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Frontline Justice Exchange - Summer 2026
Empowering a new category of legal helper — the community justice worker. |
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Dear Friends,
While in New York City, I recently got to see an exhibit called clinamen, and it’s been on my mind ever since. Imagine a big, peaceful pool of water with dozens of white ceramic bowls just floating around. They drift along, and while each one is beautiful on its own, the real magic happens when they bump into each other. Those collisions create wonderful chiming sounds that fill the entire room. It is hypnotic.
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The title refers to a physics concept describing how the random motion of atoms allows individual particles to collide, reconfigure, and create our world. In the pool, the bowls don’t follow a script. They just drift and find one another, and it’s that collective interaction that creates a unique sound that no single bowl could ever produce alone. It reminded me that while our individual efforts are deeply meaningful, it is the moment we come together—colliding and collaborating—that we transform from simple pieces into a truly unpredictable and transformative force.
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Watching those bowls find their way through the water, I couldn’t help but think about all of us and the work we do here.
Our mission at Frontline Justice is rooted in the idea that justice, much like the beautiful sounds of clinamen, is something we create together. While each of our individual efforts is a vital spark, the real magic—that deep, resonant impact—only happens when we bump into one another. It’s in those small random movements where a community justice worker’s heart meets a neighbor’s need, or where a local pilot program aligns with a new policy shift. These aren't just isolated moments; they are catalysts for a collective outcome that is fundamentally larger, louder, and more transformative than anything we could ever achieve on our own. When our paths converge, we aren't just adding up our work; we are multiplying our power to make positive change.
This quarter, we are seeing those collisions create a beautiful and ever-expanding ecosystem for our work. From the adoption of new justice worker rules in places as diverse as Montana and the District of Columbia to pilot programs testing new models in Wisconsin, Arizona and Texas, we are witnessing the "atoms" of our movement—our dedicated advocates, community partners, and allies—converging in ways that bring justice closer to the people who need it most. It is happening in ways that are surprising to all of us, and this is such a good thing!
Thank you for being a part of this movement and for continuing to help us shape a world where access to justice is not just an ideal, but a dynamic, community-led practice that responds to the unpredictable needs of everyday life.
Take good care, Nikole
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Frontline Justice and Josef Announce Frontline Q Multi-State Rollout |
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On July 2, Frontline Justice and Josef announced the expansion of Frontline Q, a human-moderated AI tool. Originally piloted in Alaska, this tool will now be available to support community justice workers in Texas and Arizona.
Frontline Q makes it easy to access answers backed by justice workers and attorneys and verified against state regulations. This tool supports continued learning by providing guidance on current processes and rule changes, specifically for SNAP benefits and eligibility.
When paired with the Frontline Justice-designed SNAP training for community justice workers, Frontline Q can be a valuable companion that helps trained justice workers practice their skills with support and mentorship.
If your organization is interested in either the SNAP training or Frontline Q, join the waitlist here.
We are grateful for Josef's partnership with us in helping to equip community justice workers with tools to expand their ability to provide help. We also thank Bob Ambrogi for shining light on the work of Frontline Justice and the community justice worker movement.
You can read Bob's full write-up about Frontline Q by clicking here. |
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Nikole Joins the D.C. Courts
Community Justice Worker Committee |
We are excited to share that Nikole Nelson has been appointed to the D.C. Courts Community Justice Worker Committee as an inaugural member.
We are grateful for the opportunity to support the District as it moves forward with implementing its new community justice worker rule!
Read the D.C. Courts' full administrative order for the Community Justice Worker Committee by clicking here. |
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Alicia Mitchell-Mercer Joins the North Carolina
Supreme Court Practice Innovation Commission |
Congratulations to Alicia Mitchell-Mercer on the appointment to the North Carolina Supreme Court Practice Innovation Commission. The Commission is made up of members who are rethinking traditional pathways to improve access to justice in the state. Alicia, along with 15 other Commission members, will explore evidence-informed approaches and consider how trained legal professionals, such as paralegals and paraprofessionals, can help reach more people in need of legal assistance.
