The Legal Defense Fund

We are America's premier legal organization fighting for racial justice through litigation, advocacy, and public education. Est. 1940.

Working in the areas of criminal justice, economic justice, education, and political participation, we seek to diminish the role of race in the criminal justice system; increase fairness and participation in all aspects of economic life; increase equity in education; and achieve full civic engagement and participation in the democratic process for all Americans.

We use litigation, advocacy, educational outreach, monitoring of federal and state government activity, coalition building, and policy research to achieve our goals. Additionally, through our scholarship, fellowship, and internship programs, we help students attend and graduate from many of the nation’s best institutions of higher education.