Legal Services National Technology Assistance Project

Communities of Practice Database

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Explore LSNTAP’s Communities of Practice Database, a searchable directory of legal aid support groups, professional networks, listservs, forums, trainings, and peer-learning opportunities. Designed for new and experienced legal aid and access-to-justice professionals, the database helps users find relevant communities by topic, geographic reach, participation format, host organization, and joining instructions. This living resource welcomes suggestions and updates from the legal aid community.

Resources for Practitioners

Starting a new role in legal aid can mean learning not only the work, but also where to turn with questions and who else is working on similar challenges. The LSNTAP Communities of Practice Database helps legal aid and access-to-justice professionals find groups where they can connect with colleagues, exchange information, and build their skills.

The database includes more than 60 reviewed listings covering professional development, technology, access to justice, communications, intake, data, substantive legal topics, and other areas. Resources include listservs, online forums, email groups, trainings, meetings, conferences, mentorship opportunities, and other professional networks.

Each listing provides available information about the group’s:

  • Primary topic or area of focus
  • Geographic reach
  • Host organization
  • Participation format
  • Website and contact information
  • Process for joining

Although the database was developed with new employees in mind, it may also help experienced staff expand their professional networks, find topic-specific expertise, and discover communities they did not know about.

TIP: for easier viewing, click on the "View Larger Version" arrows in the bottom right corner and click on the magnifying glass icon in the top right corner to search the database.

Help Us Keep the Database Current

This database is a living resource that will continue to grow and change. We welcome suggestions for additional communities, corrections to existing listings, and other feedback that can make the database more useful to the field.

If you have a resource to share or more recent information on a listing, please let us know by submitting an update.