The law is a powerful tool, but too often it is weaponized against our communities. That is why we launched the Law and Organizing Academy (LOA) back in 2023. The Academy, born of a partnership with the Initiative for Community Power at NYU Law, nurtures a new generation of innovative power lawyers, encouraging them to critically reflect on the role of law in advancing social justice, build foundational organizing skills, and connect with experienced organizers and academics.
This year, LOA continued to expand its reach and impact, spanning five full-day sessions that offered participants mentorship and insights grounded in real-world campaigns. Topics ranged from how movement lawyers can relate to the state in their work to how to situate the law in effective organizing campaigns. By bridging legal education and grassroots organizing, the Law and Organizing Academy exemplifies The Action Lab’s commitment to equipping leaders with the skills and frameworks necessary to advance transformative social movements. Over time, it is creating a network of legal professionals committed to aligning their practice with the essential principles of justice, equity, and community power. This year, the academy worked with summer legal fellows from Make the Road New York, TakeRoot Justice, the Safety Net Project, Make the Road NJ, the Center for Constitutional Rights, and the Movement Law Lab.
