National Lawyers Guild

National Lawyers Guild
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Name	National Lawyers Guild
Formation	1937
Location	United States

National Lawyers Guild is a United States-based organization that was founded in 1937 by a group of American Bar Association lawyers who were dissatisfied with the American Bar Association's conservative stance on issues such as labor law and civil rights. The organization was established during a time of great social and economic change in the United States, with the Great Depression and the New Deal programs implemented by Franklin D. Roosevelt. The National Lawyers Guild was influenced by the Progressive Era and the Socialist Party of America, and its founding members included notable figures such as Morris Ernst and Osmond Fraenkel. The organization's early years were marked by its involvement in high-profile cases, including the Scottsboro Boys trial and the Hollywood Blacklist.

● History

The National Lawyers Guild was founded in 1937, with the goal of promoting social justice and human rights through the practice of law. During the Cold War, the organization was targeted by the House Un-American Activities Committee and the FBI for its alleged ties to the Communist Party USA. The organization's members, including Victor Rabinowitz and Leonard Boudin, were involved in several high-profile cases, including the Rosenberg trial and the Pentagon Papers case. The National Lawyers Guild also played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement, with members such as Thurgood Marshall and Constance Baker Motley working on landmark cases like Brown v. Board of Education. The organization's history is also closely tied to the American Civil Liberties Union, the NAACP, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

● Organization

The National Lawyers Guild is a non-profit organization that is governed by a National Executive Board and a Constitution. The organization has several committees and task forces, including the Mass Defense Committee and the National Immigration Project. The National Lawyers Guild also has several chapters and student chapters across the United States, including at Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and University of California, Berkeley School of Law. The organization's members include lawyers, law students, and legal workers from a variety of backgrounds, including private practice, public interest law, and academia. The National Lawyers Guild is also affiliated with the International Association of Democratic Lawyers and the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights.

● Activities

The National Lawyers Guild is involved in a wide range of activities, including litigation, legislative advocacy, and community organizing. The organization's members have worked on cases involving police brutality, immigrant rights, and environmental justice, among other issues. The National Lawyers Guild has also been involved in several high-profile campaigns, including the anti-war movement and the Occupy Wall Street movement. The organization's members have worked with a variety of social justice organizations, including the ACLU, the NAACP, and the Sierra Club. The National Lawyers Guild also provides training and resources for its members, including continuing legal education programs and law student internships.

● Notable_members

The National Lawyers Guild has had several notable members throughout its history, including Thurgood Marshall, Constance Baker Motley, and William Kunstler. Other notable members include Leonard Boudin, Victor Rabinowitz, and Margaret Ratner Kunstler. The organization's members have included law professors from Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and New York University School of Law, as well as public interest lawyers from organizations like the ACLU and the NAACP. The National Lawyers Guild has also honored several notable figures with its Debra Evenson Award for Outstanding Achievements in Social Justice, including Michael Ratner and Jennie Green.

● Criticisms_and_controversies

The National Lawyers Guild has faced several criticisms and controversies throughout its history, including allegations of communism and radicalism. The organization was targeted by the House Un-American Activities Committee and the FBI during the Red Scare, and several of its members were blacklisted or disbarred. The National Lawyers Guild has also faced criticism for its stance on issues like Israel-Palestine and cuba, with some accusing the organization of being anti-Israel or pro-Castro. The organization has responded to these criticisms by emphasizing its commitment to social justice and human rights, and by pointing to its work on issues like police brutality and immigrant rights.

● International_affiliations

The National Lawyers Guild has several international affiliations, including the International Association of Democratic Lawyers and the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights. The organization has also worked with lawyers and social justice organizations from around the world, including the Palestinian Bar Association and the Cuban National Association of Lawyers. The National Lawyers Guild has been involved in several international campaigns, including the anti-apartheid movement and the movement to end the US embargo on Cuba. The organization's members have also worked on cases involving international human rights law, including the Geneva Conventions and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The National Lawyers Guild is also a member of the International Commission of Jurists and the Union Internationale des Avocats.

Category:Legal organizations