Read more about the Practice Innovation Commission by clicking here.
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Frontline Justice National Task Force on Community Justice Workers
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With looming changes to work requirements for public benefits, Frontline Justice is developing SNAP and Medicaid trainings for frontline workers to help their communities exercise their legal rights to obtain and maintain their benefits. Check out these articles in The Washington Post and The New York Times, discussing how these changes have impacted Arizona.
On June 8, 2026, the National Community Justice Worker Task Force’s Design Advisory Council met virtually to share insights on Frontline Justice’s SNAP training pilot over the past six months. Several members also lead the programs piloting the trainings, bringing direct experience to the conversation.
The SNAP Legal Advocacy training has been tested by busy frontline workers. The results are in, and here’s what we learned! The trainings received resoundingly positive initial feedback across 4 states (n=27): The biggest opportunity for improvement is to embed more interactive practice options during and after the online training.
Medicaid Training To help communities prepare for changes in work requirements, training on Medicaid eligibility and coverage appeals will be available in the fall. The trainings are undergoing expert review in Montana, D.C., Wisconsin, Arizona, and New York. Thank you to our many subject-matter experts who make this possible!
These trainings are an easy first step into community legal advocacy. They are self-paced and designed to fit into the busy schedules of frontline staff at food banks, school-based health centers, and other community organizations.
Learners will be trained to help people: Understand new eligibility rules Break down legal language in paperwork Resolve issues early to protect benefits Appeal wrongful loss of benefits Prepare the documents needed to stay covered
Interested in bringing SNAP, Medicaid, or other training to your organization? Fill out our interest form and join the waitlist here.
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Innovation Corner/Groundwork |
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Supplementing SNAP Training with Technology
Newly trained community justice workers need scalable support and mentorship. Here are two options gaining traction–let us know if you are interested in setting up either for your programs!
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Upcoming Events and Conferences |
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Frontline Justice to Host Pre-Conference Convening at the NLADA Annual Conference
Mark your calendars! Frontline Justice will be in St. Louis for the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) Annual Conference, hosting a pre-conference that is designed by and centered on community justice workers - “Community Justice Workers in Action: Expanding Help Where People Already Turn.”
Event Details: 📍St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton ⏰November 4, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 🍴Coffee, snacks, and lunch provided (indicate food preferences in your registration form) 📋Tentative agenda
Registration is officially open. You can reserve your spot here. Space is limited to 100 attendees, so get your ticket as early as possible.
The pre-conference session is a space to connect, learn, and share resources to help expand access to justice nationwide. In May, we led our first community justice worker-centered convening
at the ABA/NLADA Equal Justice Conference, designed by community justice workers for community justice workers. We had the opportunity to bring together changemakers, community leaders, and allies to discuss how evidence-backed, community-centered solutions, such as community justice workers, are helping to resolve these legal issues before they escalate into crisis.
And we’re excited to host another convening!
In addition, we are currently seeking to raise $20,000 to cover the essential costs of delivering this event. We thank the National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA) for sharing conference space to host the event and Quarles and Brady for being our first official sponsor.
You can learn more about sponsorship packages and submit a sponsorship proposal by visiting here.
Your investment will go toward convening costs, including: Lunch and on-site convening costs Training and learning materials for the day Event programming Tools, resources, and takeaways for attendees to apply to their work Connections between community justice workers, researchers, policy-makers, and potential partners Collaboration for systems change
For more information about the conference, or if you have any questions, you can email info@frontlinejustice.org.
We look forward to seeing you all in November! |
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Frontline Justice Around Town |
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Frontline Justice
ABA/NLADA Pre-Conference
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While attending the American Bar Association (ABA)/National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) Equal Justice Conference, we hosted our first community justice worker-focused event, “Supercharging Access to Justice from the Frontlines: A Community Justice Worker Convening.”
