Among the more than one million lawyers in America are thousands who believe in the issues supported by ADF. However, few have the specific training or experience necessary to handle a free-speech, religious liberty, or other matters involving constitutional law and other areas of concern to the Alliance.
To help recruit and train this untapped resource of dedicated women and men, ADF launched the National Litigation Academy - a state-of-the-art lawyer training project - in 1997. The Academy sessions consist of worship and devotional activities, banquets, theological exhortation, worldview analysis, fellowship, common meals, and joyful interaction. They feature an intense course of study conducted by some of the nation's top law school professors, litigators, and constitutional experts in the country. These experts instruct on public interest practice topics such as the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, Equal Access law, 42 USC § 1983 actions, Family and Marriage law and other matters.
Past National Litigation Academy sessions have helped effectively equip attorneys to battle the radical homosexual legal agenda, defend parental rights, uphold the sanctity of human life, and protect religious freedom. Each academy session is four to five days in length and the CLE segment qualifies for mandatory continuing legal education credit in most or all applicable states.
One of the unique aspects of our National Litigation Academy is the way it can help multiply
our Ministry Friend's investment in ADF. As an ADF ally, the attorney's expenses are scholarshipped by ADF, including travel, lodging, and most meals. In return, each attorney ally who attends the National Litigation Academy makes a faith commitment to provide 450 hours of pro bono legal work on behalf of the Body of Christ. The goal is to fulfill this commitment over a three-year period on cases and projects related to his or her training and/or matters that forward the mission of the alliance. Attorneys whose firms will not permit a 450 hour commitment or who have extreme extenuating circumstances
may qualify for a 200 hour commitment over a three-year period. Persons with the smaller commitment may fulfill it only by performing specified litigation activities, and will not receive all of the benefits of a full commitment. Please direct questions regarding the pro bono commitment to
nlainfo@telladf.org.
In just eleven short years, ADF has trained more than 1,300 allied attorneys that have provided dedicated, pro-bono service valued at over $100 million in the legal battle to defend, protect, and affirm religious freedom, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.
Admission to each NLA is granted only after application and acceptance. Space is limited. Applications are now being received for the following session:
ScheduleNLA 33: July 5 - 9, 2010
Related Information
Apply to attend a National Litigation Academy session
Yes! I’d like to support the National Litigation Academy
National Litigation Academy brochure
Attorney defending the faith assaults - Rapid City Journal
Questions? Contact us at