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Featured Speakers

Marilyn Harp was the Executive Director of Kansas Legal Services for 17 years before her retirement in 2022. She graduated from the University of Kansas Law School in 1979 and subsequently interned with KLS, after which she was hired on for a full time position. Marilyn spent the duration of her career with Kansas Legal Services, taking on ambitious projects such as a website overhaul, an innovative Elder Law Hotline program, and a new Central Intake process.

For her incredible work, Marilyn has received the Kansas Bar Association’s Outstanding Service Award three times. She has also spent time teaching at both Wichita State and KU Law, but has since retired from those roles. Since her retirement, Marilyn has endeavored to maintain her ties with Legal Aid by volunteering in programs like the ones she helped to pioneer.

José Padilla spent more than four decades with California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA), retiring in 2022. He served as Executive Director of the organization for 38 years (1984-2022). José received his BA from Stanford in 1974 before attending Boalt Hall School of Law, U. C. Berkeley. After graduation in 1978, he started what became a 43-year legal career with California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) Inc., advocating for the rights of California’s farm worker and rural communities living in poverty.

As Director, José worked to ensure that the rural poor are represented in the legislative arena by a strong lobbying arm devoted to issues of special concern to rural communities. Under his leadership, CRLA has also taken a prominent role to outreach new burgeoning rural communities, creating the Indigenous Farm Worker Project, to address the need of the indigenous workers from southern Mexico who have joined the migrant stream. Most importantly, during José’s tenure, CRLA has continued to pursue impact litigation and develop special projects of critical importance to farm workers, indigenous communities, and, most recently, dairy workers.

José is the recipient of a number of awards and recognitions, including but not limited to: the Cesar Chavez Legacy Award (2021); the Ohtli Award from the Mexican government (2003); election to Board Chairperson, National Legal Aid & Defender Association (2008); recipient of an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters, Chapman University (2005). He has also testified in front of Congress as well as various Presidential Commissions and other legislative bodies. In 2011, José received a nomination to the California Supreme Court from the California Latino Legislative Caucus.

Steve Gottlieb began his career with Atlanta Legal Aid in 1968 as part of its first summer law student class. He became Executive Director of the organization in 1980, making him one of the longest-serving legal aid directors in the nation at the time of his retirement in 2023, with 43 years of service in the position. During his tenure, ALA dramatically expanded its core services and reach to include clients outside of Atlanta. Steve is also the co-founder of the Health Law Partnership.

In 2022, Steve was honored with the Amicus Curiae award, one of the most prestigious awards bestowed by The Supreme Court of Georgia, in recognition of his years of service providing exceptional service to Georgia’s judicial system and citizens.

Host

Jon Asher was the Executive Director of Colorado Legal Services since its formation 23 years ago until his retirement in 2023. Jon was formerly the Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Denver from December 1, 1980 until October 1, 1999 when the Legal Aid Society was consolidated with Colorado’s two other federally funded programs—Colorado Rural Legal Services and Pikes Peak/Arkansas River Legal Aid—and became a single statewide program, Colorado Legal Services.

Jon is also an Ex-Officio member of the Colorado Access to Justice Commission and an ABA Delegate for the Colorado Bar Association’s Board of Governors. Additionally, he served as Chair of the Colorado Bar Association’s Availability of Legal Services Committee. He began his legal services career as a staff attorney with Colorado Rural Legal Services in Greeley, Colorado in August, 1971. Jon graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School.