For AttorneysEquip. Empower. Unite.

What are the benefits of joining the Alliance Defending Freedom Attorney Network?

You will become part of a growing network of attorneys determined to impact and influence our legal system to more effectively protect the rights of people to freely live out their faith. Through the Attorney Network, you’ll also connect with leading experts who are eager to empower—and stand with—you as you engage the culture. You’ll also enjoy the benefits of:

  • Training opportunities that will equip you to more effectively defend religious liberty, the sanctity of life, and marriage and family;
  • A grant program that enables you to advocate for clients who can’t afford to defend their liberties;
  • Strategically designed legal projects that meaningfully impact the legal culture;
  • Online discussion groups in which like-minded attorneys answer questions, give and receive referrals, provide encouragement, and offer practical ways to incorporate personal faith into your legal career; and
  • Significant legal resources, including sample briefs, pleadings, and litigation manuals.

Absolutely. Making positive, lasting changes in the legal culture requires attorneys with diverse backgrounds, skills, and interests. Whether you are a litigator or a transactional attorney, work in a large or small law firm, practice as corporate counsel, teach in a law school, or work for the government, there are ways for you to utilize your unique combination of talents, experience, and passion. If you are unsure how you could best contribute, given your unique life circumstances or how your skill set, could best be used, contact us at attorneyinfo@adflegal.org for additional information or to schedule a phone conference with a member of the Allied Attorney support team.

The Alliance Defending Freedom Academy is a world-class program that seamlessly combines unmatched legal training with an unwavering commitment to Christian principles. Attendees participate in a scholarly examination of today’s pressing legal and cultural issues, and emerge equipped to effectively advocate for religious liberty, the sanctity of life, and marriage and family.

Learn more about the Legal Academy here.

The ADF Young Lawyers Academy is a uniquely tailored experience, designed for recent U.S. law school graduates and lawyers in their first few years of practice, with an emphasis on those working in large and mid-size firms.

Learn more about the Young Lawyers Academy here.

You become a part of the ADF Attorney Network by formally applying and being accepted as an Allied Attorney. The application requires affirmation of agreement with our statement of faith.

There are many benefits to serving as an Allied Attorney, including:

  • Pro bono opportunities and referrals
  • Legal training opportunities
  • Access to the Allied Attorney Community Site
  • Free Webinars
  • Subscription to the Attorney Network email newsletter
  • Career development resources / job search / resume posting
  • Attorney referral network
  • Confidential updates
  • Eligibility for recognition awards*

* An Allied Attorney who provides and reports 450 hours or more of qualifying pro bono service becomes a member of the Honor Corps, and is eligible for award recognition.


Learn more and apply to become an Allied Attorney.

 

Allied Attorneys come from a wide variety of Christian traditions. We simply ask that all allies agree with the historical Trinitarian statement of faith (Apostles’ Creed):

“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord. Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day He rose again from the dead and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and life everlasting. Amen.”

All organizations must be able to demonstrate measurable results. A significant aspect of the Alliance Defending Freedom mission is to mobilize Christian attorneys to impact the culture by engaging the legal system. Tracking pro bono hours provides tangible evidence of the progress being made toward this goal. It also creates opportunities for Alliance Defending Freedom to inform the public about the challenges facing people of faith, and how the Alliance Defending Freedom Attorney Network is responding to those challenges.

Additionally, the more pro bono hours reported, the greater the opportunity for Alliance Defending Freedom to demonstrate to our Ministry Friends a good return on the investment of their sacrificial gifts. Finally, continued reporting encourages other Allied Attorneys engaged in this ongoing cultural battle.

The goal of Alliance Defending Freedom is to create a long-term relationship with Allied Attorneys. When attending an ADF Academy, attorneys are simply asked to commit to report qualifying pro bono service. ADF Freedom suggests voluntary short-term targets for the amount of this service, depending upon the attorney’s circumstances.

The suggested target for most attorneys is 450 hours within the three years following an ADF Academy session attendance. Alliance Defending Freedom suggests a five-year target of 150 hours for attorneys who work for the government and are prohibited from representing private clients.

ADF encourages ongoing reporting of pro bono services, even if an attorney commits to a short-term target. To that end, Alliance Defending Freedom recognizes significant milestones in reported pro bono service. ADF Allied Attorneys become members of the Honor Corps upon reporting 450 hours of pro bono service. A series of Service Recognition Awards recognize members of the Honor Corps who report far more than 450 hours of service.

