Online legal trainings
Sign up for legal resources and trainings designed for lawyers protecting the interests of the 99%
The Impact Fund offers a wide variety of training opportunities each year, including online trainings via zoom, in-person presentations, and webinars. We offer customized onsite trainings for California State Bar-funded qualified legal services projects and other public interest organizations and law firms.
2025 Summer Online Trainings
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 12:00pm – 1:00pm PST
Presenters:
Karma Quick-Panwala, Children & Family Advocacy Services Director, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund
Fawn Rajbhandari-Korr, Training Director and Senior Counsel, The Impact Fund
We often rely upon interpreters and translators in our legal services work. But are we doing it right? We will review how to provide culturally competent and meaningful language access for clients with limited English proficiency and effective communication for people with disabilities, identify when a certified interpreter or translator is required, provide a primer on commonly used assistive technologies, and explain the scenarios when you may rely on AI translation tools.
Qualifies for one hour of participatory California MCLE technology credit.
Wednesday, July 9, 2025 12:00pm – 1:00pm PST
Presenters:
Novella Coleman, Assistant Chief Counsel, Civil Rights Department
Fawn Rajbhandari-Korr, Training Director and Senior Counsel, The Impact Fund
A racial impact assessment is an examination of how different marginalized groups will likely be affected by a proposed action or decision. It is intended to minimize unanticipated adverse consequences of proposed litigation on affected communities or groups. We will explore critical questions and processes to identify stakeholders, challenge default decision making and litigation strategy, and uncover inequities that may arise at any point from investigation to the conclusion of the case. This training will take a deep dive and encourage public interest litigators to incorporate this inquiry when litigating for social change.
Qualifies for one hour of California MCLE Elimination of Bias credit.
Thursday, August 7, 2025 12:00pm – 1:00pm PST
Presenters:
Richard Rothschild, Director of Litigation, Western Center on Law and Poverty
Fawn Rajbhandari-Korr, Training Director and Senior Counsel, the Impact Fund
Join us to learn how to use writ procedure to obtain widespread systemic relief and challenge administrative hearing decisions that harm your clients. We will provide a thorough overview from pre-filing considerations to finally obtaining a writ of mandate. If you are a new or experienced state or federal court litigator asking yourself, “What’s a writ?,” or “what’s the difference between 1094.5 and 1085 (other than 9.5)?” this training is for you!
Qualifies for one hour of participatory California MCLE credit.
2024 Summer Online Trainings - NOw AvailABLE for self-Study Credit
Wednesday, June 12, 2024 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Presenters:
Abigail Khodayari, Senior Staff Attorney, Bay Area Legal Aid
Fawn Rajbhandari-Korr, Training Director & Senior Counsel, Impact Fund
A strong declaration is a critical litigation tool. A declaration is one of the most direct and impactful ways to tell your client’s story, interrupt implicit bias, and set out the theory of your case – all before you set foot in the courtroom. We will discuss strategies for effective client interviews, tips for drafting your client’s story, and steps to authenticate supporting documents as exhibits.
Viewing the recorded training qualifies for one hour of self-study California MCLE general credit.
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Presenters:
Toby Rothschild, OneJustice
Fawn Rajbhandari-Korr, Training Director & Senior Counsel, Impact Fund
Join us for an overview of your ethical responsibilities as a legal services attorney. You will learn the basics of legal ethics, including how to draft clear retainer agreements within the scope of representation, recognize when you must advise your client to seek counsel on matters outside the scope of your representation, and understand the responsibilities of a supervising attorney to ensure that other lawyers are complying with the Professional Rules and the State Bar Act.
Viewing the recorded training qualifies for one hour of self-study California MCLE ethics credit.
Thursday, August 8, 2024 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Presenters:
Lori Rifkin, Litigation Director, Impact Fund
Fawn Rajbhandari-Korr, Training Director & Senior Counsel, Impact Fund
While civil litigation is often contentious, opposing counsel demonstrating a lack of respect for attorneys coming from underrepresented groups in the law is a particular challenge. We will discuss common issues that attorneys experience with opposing counsel particularly based on sex, gender, and intersecting identities, provide strategies to combat discrimination at every stage of civil litigation, and review the guidelines that prohibit this conduct in the legal profession.
Viewing the recorded training qualifies for one hour of self-study California MCLE civility credit.
Register for all three webinars for a 20% discount!
Now Available for Self-Study Credit!
2023 Summer Online Trainings
Wednesday, July 12, 2023, 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM PST
Presenters:
Fawn Rajbhandari-Korr, Senior Counsel, Impact Fund
Lindsay Nako, Director of Litigation & Training, Impact Fund
When you reach the end of the litigation marathon and emerge victorious, another round of legal briefs can feel overwhelming. But with advance planning, the motion for attorneys’ fees will be the cherry on top of your litigation success, providing no-strings-attached income for your law firm or legal nonprofit. We will discuss how to structure legal billing throughout litigation to efficiently prepare your evidentiary record, how to identify resources to support your motion, and how to make a strong case for fees.
*MCLE credit is not provided for viewings of this recorded training
Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM PST**
Presenters:
Toby Rothschild, OneJustice
Lindsay Nako, Director of Litigation & Training, Impact Fund
Following on last summer’s wildly successful ethics training for public interest attorneys, we are back with Part II. Ethics expert Toby Rothschild will answer your questions about the unique ethical issues that arise when representing low-income workers, undocumented residents, unhoused community members, organizational plaintiffs, and others that may be unfamiliar with the legal process. We will also discuss the rise of artificial intelligence-based products for lawyers and the ethical questions they present.
Email Lindsay directly with ethics questions or situations that you would like us to discuss! Scenarios will be offered anonymously during the webinar.
*MCLE credit is not provided for viewings of this recorded training
Wednesday, August 9, 2023, 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM PST***
Presenters:
Jocelyn D. Larkin, Executive Director, Impact Fund
Fawn Jade Rajbhandari-Korr, Senior Counsel, Impact Fund
Alex Lara, Product Manager, Impact Fund
Talking to clients, community members, or class members about their cases and legal rights is a critical part of public interest practice. But how well are we doing? If you’ve ever labored over a community bulletin or class notice and suspected you could do better, this webinar is for you. We will discuss plain language principles and multiple facets of language and disability access to effectively and equitably communicate with diverse communities.
*MCLE credit is not provided for viewings of this recorded training