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Only one-third of the U.S. public today believe our courts offer access to justice. That number drops significantly for people from historically marginalized backgrounds. Today, fewer civil jury trials and more barriers to litigation mean fewer opportunities to expose wrongs and vindicate rights in public, to hear and be heard on issues of liberty and dignity, to participate in a fundamental pillar of our democracy. For many of the most vulnerable people in our country, the courts don't feel like a place for accountability and progress.
The Trial Impact Project, formerly known as the Social Justice Legal Foundation, develops civil rights and social impact cases for trial. Working with communities who have historically been denied access to justice, we translate their experiences to the courtroom, unearth the facts to create a public record, and train a new generation of impact litigators to fight for accountability in court—from investigation to verdict.
We envision an inclusive, multicultural democracy in which historically excluded communities and people can access justice to the same degree and enjoy the same rights and liberties as the wealthiest and most powerful institutions and people in this country.
We believe that can only happen if those communities have some of the best-trained lawyers in the country fighting with and for them, in their corner.
In an era of reactionary politics, when faith in institutions is at an all-time low, the trial—and the jury trial, in particular—remains part of our democratic bedrock. Trials can advance the law and deliver justice between litigants, but they can also broadcast the voices of marginalized people, spotlight injustice, create a historical record, and appeal directly to the public. Trials can democratize powerful players and systems—jails and prisons, governments, universities, corporations—by ensuring that the needs of impacted people are heard and included. They can mobilize and support movements, leveling an uneven playing field through procedures that unearth facts and expose harms. Above all, trials allow us to uncover the truth and to persuade one another that it matters.
We use trial litigation to advocate for individual plaintiffs, improve access to justice, and build more equitable systems.
Our two-year fellowship builds a pipeline of litigators with the skill and experience to fight for progress in court.
We recognize that litigation is only one tool to achieve social change. Because of that, we are litigation specialists who work alongside content and issue experts, academics, community organizers, and coalition partners.
Our fellowship launched with the support of public interest programs at five law schools: Columbia, Northwestern, Stanford, UCLA, and Yale. We have since expanded to recruit fellows from all ABA-accredited law schools.
Top trial firms, including our founding firm, Hueston Hennigan LLP, donate litigation resources, help train our fellows, and provide pro bono support.
Litigation is strongest when it feeds and bolsters the work of activists and organizers. Our first docket of cases built on the work of coalitions and organizations like Silicon Valley DeBug, the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, and the Shut Down Adelanto Coalition.
We work with individuals seeking to go to trial and those who want to support our mission.
Meet the advocates behind our work—trial lawyers, fellows, and a board driven by a shared commitment to litigating for justice alongside the communities we serve.
Find answers to common questions about our history, how our impact litigation works, and the many ways you can get involved in advancing justice with us.
Stay up to date on our latest cases, victories, and collaborations as we continue pushing for lasting civil and economic rights reform for our clients.
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