You can check out this recap video on our YouTube channel by clicking here. It was a great event, and we are grateful for all those who made it possible - our fantastic presenters, the engaged attendees, and our sponsors! If you missed it, don’t worry; you can join us at our next pre-conference at the NLADA Annual Conference in November. Click here to learn more.
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On July 1, special guests Lucy Ricca, Executive Director of the Neukom Center for the Rule of Law, and Leigh Ferrin, California Project Director at the National Consumer Law Center, joined us for the Community Café to discuss California’s proposal to authorize community justice workers.
Lucy and Leigh provided an insightful discussion on expanding the ecosystem of trusted, community-based legal support in California. We got a chance to learn how the petition came together, as well as the partnerships and strategies that helped move the work forward. We are grateful for their time with us and their willingness to discuss how this process might apply to attendees’ own states and communities.
To learn more about future cafés and events, visit our events page at frontlinejustice.org/events.
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Non-Lawyers Filling the Rural Justice Gap
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On April 16, Matthew Burnett was part of the “Non-Lawyers Filling the Rural Justice Gap” panel at the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law, which hosted the 2026 Orr Symposium, “Closing the Rural Justice Gap: Innovation and Regulatory Reform.” The convening was dedicated to highlighting the urgent need for, and the challenges of, access to justice in rural communities. You can view the recap here.
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Frontline Justice attended the NALA Elevate Conference and Expo July 16-18, in Denver, Colorado.
Michael Houlberg, Director of Special Projects at IAALS, Alicia Mitchell-Mercer, and Celine Ta had the opportunity to present a two-part series exploring the growing community justice worker movement and innovation models that can help expand legal support nationwide.
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Community Justice Worker Spotlight |
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Meet S.M. Kernodle-Hodges.
“A lot of legal services are not designed for everyday people.” These are the words of S.M. Kernodle-Hodges, and words that resonate with many Americans throughout this country.
Imagine a grieving mother with no resources to afford an attorney, navigating the family law system when her granddaughter was kidnapped. Feelings of vulnerability and fear arise from not knowing if she would see her granddaughter safe again.
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But Kernodle-Hodges knows this story. She is a part of this story because she stepped in to provide legal support to secure an emergency custody order for the child when traditional legal service options were unavailable.
Being trained as a community justice worker and becoming empowered through knowledge of the law has allowed Kernodle-Hodges to serve her community in North Carolina, where the significant justice gap has contributed to limited resources, emotional stress, and traumatic experiences for people.
Kernodle-Hodges confirms the critical role community justice workers can play, handling a variety of cases involving landlord-tenant disputes, consumer protection, family law, and domestic violence. Her community's trust in her and her deep commitment to affordable and effective legal assistance are why she has worked independently for the past few years to train others. Kernodle-Hodges even trains community members, law students, and new lawyers on how to put people and communities first while helping to overcome legal obstacles so that cases don’t turn from one problem into a crisis.
You can read more about Kernodle-Hodges's story by visiting our website here.
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Regulatory Reform Watch: Keeping an Eye on Justice |
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California Public Comment Deadline Mid-August
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The California Supreme Court issued an order for public comment on the proposal for a community justice worker program.
Check out more details by visiting here. The deadline to submit a comment is August 22.
California has an opportunity to take a big step toward closing the justice gap. This decision can help expand the work of community justice workers, while providing another pathway of legal help for Californians.
Those already working in the state, be sure to join the California Justice Worker group to connect with fellow change leaders.
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Frontline Justice Submits Public Comment for Montana Proposal
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On June 18, the Montana Supreme Court issued an order seeking public comment on a proposal to authorize community justice workers, with comments due July 19. Frontline Justice submitted its comment by the deadline.
Read the full order by clicking here and Frontline Justice’s comment here. We appreciate Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) for their dedication to community and commitment to helping more people understand their rights, navigate systems, and connect with the resources they need before challenges become crises.
