JLI National Modules
At the JLI, we believe that legal education and the fostering of a legal identity are central to breaking the cycle of incarceration—understanding that when you know the law, you can use the law, and by using the law, you can shape and transform it. In response to ill-equipped law libraries and the inaccessibility of legal education, more broadly, JLI’s national modules are designed to support and empower jailhouse lawyers and their communities in developing legal skills and expertise to effectively advocate for themselves and others. In response to the needs of JLI’s membership, JLI’s National Modules cover a range of topics and are co-developed by law students, lawyers, and JLI’s advisory board. To view JLI’s National Modules, see here.
JLI has created the following National Legal Empowerment Modules:
- Legal Research
- Innocence Claims
- Human Rights Law
- Federal Habeas Claims
- Freedom of Information Act
- Data Justice
- Legal Writing
- Re-Entry
- Restorative Justice
Feminist Circles
Noticing a profound absence of women’s voices in legal empowerment spaces—particularly those led by incarcerated people—JLI decided to take action. Feminist Circles offers an intentional, sacred space co-created with national and international women organizers to support, protect, and uplift incarcerated women jailhouse lawyers and justice advocates. These Circles are not just conversations—they are living, breathing ecosystems where healing, resistance, legal knowledge, and sisterhood grow side by side. To read more about our Feminist Circles, see here.
Inside Advisor Cohort
Among JLI’s national membership are fourteen incarcerated jailhouse lawyers who serve as the inaugural cohort of our Inside Advisory Board. Selected through a careful review of letters submitted by our members across the country, the cohort reflects the geographic, demographic, and legal diversity of jailhouse lawyers in both state and federal systems. Each advisor brings years of firsthand legal experience and a deep commitment to advancing justice from within the carceral system. All members of the JLI Advisory Board participate in JLI’s Community Paralegal Training, which blends legal knowledge with skill-building and popular education, to support our advisors in addressing justice challenges faced by their communities. Beyond the Community Paralegal Training, JLI advisors play an integral role in shaping our work, providing critical feedback on our legal education modules. To read more about JLI’s Inside Advisory Board, see here.