In addition to participating in litigation or an amicus effort on a case within the scope of the Alliance Defending Freedom mission, many other activities qualify for pro bono commitment credit, including:

(a) Performing research on specified topics;

(b) Performing specified services, such as collecting information, for one or more Alliance Defending Freedom strategic projects;

(c) Joining and being active in bar association activities that impact the mission areas of Alliance Defending Freedom;

(d) Publicly speaking about Alliance Defending Freedom or about one or more of the ministry’s mission areas;

(e) Serving on boards or otherwise being involved in organizations that are dedicated to Alliance Defending Freedom mission areas; and

(f) Writing and publishing articles related to Alliance Defending Freedom mission areas.

For additional information refer to the “Pro Bono Hours” memo or contact us at ADFAttorneyNetwork@ADFlegal.org to discuss whether an activity will count toward your pro bono service commitment.

Pro bono work need not involve litigation or even the representation of a client. It may involve legal research, educational presentations, or other types of work related to Alliance Defending Freedom mission areas.

The easiest way to report is via our secure Allied Attorney website.

The specific format of the report is not critical. It is not necessary to provide detailed billing records, but we do need general information on the type of work performed. If you are able to provide this information through your normal billing program, we will gladly accept those time records. Be assured that Alliance Defending Freedom will not reveal the details of your specific service without your permission, so client identities and attorney-client matters that we become aware of through this reporting will remain confidential.

To assist in identifying the specific information needed and to help you provide information in a simplified manner, Alliance Defending Freedom has also developed a reporting form that will be provided upon request.

No. You may find pro bono opportunities in a variety of ways. You may serve individual clients, other faith-based legal organizations, churches, etc., in areas related to the mission of Alliance Defending Freedom. See memo on qualifying pro bono hours. (Additional information is available upon request at ADFAttorneyNetwork@ADFlegal.org.)

While Alliance Defending Freedom may make occasional referrals or suggest projects in which you could be involved, the most successful allies are those who find their own creative ways to invest their legal skills in the service of others. Indeed, Alliance Defending Freedom depends upon its network of attorneys and others to bring appropriate matters to our attention.

That said, one of the primary goals of the Alliance Defending Freedom team is to help you succeed, both in finding pro bono opportunities, and also in winning your legal battles. While the team cannot promise to find cases for you, the Alliance Defending Freedom Allied Attorney Community website offers a number of interesting projects for your consideration as you look for pro bono opportunities. The Allied Attorney Community Discussion Forums are also used to locate volunteers for specific projects or cases. The Alliance Defending Freedom team is always willing to consult on potential cases in our core areas and to provide resources for litigating them.

Yes. Alliance Defending Freedom has allied with a number of attorneys contributing their services in efforts to dramatically increase Christian legal aid to the poor. However, qualifying legal aid efforts should be directed in a manner that helps advance religious liberty, the sanctity of life, and marriage and family. Some alternative programs established to aid the poor do not always support or promote biblical principles; legal aid to these programs may be reported for up to 50 hours of a 450-hour pro bono target.

The fastest way to share your idea is through the Discussion Forums on the Allied Attorney Community Site. These forums are monitored by Allied Attorneys as well as Alliance Defending Freedom staff. Allied Attorneys are automatically invited to join the Community Site.

If you are an Allied Attorney, but not already a member of the Community Site, please contact the Allied Attorney support team at ADFAttorneyNetwork@ADFlegal.org.

Yes. Education relating to areas of the Alliance Defending Freedom mission is critical to awakening Christians to the dangers that threaten religious liberty in America and around the world. Many good opportunities for both litigious and non-litigious resolutions of religious discrimination have resulted from the alert actions of educated laypersons. Please contact us at ADFAttorneyNetwork@ADFlegal.org to find out about materials and resources we can provide to help your audience know and protect their personal rights, as well as those of their families and churches.


Join the Network

How can I view the policy that guides the grant making process?

All applications must be submitted using our online application form.

