ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice 100d ago

This session is part 4 of 8, on the first day of CRSJ's Civil Rights Boot Camp. Contact CRSJ@americanbar.org for details & how to get involved! -- This dynamic “ask the experts” panel will provide a comprehensive, practice-oriented roadmap for handling civil rights cases from intake through resolution. Designed for both emerging and seasoned advocates, the program will walk participants through a step-by-step checklist covering initial client interviews, issue spotting, preservation of evidence, jurisdictional considerations, pleading strategies, discovery planning, motion practice, trial preparation, and remedies. Panelists will identify common pitfalls, procedural traps, immunity defenses, and strategic inflection points that can determine the trajectory of a case. Attendees will leave with a structured framework to evaluate, build, and litigate civil rights claims with confidence and precision. In addition to litigation strategy, the program will explore the critical role of narrative development and media engagement in high-impact civil rights advocacy. Panelists will discuss when and how to draw responsible media attention, how to protect the client’s interests while shaping public discourse, and how to coordinate with community stakeholders without compromising legal strategy. Throughout the session, experienced practitioners will share candid “war stories” from the trenches—highlighting lessons learned, ethical considerations, and hard-earned insights that cannot be found in textbooks. This interactive format will create space for practical questions, strategic reflection, and real-world guidance for lawyers committed to advancing justice. Brooke Cluse – Chief of Staff to Ben Crump, Esq., Ben Crump Law Damario Solomon-Simmons – President & Chief Legal Counsel, Justice for Greenwood Foundation Paul M. Smith – Senior Advisor and Visiting Professor, Georgetown Law; Chair-elect, ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice Dominique D. Calhoun (Moderator) – Shareholder and Founding Member, Calhoun Meredith, PLLC. -- CRSJ's Civil Rights Boot Camp is a two-day, virtual summit that serves as a comprehensive resource for young lawyers, law students, public service attorneys, and advocates of all backgrounds. This initiative, led by the Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice, aims to provide the essential tools and training needed to practice civil rights law effectively.