DC Affordable Law Firm

“Marc Fleischaker and Nancy Noonan have a business relationship. Benjamin Boyd, Elizabeth Dewey, and Sheldon Krantz have a business relationship.”

“The organization has three members: Arent Fox LLP, DLA Piper LLP, and Georgetown University.”

“The members have the right to appoint directors.”

“The Form 990 is prepared by the outside accountants and reviewed by the Executive Director. A copy is sent to the Board of Directors prior to filing with the IRS.”

“Directors, officers and other persons in a position to exercise substantial influence over the company's affairs are required to report actual or possible conflicts of interest to the Chairman or the Board. The disinterested board members are required to review and determine whether a conflict exists. If a conflict exists, these directors are required to determine whether a more advantageous transaction or arrangement exists from a person or entity that would not give rise to a conflict of interest. If there is not a more advantageous transaction or arrangement, these directors must determine whether the transaction or arragement is in the best interest of the company and whether it is fair and reasonable.”

“The compensation of the Executive Director is initially determined by the Board of Directors using, among other information, comparability data. The compensation of other employees is initially determined by the Executive Director and reviewed and approved by the Board. In 2024, the leadership team (Executive Director, Legal Director, and COO) compared DCALF salaries against other legal service organizations in DC. The organization then changed the salary scales for staff attorneys, supervising attorneys, and managing attorneys.”

“The Organization's governing documents, Conflict of Interest Policy and financial statements are available upon request.”

“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. Through our innovative partnership between DCALF, law firms, and law schools, DC Affordable Law Firm advances our two-fold purpose: Advancing economic justice for DC residents from modest and low-income households unable to afford market-based legal services, and empowering rising attorneys to become skilled public interest attorneys and lifelong champions for equity and justice. Since its inception in 2015, DCALF has provided affordable and - as of 2022 -free family law, immigration law, and heirs' property, probate, and estate planning legal services to more than 3,000 DC residents, reaching hundreds more through community engagement and education. Unlike traditional legal aid organizations, we serve a broader population-hardworking DC residents living paycheck-to-paycheck who cannot afford private legal representation. Our clients are hardworking DC residents who earn up to 400% Federal Poverty Level. Most DCALF clients are DC residents employed in essential yet lower-paid positions who cannot afford the prohibitive costs of legal representation through the private marketplace. Access to DCALF's overwhelmingly free legal services helps our clients and their families gain economic stability, maintain safety, and build a better, more secure, future for themselves, their households, and generations to come.”

“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 direct representation in family law, probate and estate planning, and immigration practices where a lawyer can make all the difference in helping a family maintain employment, protect an intergenerational home from foreclosure, or escape an unsafe marriage. Each year, DCALF serves nearly 500 individuals, breaking down barriers to legal representation and using the power of the law to advance justice and uplift those we are privileged to serve. DCALF's legal services are provided by a network of permanent staff managing, supervising, and staff attorneys, fellows/associates, with our impact augmented by the engagement of pro bono attorneys from top DC firms who mentor rising DCALF attorneys, co-counsel complex litigation, or represent clients under the guidance and mentorship of veteran DCALF attorneys. In addition to empowering families through access to legal services on a case-by-case basis, DCALF drives systemic change through legislative advocacy to reform DC probate laws, and partner with dozens of Washington, DC community-based organizations to reach prospective clients across the city. Since 2015, 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 this award-winning 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 hands-on litigation experience, essential lawyering skills, and invaluable 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, valued at $82,264. In Fall 2025, DCALF expanded its continuum of Fellowship offerings by launching a new two-year, annual post-graduate Heirs' Property & Estate Planning Fellowship for two alumni of Howard University School of Law's Estate Planning and Heirs' Property Clinical Program. Across our first ten years operation, DCALF has launched the careers of over 60 public interest lawyers and transformed thousands of lives through the direct legal services delivered by DCALF fellows. Over 72% of DCALF fellows continue careers in public interest law or practice areas learned at DCALF, reflecting the strength and lasting influence of DCALF's unique training model. With each fellow, DCALF's impact multiplies-as our alumni continue serving communities across the region, DCALF's reach grows exponentially, transforming the lives of more community members with each passing year.”

“No changes from prior year.”