Management Information Exchange

"Sometimes take a chance and shed your skin. Every transition both at the front or the back offers us another chance to become someone who we want to be."

MIE joins the larger legal aid community in mourning the loss of Victor Geminiani. We're grateful for his vision and dedication, especially his decades of work with MIE.

Victor wrote and co-wrote many, many articles for the MIE Journal over the years. While we put together remembrances to honor his depth of knowledge in the field, we wanted to highlight this piece Victor penned for the Journal back in 2018, He Not Busy Being Born Is Busy Dying.

Victor brought his entire self to his work and we are all the richer for it. We hope you enjoy this selection of wisdom gained from his lengthy legal aid career and life, and get a sense of his expansive perspective and sense of humor.

Link in comments.

LAFLA mourns the recent passing of Victor Geminiani, an iconic figure in the history of legal aid who served as LAFLA's Executive Director from 2006-2007 and dedicated his life to fighting poverty across the United States.

Over an expansive and courageous career, Victor pushed for enforcement of the Voting Rights Act in Georgia, fought to protect funding for legal aid programs across the country, and championed language access in Hawaii.

He fostered collaboration and innovation in the California and national legal services communities, co-founding the Management Information Exchange and working closely with the Legal Aid Association of California. A visionary and effective leader, he served at the helm of Legal Services of Northern California and Legal Aid Society of Hawaii in addition to LAFLA.

Victor was courageous, determined, and deeply dedicated to the clients he served. Those who knew him described him as “a larger-than-life poverty warrior.” We are eternally grateful for his service.

¡Victor Geminiani, presente!

LASP's summer interns had the opportunity to consider their role through a national lens during the Management Information Exchange (MIE)'s first-ever National Legal Aid Summer Intern Orientation, held virtually on June 2, 2026.

The afternoon event was designed to inform and inspire legal aid interns across the country, who have told MIE that service, justice, and community connection motivate them to work in legal aid.

Presentations included:

"Best Practices in the Summer Intern Role"
with Erica Briant, MIE Staff Trainer.

"Public Interest Fellowships"
with Liz Dunn, Director of Public Sector Career Strategy for the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

"A History of Legal Aid"
with Jared Smith, MIE Director of Programs.

"Welcome to the Field," with:
* Kesha James, MIE Executive Director;
* Ron Flagg, President of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC);
* Radhika Singh, Vice President for Advocacy & Strategic Initiatives of the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA); and
* Alison Paul, Executive Director for Montana Legal Services Association and Special Advisor to the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense (ABA SCLAID).

"Unique Considerations in Working with People in Poverty"
with Niya Fonville Swint, Professional Development Manager for K&L Gates LLP.

"Understanding Compassion Fatigue"
with Julia Wilson, Founder of Julia Wilson Coaching.

PICTURED (clockwise, from top left): Kesha James, Erica Briant, Liz Dunn, Radhika Singh, Julia Wilson, Niya Fonville Swint, Alison Paul, Jared Smith, and Ron Flagg.

Kesha James and Erica Briant are LASP alumnae.






Montana Legal Services Association
K&L Gates LLP

This came up quickly! Monday, June 8 is the last day to register for next week's webinar with Heather Jarvis:

The State of Student Loans in June 2026
June 9, 2026
1-2 PM ET

Heather is back with another update on the ever-changing world on student loan repayment.

For full details, to learn more about Heather, and to register online now visit: https://mielegalaid.org/training/26webloans

#5 How can organizations support staff and help reduce vicarious trauma?

An important read via American Bar Association.

Vicarious trauma in the legal profession is more common than you might realize. Here's what you need to know: https://bit.ly/3W8qqlM

Don't miss out on signing up your Summer Interns for MIE's first ever National Legal Aid Summer Intern Orientation!

The registration deadline is May 26, 2026.

The virtual session is designed with this in mind: summer interns told us that service, justice, and community connection motivate them to work in legal aid.

In addition to an introduction to national organizations like MIE, LSC, NLADA, and the ABA, we’ll cover these topics:

- Best Practices in the Summer Intern Role;
- A History of Legal Aid;
- Unique Considerations in Working with People in Poverty; and
- Understanding Compassion Fatigue.

To learn more and sign up your interns now, visit
https://mielegalaid.org/training/26summint

National Legal Aid Summer Orientation
June 2
Noon to 5 PM ET

Today, Wednesday, May 6, is the last day to register! For full details and to register online now, visit https://mielegalaid.org/training/26weblegalserver

Join us May 7, 2026 | 2:00-3:30 pm ET for
Using LegalServer in Resource Development and Grant Management!

Discover how to maximize LegalServer's powerful tools to strengthen your grant management processes and support resource development efforts in this webinar with:

IV Ashton, Founder and President of LegalServer;
Eric Mittelstadt, Community Empowerment and Data Analytics at LegalServer:
and Ilenia Sanchez-Bryson, Chief Program & Innovation Officer at Legal Services of Greater Miami.

To learn more and register online now visit
https://mielegalaid.org/training/26weblegalserver

Registration is Now Open!

Visit https://mielegalaid.org/training/26fr&c for a select list of conference topics, add-on workshop details for Executive Directors and Directors of Development, hotel information, registration rates, and more.

Connect with your peers as we explore relevant and timely topics that will help you move "Forward Together" through support for your legal aid organization's work.

We'll announce more information as it becomes available.

Join us May 7, 2026 | 2:00-3:30 pm ET for
Using LegalServer in Resource Development and Grant Management!

Discover how to maximize LegalServer's powerful tools to strengthen your grant management processes and support resource development efforts in this webinar with:

IV Ashton, Founder and President of LegalServer;
Eric Mittelstadt, Community Empowerment and Data Analytics at LegalServer:
and Ilenia Sanchez-Bryson, Chief Program & Innovation Officer at Legal Services of Greater Miami.

To learn more and register online now visit
https://mielegalaid.org/training/26weblegalserver