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🚨 Update: Public Comment Submissions for Tennessee’s Proposal to Increase Access to Quality Legal Representation
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The deadline to submit public comments for the proposal to increase access to quality legal representation in Tennessee was April 30. Frontline Justice submitted a comment in support of approval, as did Matthew Burnett and Rebecca Sandefur. You can view Frontline Justice’s public comment here and Matthew and Rebecca’s comment here.
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Take Our Community Justice Worker Survey The survey is structured around regulatory reforms and initiatives that would enable community justice workers to offer legal advice and/or representation. - ✅ Has your state authorized a community justice worker program? Complete this survey.
- 📃 Is your state exploring a community justice worker proposal or does it have a working group in progress? Share your insight.
- 🤝 Do you know someone who is better positioned to respond, or would you like more information on how to take the next step forward in getting community justice worker programs authorized in your state? You can fill out this form.
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The data presented here is for informational purposes only and may not be accurate or up to date. Users are encouraged to verify all details independently, as we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the data.
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Helpful Resources: Insights on Expanding Access to Justice |
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Global Perspectives on People-Centered Justice: Exploring the Evidence Matthew Burnett and Rebecca L. Sandefur discuss how meaningful access to justice begins with understanding people’s everyday challenges. From research to real-world examples worldwide, they discuss the impact of community-based justice models and cross-sector collaboration as solutions for resolving legal problems more effectively.
Rights Without Remedies: The Case for Community Justice Workers and the Future of Family Law
Alicia Mitchell-Mercer and Nikole Nelson’s published report focuses on the gap between legal rights and real-world support. They expand on the importance of community justice workers and how this alternative pathway is essential to helping make justice more accessible.
Arizona’s Community-Based Justice Work Service Delivery Models 2025 Annual Report
Check out Arizona’s 2025 annual report that discusses the state’s task force and the development of the community justice work program. The report is a good resource for understanding the justice worker training model, the program's challenges, and its accomplishments.
Community Justice Workers for Californians
Stay informed about the future of community justice work in California. Visit cacjw.org to learn more about the latest updates on proposals and the impact that community justice workers can bring to the state.
Why Study Lawyers
Elizabeth Chambliss provides her review of the book, “The Making of Lawyers,” in the Law & Social Inquiry. Chambliss explains that studying lawyers reveals their role in shaping access to legal help and law. In addition, she states that looking beyond traditional pathways and centering the person/community is how we address the justice gap and produce effective change.
Lincoln Exhibit for Nation's 250th + KBA Rates Candidates + Boosting Rural Lawyers
Know TN Today covers a recap of The University of Tennessee Winston College of Law’s 2026 Orr Symposium, “Closing the Rural Justice Gap: Innovation and Regulatory Reform.” Matthew Burnett was a member of the panel, discussing emerging models like community justice worker programs to help expand legal services to people in need.
America Needs a Tiered Legal Workforce to Close Civil Justice Gap
This article discusses the need to look beyond the traditional standards of the lawyer-only model towards a broader and more efficient framework to help expand justice work. In addition, similar to healthcare systems, training and certifying legal advocacy helpers like community justice workers can help meet the growing public need for affordable legal services. |
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Overlooking the South Fork of the Eagle River and Symphony Lake, Eagle River, Alaska
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Rabbits are known to do "happy jumps" when they are super excited and overcome with joy, known as "binkies". This view of the South Fork of the Eagle River and Symphony Lake is giving me the binkies. |
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Frontline Justice empowers a new category of legal helper, the community justice worker, as a scalable solution to the civil access to justice crisis. Justice workers are ordinary people with the knowledge, skills, and ability to support people as they solve their civil legal problems. Justice workers are trained and empowered to help others in their community to use the law to resolve their critical life-altering civil legal needs.
An Initiative of the Office of American Possibilities Fund, a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc.
Copyright (c) 2026 Frontline Justice. All rights reserved.
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