crucial work that you help make possible. The breakfast is named in memory of […] Read More.

On Wednesday, June 26th, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs convened with the legal and corporate supporters to celebrate the last year and honor those that have made an important difference in the cause of civil rights. Read More.

The Washington Lawyers’ Committee is pleased to announce that the set of articles prepared in connection with the Committee’s 50th Anniversary have just been published by the Howard Law Journal. Please join us for a special program featuring a discussion of these articles and presentations by the authors and several guest commentators. In addition to a review of the Committee’s accomplishments over its first five decades, the articles also suggest important areas for future engagement. Read More.

On Tuesday, April 24, 2019, The Associate Trustees of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee hosted a conversation with Debra Katz and Michael R. Bromwich about their representation of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford during her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The conversation was moderated by Susan M. Hoffman of Crowell & Moring LLP and DC Bar President-Elect. Read More.

It is easy to look at injustice and equality today and despair about what has not been accomplished. Our 50th Anniversary Wiley A. Branton Awards Dinner showed why that would be a mistake. Read More.

On June 5th, we gathered together as community to celebrate 50 years of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. We had great representation at the event of people from all periods of the Committee’s existence – from founders to current law clerks and future civil rights warriors. The energy in the room was terrific. Read More.

On Monday, March 19, 2018, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs hosted an evening with Richard Rothstein discussing his best-selling and award winning book The Color of Law. This thoroughly researched and richly documented book traces the history of government policy that created and enforced racial segregation in housing in urban America. Read More.

The inaugural Civil Rights Scavenger Hunt was a remarkable event that engaged scores of summer associates, associates, partners and office staff from law firms and other nonprofits from across the city. Some of our city’s civil rights history is obvious, but many landmarks are hidden or have been forgotten Read More.