We’re a small organization fighting big battles, so we regret that we can’t respond to every piece of mail or inquiry that comes our way. Here’s what people most often want to know.
Yes, we are a donor-funded 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization operating under the EIN 86-1434433. We are also a qualifying organization under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
Maybe! We are a small team that takes big cases, litigates them aggressively, and trains fellows in the nuts and bolts of trial litigation throughout. This means we take fewer cases than many other nonprofits do.
We work on cases that have the potential to protect and expand the rights of people who lack access to justice or who come from marginalized backgrounds. Our focus is impact litigation: litigation that pursues a result beyond one specific case and that could change the way institutions or systems work for many people. This includes, for example:
• Challenging the policy of a local government, police department, or prison or detention system
• Litigating on behalf of a group of people who are being systematically discriminated against or disadvantaged by a corporation or government actor
• Litigating on behalf of a coalition or organization that is advocating for change in their community
• Challenging widespread actions that limit people’s public participation (for instance, retaliating against protestors or journalists)
The Trial Impact Project is not a general legal services provider and does not generally assist individuals with private legal matters. For instance, we do not take criminal cases, post-conviction appeals, complaints about an attorney or judge, domestic or family law matters, appeals from the denial of government benefits, and individual property or tax matters.
If you're interested in submitting a case, please fill out this form.
In 2020, hundreds of years of social and racial injustice, four years of regressive policy, and the murder of George Floyd galvanized a new generation of civil rights activists in the collective Movement for Black Lives. It also prompted backlash to the changing national discourse on race, inclusion, and equity.
Responding to the moment, skilled trial lawyers from the law firm of Hueston Hennigan pledged to incubate a new kind of organization: one that would leverage the trial expertise of the private sector—expertise often reserved for the wealthiest people and institutions in the world—to develop a generation of public interest lawyers trained to use trial litigation to support and propel the social justice movements taking hold.
With an initial pledge of funds, Hueston Hennigan enabled our organization to hire a full staff and take on a full docket of cases over our first five years. Since then, what was once the Social Justice Legal Foundation has evolved into the Trial Impact Project, and our partnerships, collaborations, and supporters have grown. Today, Hueston Hennigan remains a close partner of our organization, providing everything from training to pro bono assistance on our cases.
The Trial Impact Project is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded through charitable contributions. The easiest way to support our work is through a monthly recurring contribution, which helps us continue to take important impact cases at no cost to plaintiffs.
We also rely on pro bono support from litigators, paralegals, and legal assistants. If you’d like to partner with us on a case, please contact us. If you are not a legal professional but would like to assist a growing nonprofit, we’re always looking for help in the following areas:
• Communications and social media
• Photography
• Tax or investment advising
• Development and fundraising
Finally, if you’d like to join our team of litigators—even if we don’t have an open role available for you right now—please register your interest at our careers page, and we’ll let you know when something becomes available that suits your experience.
Send us a note through our contact page or at info@trialimpact.org, and we’ll do our best to respond.