The Fight for Rights Has Moved to the States.
Lawyers Are Fighting Back.

Join the State Legislative Advocacy Academy & help l4gg defend democracy, civil rights, and justice at the state level.

My name is Traci Feit Love. I’m the founder and executive director of Lawyers for Good Government and the L4GG Action Fund.

Since 2016, we have mobilized 125,000 lawyers and law students to fight for systemic change—on immigration, racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, voting rights, reproductive healthcare, environmental justice, and more. Our community has contributed over $150 million in pro bono legal services. That power is real.

But right now, we are facing something different.

The federal government is operating without meaningful guardrails. We have watched executive orders target law firms for representing their clients. We have seen mass firings of inspectors general, threats against judges who rule against the administration, and billions of dollars in congressionally authorized funding unlawfully terminated. Federal agencies are being weaponized against civil society, scientific research, environmental justice, and the nonprofit sector itself.

And here is what that means for the states: as federal protections erode, state legislatures have become the front line.

Some states are pushing back—passing laws to protect their residents, defend democratic norms, and fill the gaps left by federal retreat. Others are accelerating the damage—banning abortion, restricting healthcare for transgender people, undermining voting rights, and gutting environmental protections.

The policy decisions being made in state capitols right now will define the rights and protections available to hundreds of millions of Americans for years to come.

As lawyers, we have skills and expertise that can make a real difference in these fights. But only if we are willing to show up and do the work.

That is why we built the State Legislative Advocacy Academy—a first-of-its-kind training program designed to teach lawyers and law students how to use their unique skills and privilege to influence public policy in their home states. Through expert-led sessions, you will gain the essential knowledge and skills needed to begin your state legislative advocacy journey and impact public policies that matter to you.

The Academy has already trained hundreds of attorneys across the country. And in 2026, we are expanding—with new live training sessions, a growing L4GG Leadership Program, and an urgent mandate to build the capacity of the legal profession to defend democracy from the ground up. We hope you’ll join us.

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Why State-Level Advocacy Matters More Than Ever

The Federal-to-State Power Shift

We are living through an unprecedented transfer of power from the federal government to the states—and not by design. As the current administration dismantles federal protections, defunds enforcement agencies, and terminates billions in authorized grants, state governments are being forced to decide: will they protect their residents, or will they follow the federal lead?

The consequences are already visible across the country:

• 27 states have banned or restricted gender-affirming care for minors, with several states now attempting to extend those bans to adults.

• Billions of dollars in clean energy and environmental justice funding authorized by Congress have been unlawfully terminated, devastating frontline communities.

• DHS enforcement operations are escalating in cities across the country, while states like Minnesota and Illinois push back with protective legislation.

• The judiciary is under attack — threats of impeachment against judges, public intimidation campaigns, and defiance of clear court orders are testing the foundations of our legal system.

In this environment, state legislatures are where the most consequential policy battles are being fought. Abortion access. Voting rights. Environmental protections. Immigration enforcement. Criminal justice. Public education. The rights available to you depend increasingly on where you live.

Lawyers are uniquely positioned to influence these fights. The caliber of research, writing, analysis, and oral communication that we perform as part of our everyday work can be deployed within the legislative arena—with the right training and the right partners. That’s why we brought on Mandy Hagseth to lead the Academy.

Mandy Hagseth, Director of State Advocacy & Democratic Engagement

Mandy Hagseth leads L4GG’s state-level advocacy and democratic engagement programs. Mandy brings over twenty years of experience mobilizing and advocating for state policy change—and a track record of winning.

In Missouri, she served as Director of Policy & Advocacy at Missouri Family Health Council (now Beacon Reproductive Health Network), where she:

• Built a policy and advocacy department from the ground up;

• Helped develop a statewide contraceptive equity initiative; and

• Led the successful passage of a historic bipartisan health bill.

Mandy knows what it takes to defend against attacks in hostile environments and make progress – exactly the kind of impact the SLAA is designed to help you make in your home state.

2026 Training Sessions

The 2026 SLAA features a series of live, expert-led training sessions covering the core skills lawyers need to engage in state legislative advocacy. Sessions are delivered virtually and are designed to build on each other.

Live sessions for the 2026 State Legislative Advocacy Academy were held earlier this year, but the program is still open for self-study through the recorded videos. By registering here, you can access to the full training curriculum.

The L4GG Leadership Program

The Leadership Program is a yearlong, more intensive advocacy program where selected applicants will have the opportunity to take what they’ve learned in the State Legislative Advocacy Academy and apply it to direct action in their own state. They’ll work with L4GG, other experts and partners, and each other to move a state-level advocacy goal forward.

The Leadership Program is for those seeking an opportunity for deeper engagement than the State Legislative Advocacy Academy, including more direct action and more interaction with others on state-level policy.

In order to be considered, applicants must have completed Modules 1-5 of the 2026 State Legislative Advocacy Academy. The deadline for submitting your application is midnight (ET) on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

SLAA Graduates and L4GG Leaders

Since launching in 2022, the SLAA has trained hundreds of attorneys from 48+ states. 55 have served as L4GG Leaders, using their training to engage in legislative advocacy and mobilize other lawyers in their home states.

In mid-2026, we will recruit a cohort of 25 Leaders who will receive intensive support, coaching, and resources to make an impact in their state legislatures.

SLAA Graduation Requirements

If you complete Modules 1-5 of the 2026 SLAA training series, you will receive a Certificate of Achievement from L4GG and become eligible to apply for the L4GG Leadership Program.

While not required, we strongly encourage you to view all sessions to enrich your learning experience and build the full skill set needed for effective advocacy.

Frequently Asked Questions

The fight for rights has moved to the states.

Are you ready to fight back?