BALT Legal Brain Trust

During BALT’s last training workshop, BALT received feedback from community advocates on the importance of developing a network of attorneys who are committed to providing legal/policy assistance to local organizations. Our brain trust is comprised of community lawyers and legal workers committed to movement lawyering principles and willing to aid local organizations on topics or projects that require legal input.

BALT’s Brain Trust is a 8-month (March - October) program that allows organizations an opportunity to receive in-depth legal/policy assistance from attorneys in the Baltimore area. Multiple attorneys operate as a cohort and collectively provide support. BALT, in turn, provides the tools and space to assist the organizations and attorneys to achieve the organizations' goals.

The Application process is currently closed.

Program Requirements

• Community Organizations

  • Application is required. Organizations must describe project/issue.  Discuss any possible constraints and provide context as you can. Once you apply, if you would like to schedule a phone call with us to further explain the project, please contact us.

  • Organizations may be required to interview prior to selection.

  • While the local organization does not need to have a finalized project description to apply, we would like for there to be some thought in the project.

  • Prior to the workshop, organization will be responsible for disseminating project materials at least 7 days before beginning of workshop.  Day of workshop, organization will be responsible for presenting project/issue to brain trust.

  • Initial convening in March.

  • Monthly check ins with entire brain trust.

  • Commit to regular meetings with brain trust members. Frequency and duration to be determined by both groups.

  • Organization will receive $3,000 stipend for participation in the 8-month program.

• Attorney/legal worker

  • Attorney/legal worker must be committed to community lawyering principles. 

  • Prior to the workshop, brain trust member is responsible for reading all materials and coming to workshop prepared.  Day of workshop, brain trust member must provide advice/guidance to organizations.

  • Initial convening in March.

  • Monthly check ins with entire brain trust.

  • Commit to regular meetings with community organizations. Frequency and duration to be determined by both groups.

  • Brain Trust member will receive $2,500 stipend for their participating in the 8-month program.