LET’S UNITE TO CLOSE THE JUSTICE GAP — ONCE AND FOR ALL

Tens of millions of Americans suffer from a hidden crisis of civil justice. But there is hope in a big and unifying new idea: the community justice worker.
Community justice workers are frontline helpers like shelter volunteers, faith leaders, community health workers and others who are trained to give their community critical legal help on everyday issues that lawyers aren’t providing.
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LET’S UNITE TO CLOSE THE JUSTICE GAP —ONCE AND FOR ALL

Tens of millions of Americans suffer from a hidden crisis of civil justice. But there is hope in a big and unifying new idea: the justice worker.
Join the Movement

LET’S UNITE TO CLOSE THE JUSTICE GAP —ONCE AND FOR ALL

Tens of millions of Americans suffer from a hidden crisis of civil justice. But there is hope in a big and unifying new idea: the justice worker.
Join the Movement
Jen's Story
What MAde It Possible

“

The opportunity to become a Community Justice WorkeR was a no brainer.”

Jen Paninagar Kiokun, a Community Justice Worker and member of the Qutekcak tribe in Alaska, helps people in her community access Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which provide food assistance to families, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Jen Paninagar Kiokun
Seward, Alaska
In November 2022 the Alaska Supreme Court was the first in the country to authorize a waiver that allows Community Justice Workers that are trained and supervised by Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC) to provide legal advice and representation without a law license. Through this program and its work ALSC has helped Alaska residents access $5.5M in SNAP benefits, ending months-long delays in distribution.
Jen's Story
Why It Matters

“

The opportunity to become a Community Justice WorkeR was a no brainer.”

Jen Paninagar Kiokun, a Community Justice Worker and member of the Qutekcak tribe in Alaska, helps people in her community access Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which provide food assistance to families, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Jen Paninagar Kiokun
Seward, Alaska
In November 2022 the Alaska Supreme Court was the first in the country to authorize a waiver that allows Community Justice Workers that are trained and supervised by Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC) to provide legal advice and representation without a law license. Through this program and its work ALSC has helped Alaska residents access $5.5M in SNAP benefits, ending months-long delays in distribution.

“

The opportunity to become a Community Justice WorkeR was a no brainer.”

Jen Paninagar Kiokun, a Community Justice Worker and member of the Qutekcak tribe in Alaska, helps people in her community access Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which provide food assistance to families, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Jen Paninagar Kiokun
Seward, Alaska
Reverend John's Story
What Made it Possible

“

Members of my community are shut out from ways to vindicate their own rights”

The Reverend John Udo-Okon is a pastor and Justice Advocate in the South Bronx, which has among the highest poverty and unemployment rates in New York. His assistance to community members’  debt collection cases is in addition to running a mobile food pantry and  other social and pastoral services.
Reverend John Udo-Okon
South Bronx, New York
Reverend John is a plaintiff in a civil rights lawsuit against New York State, Upsolve v. James, which challenges New York’s unauthorized practice of law (UPL) statute on First Amendment grounds. In 2022, a district court judge authorized him to begin helping people with debt collection cases with training and support from the nonprofit Upsolve while the case is on appeal in the Second Circuit.
Reverend John's Story
What Made it Possible

“

Members of my community are shut out from ways to vindicate their own rights”

The Reverend John Udo-Okon is a pastor and Justice Advocate in the South Bronx, which has among the highest poverty and unemployment rates in New York. His assistance to community members’  debt collection cases is in addition to running a mobile food pantry and  other social and pastoral services.
Reverend John Udo-Okon
South Bronx, New York
Reverend John is a plaintiff in a civil rights lawsuit against New York State, Upsolve v. James, which challenges New York’s unauthorized practice of law (UPL) statute on First Amendment grounds. In 2022, a district court judge authorized him to begin helping people with debt collection cases with training and support from the nonprofit Upsolve while the case is on appeal in the Second Circuit.
Rachel's Story
What Made it Possible

“

Increasing access to difficult systems through a familiar language is critical.”

Rachel Wagner is the Spanish-speaking Support Specialist at the Massachusetts Trial Court Service Center. The first person litigants encounter when they arrive, Rachel works to make the court an accessible and equitable environment for dozens of court users every day.
Rachel Sylvia Wagner
Boston, Massachusetts
Social justice organizations like the Court Service Centers (CSCs) have increasingly prioritized hiring staff members with a wide variety of language skills to cater to the demographics of the public. Be it Spanish, Haitian Creole, or Vietnamese, the CSC is part of a larger justice effort to make systems more accessible for non-native English speakers, combating systems that disadvantage people of color and those in poverty.
Reverend John's Story
What Made it Possible

“

Members of my community are shut out from ways to vindicate their own rights”

The Reverend John Udo-Okon is a pastor and Justice Advocate in the South Bronx, which has among the highest poverty and unemployment rates in New York. His assistance to community members’  debt collection cases is in addition to running a mobile food pantry and  other social and pastoral services.
Reverend John Udo-Okon
South Bronx, New York
Reverend John is a plaintiff in a civil rights lawsuit against New York State, Upsolve v. James, which challenges New York’s unauthorized practice of law (UPL) statute on First Amendment grounds. In 2022, a district court judge authorized him to begin helping people with debt collection cases with training and support from the nonprofit Upsolve while the case is on appeal in the Second Circuit.

“

At the end of the day, people want someone to listen to them, listen to their concerns, and try to move forward together.

”

Lori Anne Richards
Paralegal, Community Justice Worker
•
Hawai'i
Lori
's story

“

I feel like I build trust by being there for people and being somebody dependable who is going to show up when I say I’m going to show up and do what I say I’m going to do.

”

Kristin Kadaj
Paralegal, Community Justice Worker
•
Tampa
Kristin
's story

“

Oftentimes when people try to find legal aid in the hospital, there aren’t enough lawyers available to meet the demand. Help is not accessible in the way it should be.

”

Linda Johnson
Community Justice Worker
•
Alaska
Linda
's story

“

Most people will talk to me, but they’ll never talk to an attorney because they don’t identify with that as an option.

”

S.M. Kernodle-Hodges
Community Justice Worker
•
North Carolina
Kernodle
's story

“

”

Hayden Ramsey
Community Justice Worker
•
Montana
Hayden
's story

“

People have rights and part of my job is letting them know what those rights are.

”

Sara Freeman
Community Justice Worker
•
Alaska
Sara
's story
All Stories
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Featured Updates

News

Frontline Justice Call for Proposals for May 11 Community Justice Worker Convening

January 15, 2026
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Frontline Justice Exchange - February

February 13, 2025

Nikole Nelson Joins the LawNext Podcast to Give an Update on What's Happening at Frontline Justice

February 3, 2025

Latest News

Frontline Justice Call for Proposals for May 11 Community Justice Worker Convening

January 15, 2026

Frontline Justice is hosting a full-day pre-conference community justice worker convening on May 11, 2026, in Charlotte, North Carolina, just before the Equal Justice Conference (EJC). The call for proposals is open, and the deadline is February 27, 2026.

‍

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,

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The Access Statesman: Jim Sandman

December 8, 2025

America Promises Justice – A New Approach Can Deliver It

December 4, 2025

The 51st: Opinion: Too many people can't afford legal advice. Let non-lawyers help.

November 24, 2025

American Bar Association (ABA) Equal Access to Justice Conference 2026

November 13, 2025

Upcoming Events

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Feb 11, 2026 1:00 PM
60 min
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