Our Mission
DC Affordable Law Firm delivers accessible justice to modest-income DC residents who do not qualify for traditional sources of free civil legal services and cannot afford standard representation. Our innovative programming expands access to justice by empowering community members with unmet legal needs while also launching the careers of public interest lawyers committed to accessible justice. Through our dignified no-cost and low-cost representation options, DCALF bridges the gap in legal services, changes DC’s legal landscape, and makes accessible justice a reality.
Bridging the Gaps in DC’s Civil Justice System
In the District of Columbia, more than 100,000 residents are on their own when they seek access to justice. These hardworking DC residents are often ineligible for traditional forms of free legal aid yet unable to afford private counsel. In turn, 9 out of 10 of those residents are forced to represent themselves in legal proceedings where they can be at risk of losing custody of their children, being deported from this country, losing an intergenerational home to tax sale or foreclosure, or facing other potentially life-altering consequences.
Recognizing the need for accessible legal assistance for residents of the District of Columbia, DCALF was born in 2015 out of a collaboration between Georgetown University Law Center and the law firms of ArentFox Schiff and DLA Piper, and has since expanded to include The University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law (UDC Law) and a wide array of partners who share DCALF’s commitment to breaking down barriers to justice.
Through innovative programming, DCALF expands representation options in critical areas of need, dismantling deep-rooted inequities in the legal system by closing justice gaps and creating pathways to economic security for DC residents through our direct representation in family law, probate and estate planning, and humanitarian immigration practices — empowering our clients with the safety, security, and stability they need to prosper.
DCALF’s post-graduate fellowship programs are a core strategy in bridging critical legal service gaps. With over 60 public interest careers launched, thousands served through fellows’ direct legal work, and more than 72% of alumni continuing in public interest or related fields, DCALF’s unique, award-winning fellowship programs prove both effective and enduring—building a legacy of service and systemic impact.
In sum, DCALF’s vision is twofold – to eliminate inequities in DC’s civil justice system for while launching the careers of the next generation of public interest attorneys committed to closing the access to justice gap.
Since our inception, DCALF has excelled in intentionally building a consistent pipeline of passionate, diverse, public interest talent through our distinctive Signature Fellowship program. Over the course of our 15-month fellowship, participants in DCALF’s Signature Fellowship Program — recent law graduates from Georgetown University Law Center and the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law — gain invaluable work experience and mentorship from veteran attorneys, all while earning a competitive public interest salary and a no-cost LL.M. Degree from Georgetown University Law Center for successful completion of the 15-month fellowship program.
The DCALF Signature Fellowship Program
Fellows start their careers at DCALF with custom-designed, immersive, full-time, simulation-based training steeped in the fundamentals of litigation, client-centered lawyering, and two of DCALF’s three practice areas. Unlike many post-graduate opportunities or experiences available to first-year associates, DCALF lawyers actually practice law. They work directly with clients, appear in court, negotiate settlements, draft legal documents, and otherwise carry a full and active civil caseload, receiving expert supervision and invaluable mentorship throughout their fellowship.
Learn more about DCALF's commitment to fellowships in our 10th Anniversary video, featuring DCALF Alumni Jenadee Nanini, DCALF Class of 2017-2018 and current Managing Attorney of Family Law and Immigration with the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center; Tonée Earle, DCALF Class of 2021-2022 and current Staff Attorney with Southern Arizona Legal Aid; and Samuel Wilkins, DCALF Class of 2019-2020 and current Probate and Estate Planning Managing Attorney with DC Affordable Law Firm.
Applications for the 2026-2027 DCALF Signature Fellowship Program will open open on September 29 and be accepted through October 31. Save the date for this year’s October 9th virtual information session, and visit DCALF’s Employment Page to learn more.
Open Horizon DCALF Heirs’ Property and Estate Planning Fellowship
DC Affordable Law Firm is proud to launch the inaugural Open Horizon DCALF Heirs’ Property & Estate Planning Fellowship—an exciting new chapter in DCALF’s decade-long tradition of developing the next generation of public interest attorneys through post-graduate fellowships. Beginning in Fall 2026 and continuing over the next three years, this two-year fellowship will welcome two graduates of Howard University School of Law’s Estate Planning and Heirs’ Property Clinical Program to DCALF’s expanding Probate and Estate Planning Team—advancing a rapidly growing area of practice at the heart of our mission to bridge gaps in legal services and advance economic justice.
The Open Horizon DCALF Heirs’ Property & Estate Planning Fellowship offers a rare and exciting two-year post-graduate opportunity for a Howard Law Estate Planning and Heirs’ Property Clinic Alumnus to work at the forefront of public interest law—preserving intergenerational homes, protecting family wealth, and promoting economic justice for DC’s historically underserved communities. As a vital member of DC Affordable Law Firm’s Probate & Estate Planning Team, the Fellow will gain deep, hands-on training and experience while delivering impactful legal advocacy to DC families navigating probate and estate planning challenges.
Applications for the 2026-2028 Open Horizon DCALF Heirs’ Property and Estate Planning Fellowship Program open on August 26 and be accepted through September 15. An information session for prospective applicants will be held on September 4th. Visit DCALF’s Employment Page for the complete fellowship overview and application instructions.
DC Affordable Law Firm is honored to be selected once again as a Spur Local nonprofit, joining a distinguished group of organizations making a lasting impact across the region. Learn more about this meaningful recognition by visiting the Spur Local website.
