About Us
Working to Close the Justice Gap in Arkansas
Arkansans deserve access to the legal help they need, no matter their income or background.
Our Story
Access to Legal Help
for All Arkansans
Arkansas Access to Justice exists to uphold a basic but essential principle: Arkansans deserve access to the legal help they need, no matter their income or background.
We work alongside partners, policymakers, courts, and communities to make the civil legal system more fair and accessible. Whether it’s through improving public policies, strengthening legal aid resources, supporting pro bono programs, or building tools for self-represented litigants, we are committed to bridging the divide between those who can afford legal help and those who cannot.
Why Our Work Matters
The Justice Gap
Across Arkansas, thousands of people face life-altering legal problems without any help—because they can’t afford a lawyer and don’t qualify for public defenders (which only apply in criminal cases). This is known as the civil justice gap, and it impacts issues like domestic violence, housing, consumer debt, and access to healthcare or public benefits.
This unmet need is why our work exists, and why it’s so vital.
One Legal Aid Org
Arkansas has only one organization providing free civil legal aid statewide: Legal Aid of Arkansas
12,000+ Legal Aid Clients
These programs serve over 12,000 clients a year with just 60 attorneys between them.
One Attorney for Every 17,568
That’s 1 legal aid attorney for every 17,568 low-income Arkansans, compared to 1 private attorney for every 400 Arkansans statewide.
More Than Half Turned Away
As a result, more than half of eligible Arkansans who seek help are turned away due to limited capacity.
Two Organizations, One Mission
Arkansas Access to Justice is made up of two distinct but closely connected organizations:
Comisión de Acceso a la Justicia de Arkansas
Advocating for systemic change and expanding legal access.
The Arkansas Access to Justice Commission was established by the Arkansas Supreme Court in 2003 to ensure that all Arkansans have equal access to justice in civil cases. It focuses on policy, research, education, and strategic initiatives to improve the legal system for low-income Arkansans.
What the Commission Does:
Fundación de Acceso a la Justicia de Arkansas
Funding civil legal aid and increasing resources.
The Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that manages funding for legal aid in Arkansas. Originally established as the Arkansas IOLTA Foundation in 1985, it merged with the Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation in 2014.
What the Foundation Does:
Our Research & Publications
The Arkansas Access to Justice Commission is dedicated to understanding and addressing the justice gap in Arkansas. Through partnerships, surveys, and in-depth studies, we aim to inform policies and initiatives that improve access to civil legal aid and the justice system for all Arkansans.
Our research forms the foundation of our mission to close the justice gap in Arkansas. These reports and studies guide our efforts and inform policymakers, legal professionals, and the public.
Arkansas Access to Justice Staff & Contractors
Abby Brenneman
Director ejecutivo
Colegio Comunitario de Hot Springs y Universidad Estatal de Henderson
JD, Facultad de Derecho William H. Bowen
Teléfono: 501.492.7174
Abby Brenneman is the Executive Director of the Arkansas Access to Justice Commission and Foundation, providing executive leadership for both organizations, including oversight of the state’s IOLTA program.
A former legal aid attorney, she serves as a Judge Advocate in the Arkansas Army National Guard, deploying to Saudi Arabia with the 2-153 Infantry Battalion in 2023 and later serving as defense counsel with the 326th Trial Defense Team.
Megan Douglas
Program Director
M.A., Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
JD, Facultad de Derecho William H. Bowen
Teléfono: 501.492.7173
Megan’s background spans from fine arts and writing to law. She previously managed a law firm with a focus on family, disability, and estate matters. At Arkansas Access to Justice, she works across a broad range of programs and communications work, including CLE programming, legal self-help tools, and courthouse kiosks.
In her free time, she enjoys reading and being part of the local art community.
Tameka Parker
Gerente de Programa IOLTA
Licenciatura en Psicología, Universidad Tecnológica de Texas
Teléfono: 501.492.7188
Tameka joined Arkansas Access to Justice Commission and Foundation staff in August 2019. She has more than 24 years of experience working in State Government, having held positions in health care, education, and human services agencies.
Tameka is a native Arkansan and enjoys reading, long walks and spending time with family.
Edith Chaves De Oseguera
Free Legal Answers Administrator
& Language Access Liaison
Licenciatura en Negocios Internacionales, cum laude, Universidad de Arkansas en Little Rock
JD, Facultad de Derecho William H. Bowen
Teléfono: 501.492.7172
Edith comenzó en Access to Justice como Coordinadora Interina del Programa y se desempeñó en ese rol desde enero de 2023 hasta marzo de 2024. Actualmente, Edith administra el sitio web Free Legal Answers, encabeza nuestras iniciativas de acceso lingüístico y colabora con la divulgación, de manera contractual.
Edith recibió su Doctorado en Jurisprudencia de la Facultad de Derecho William H. Bowen, donde presidió la Asociación de Estudiantes Hispanos de Derecho. Antes de unirse a Acceso a la Justicia, Edith trabajó como asistente legal e intérprete. El deseo de Edith de dedicarse a la abogacía surge de la influencia de su abuelo como abogado y activista en Nicaragua.
Edith creció en Cancún, México. En su tiempo libre, le gusta pasar tiempo con su familia y ser voluntaria.
Nicolás Jaeger
Webmaster
B.B.A., Business Information Systems
M.S., Business Information Systems
Nicholas Jaeger es empleado de Legal of Arkansas y trabaja a tiempo completo con el equipo de la Comisión de Acceso a la Justicia de Arkansas. En este puesto, supervisa principalmente el mantenimiento y las actualizaciones del sitio web estatal de recursos legales gratuitos, arlawhelp.org. Nicholas es originario de Leslie, Arkansas, un pequeño pueblo del noroeste de Arkansas, en el condado de Searcy. Estudió en la Universidad de Arkansas en Little Rock, donde se especializó en Sistemas de Información Empresarial para obtener su licenciatura y posgrado. Actualmente, Nicholas estudia a tiempo parcial en la Facultad de Derecho William H. Bowen de la Universidad de Arkansas en Little Rock, mientras cursa simultáneamente un MBA. En su tiempo libre, disfruta de viajar, jugar al ajedrez y disfrutar de la naturaleza.
Kalua Kahana
Legal Forms Designer
B.A., Design and Visual Communications, Eastern Mediterranean University
Kalua is an Arkansas local and law student with over a decade of experience in crisis-response work, advocacy, and intercultural communication. From organizing critical aid in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake to resettling university students fleeing the Syrian War, Kalua brings a global, trauma-informed perspective to his studies.
Most recently, he worked as the court advocate for a local domestic violence shelter and assisted over a hundred clients through the civil protective order process. He also liaised with local circuit courts to maintain public victim services throughout the COVID-19 health crisis and trained law enforcement officers in domestic violence response.
Kalua is an aspiring polyglot, TEDx speaker, AI enthusiast, and proud dog parent to Blue, his mini schnauzer.
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