Apply for a Grant

Below are some of the helpful tips you will need to prepare in advance in order to be able to complete an Alliance Defending Freedom online grant application:

  • Budget Sheet
  • Attorney’s Resume (for 1st time applicant if you are not an Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Academy or Blackstone Legal Academy alumni)
  • Names and role of all attorneys involved on the case/project.
  • Client information, including contact information.
  • Text and citation of any challenged laws, statute, ordinance, regulation, or other authority.
  • Electronic copies of initial filings or dispositive motions, key briefing (i.e. Complaint, Answer, Motion for Summary Judgment, Amicus Brief), and any substantive ruling in the case.
  • Information to be considered in advance (Note: It is not acceptable to simply refer to attachments in completing the application):
    • Prepare a succinct paragraph summarizing the facts of the case.
    • Prepare a succinct paragraph of the claims in dispute.
    • Prepare a succinct paragraph summarizing the procedural history of the case.

 

In addition to the online application; some additional material must be submitted as exhibits to the application. Please submit application exhibits by: 

  • Emailing to Grants@ADFlegal.org (Preferred)
  • Faxing the additional materials to 480-444-0028, Attn: Grants & Funding Dept.
  • Mailing a disk with the materials stored to:

 

Alliance Defending Freedom
Attn: Grants & Funding Dept.
15100 N. 90th Street
Scottsdale, AZ 85260


However, whatever method of delivery you use, all required information must be received by our Arizona office before close of business (4:30pm, MST) on the cut-off day.

Alliance Defending Freedom funds pro-active litigation and advocacy to protect the right of Christians to speak and act consistent with their faith, defend the sanctity and dignity of life from conception to natural end, and protect family values, including the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Alliance Defending Freedom also funds legal projects that support or promote such advocacy.

The volume of grant requests received always exceeds the available resources, and there are cases with great merit that Alliance Defending Freedom is not able to fund. Limited resources require requests to be prioritized. Preference is given to cases with high potential to set major national and regional precedents that will contribute to the body of case law others can use to litigate future cases. Due to funding demands, grants cannot be awarded for cases that only affect individual rights.

  • Cost Grant: Reimbursement for costs (out of pocket expenses) incurred rendering pro bono services are available to assist an allied attorney in pursuing a case or project that directly involves religious liberty, sanctity of life, or the protection of family values. Alliance Defending Freedom can only reimburse costs for cases or projects that would receive funding consideration under the Grants & Funding Policy. Generally, a cost grant is limited to a maximum of $5,000.00, absent extraordinary circumstances.
  • Matching Grant: A matching grant allows Legal Academy alumni who have not reported 450 pro-bono hours to request funding to cover costs and expenses, as well as some of the time expended on the case; however, funds will be disbursed for the attorney time on a “matching basis.” In other words, if an attorney obtains a grant for a case, he or she may bill one hour under the grant for every separate hour worked on the case and reported as pro-bono until the attorney has reported 450 hours. Subject to the “matching” limitation, the grant funds will be used for and disbursed in the same manner as a full grant.
  • Full Grant: An attorney who has reported 450 pro bono hours for each Legal Academy attended is eligible to apply for a full grant. A full grant is designed to cover costs and expenses associated with litigation (travel costs, filing fees, deposition and expert witness fees, copy costs), as well as some reimbursement for the time expended on the case. The attorney may submit an invoice for all qualifying time invested in the case which will be reimbursed at pre-set hourly rates up to the amount awarded in the grant. The pre-set hourly rate is available upon request. Time subject to reimbursement is set forth in the Grants & Funding Policy of Alliance Defending Freedom.

The primary mechanism for review is the Grants and Review Council process. The Grants and Review Council (GRC) consists of seven allied attorneys who have nationally recognized expertise in the legal fields falling within the scope of Alliance Defending Freedom’s mission. The GRC members are spread out geographically and volunteer their time and expertise to Alliance Defending Freedom. The GRC carefully reviews the applications and budgets and makes recommendations as to the merits of the applications. The Alliance Defending Freedom Board of Directors reviews all grants.

A legal matter is eligible for a grant when the case is: 1) in litigation at the time Alliance Defending Freedom receives the grant application; or 2) litigation is imminent (i.e., the case has progressed to a point where a demand letter has been sent or a complaint is being prepared) and all preliminary preparations and investigations are complete. As for remuneration, it is not Alliance Defending Freedom’s intent to pay for initial investigation into a case. Consequently, Alliance Defending Freedom may provide support for pre-filing work of up to seven hours for work on the demand letter, or in the event no demand letter is sent, all time spent drafting the complaint.

