About

The National Lawyers Guild
www.nlg.org

The National Lawyers Guild is an association dedicated to the need for basic change in the structure of our political and economic system. The Guild unites lawyers, law students, and legal workers as an effective political and social force in the service of the people. Our aims:

• eliminate racism;
• safeguard and strengthen the rights of workers, women, farmers and minority groups, upon whom the welfare of the entire nation depends;
• maintain and protect our civil rights and liberties in the face of persistent attacks upon them;
• use the law as an instrument for the protection of the people, rather than for their repression.

"...to the end that human rights shall be regarded as more sacred than property interests."

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Have you ever asked yourself, "Where are all the progressive legal people?" Look no further. The Guild is the nation's largest, and oldest, progressive legal organization. If you believe that legal practitioners must be part of organizing for social change, if you believe that change can happen not only in the courtroom but also in the streets, then join the Guild! When you do, you will be part of over 4,000 like-minded legal practitioners organizing and strategize about improving our society through the law.

History
Founded in 1937 the National Lawyers Guild was the nation’s first racially integrated bar association. The first Guild lawyers supported President Roosevelt’s New Deal, assisted the emerging industrial labor movement, and opposed the racial segregation policies of the American Bar Association and the larger society. During its 65 year history, the NLG has been an important part of the American people’s struggle for real democracy, for economic and social justice, and against oppression and discrimination based on race, ethnicity, immigration status, class, gender or sexual orientation. Consistent with its commitment to ensuring fairness and equality for all people, law students, non-lawyer legal workers and inmate legal experts are full members. The Guild elected its first African-American president in the early 1950s and its first female president in the 1960s. The first legal worker president was elected in 1996.

Projects & Committees

Projects of the NLG are: National Police Accountability Project, Center for Democratic Communications, Sugar Law Center for Economic Justice, and the National Immigration Project.

The NLG’s committees include: Anti-Death Penalty Committee, Corporations, the Constitution and Human Rights, The International Law Project For Human, Economic and Environmental Defense, Disability Rights Task Force, Mass Defense Subcommittee, International Legal Action, Prison Law Project, Employment Committee, Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Transgender Committee, and the Military Task Force.

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National Lawyers Guild - UW Law School Chapter

Last Year’s Accomplishments:
• Founded the Community Outreach Project and provided legal information around Madison
• Hosted a Speakers Series on Immigration
• Hosted a panel of recently-released prisoners to share their experiences with the criminal justice system
• Screened films on higher education in prisons and the independent media
• Provided legal observers for striking teaching assistants
• Trained anti-FTAA activists in preparation for the Miami demonstration
• Sponsored study breaks and social events
• Commemorated the National Day Against the Death Penalty
• Attended NLG’s national and regional conferences

Some ways you can get involved:
• Attend monthly planning meetings and events
• Volunteer in the community with COP
• Become a Legal Observer and help train others
• Initiate your own project or event!