The GRC convenes monthly to consider current grant applications. The dates for receiving grant applications for submission to the pending GRC meetings can be found on the Monthly Grant Review Schedule or can be obtained by contacting Grants@ADFlegal.org. 

In general, Alliance Defending Freedom does not extend the time in which to submit applications. You may submit your application after the cut-off date and, if there is room on the pending GRC schedule and Alliance Defending Freedom can prepare the application for submission to the GRC in time, it may be considered. However, that is not often the case. Typically, applications submitted after the cut-off dates are held for consideration during the following GRC meeting, approximately one month later.

Application materials must be received by our Arizona office before close of business (4:30pm, MST) on the cut-off day.

A decision is generally reached within one week of the GRC meeting. We do not reveal the status of the application until the entire process has been completed. A letter will be forwarded to the applicant informing him or her of the decision made regarding the application.

Submit detailed invoices supported by appropriate documentation of work performed and expenses incurred that are within the scope of the grant.

Grant invoices are generally processed each Wednesday, and checks will be mailed within six working days from the day first processed. All invoices that have been received on or before Monday will be processed to be forwarded to the accounting department the following Wednesday with checks typically being sent out on Friday. Alliance Defending Freedom may be unable to process a payment and a delay in processing will occur if any of the following are missing:

  • A report on the present status of the case or project;
  • The dates on which work occurred;
  • A description of the work/activity;
  • Identification of the person who completed the task, by name and title;
  • The amount of time spent on each activity;
  • If the invoice is for an Amicus Brief, it must be accompanied by an electronic copy of the amicus brief as filed, including signatures, in searchable format;
  • A completed case update form;
  • Completed Disclosure Agreement (must be submitted during 1st payment only if not currently on file)

No. You may ask for whatever funding you believe is necessary; however, the amount of the award is based upon available funds at the time of consideration and the opportunity for your case/project to set national precedent relative to the other cases/projects being evaluated. Consequently, it is often a good idea to seek funding for various stages of the action, i.e., trial, appeal, etc., rather that for the entire case from trial through final appeal.

During each review cycle we receive many grant requests for evaluation. Each request is independently considered and the amount of funding is based on several factors including, availability of our grant funding resources and the potential broad impact of the matter as compared with other funding requests. Please note that the grant award recipient may apply for additional funding in the future as a supplemental grant request in a pending case or project.

There could be several factors in denying a grant request including the mission of Alliance Defending Freedom, limited availability of funding resources, and the review committee’s perspective on the potential impact of the matter as compared with the other pending applications.

Yes. Grant award recipients may apply for supplemental funding in a pending case or project. However, simply because Alliance Defending Freedom has funded the case or project in the past does not guarantee that supplemental funding will be granted. Each request for funding, whether for initial or supplemental funding, is considered on its own merits and will undergo the same review process.

A request for supplemental funding is made by completing the supplemental grant application. In addition to the application, Alliance Defending Freedom must receive a budget detailing how the additional funding is to be used. The dates for submission of a supplemental request to Alliance Defending Freedom are the same as the cut-off dates for submission of a new grant request.

Generally, the answer is no. Funding of grants is prospective only, commencing from the time Alliance Defending Freedom receives the grant application. The only exceptions to this policy are:

  1. When the grant application for a case is submitted before the court has made any interlocutory or dispositive rulings, and then, only in compliance with the Grants & Funding Policy.
  2. In the case of an amicus brief application. 

Please see the Grants & Funding Policy for the parameters of these exceptions.

Attorneys who have completed 450 hours of pro bono service attending a subsequent Academy for further training may seek grants for a case or project, without a matching obligation, in the following instances:

  • In the first year after an attorney’s subsequent Academy, upon completion of 100 pro bono hours the attorney is eligible to receive one new Alliance Defending Freedom full grant.
  • In the second year after an attorney’s subsequent Academy, upon completion of 250 hours of pro bono services the attorney is eligible to receive one new Alliance Defending Freedom full grant.
  • In the third year after an attorney’s subsequent Academy, upon completion of 400 hours of pro bono services the attorney is eligible to receive one new Alliance Defending Freedom full grant.
  • Upon the completion of 450-hours for each Legal Academy attended, an attorney is no longer limited to the number of grants he/she may receive in a given time period. 

Once hours have been submitted to Alliance Defending Freedom to be considered as pro bono, a grant is not available to cover those hours.

 

 

 

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