Bringing Lawyers and Judges Together to Advance Equal Justice

Arizona Lawyers for Equal Justice (ALEJ) is a volunteer-led network of lawyers, judges, legal professionals and community leaders dedicated to strengthening the administration of justice in Arizona.

ALEJ’s founders are Hon. Carol Scott Berry, Booker T. Evans, Jr., Elena Nethers, Hon. Frankie Jones & Hon. Roxanne K. Song Ong.

Through education, dialogue, collaboration and action, ALEJ creates opportunities for legal professionals to discuss challenges facing the justice system, develop practical solutions, and build relationships across communities and perspectives.

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Our Story

ALEJ was founded in 2020 following conversations taking place across Arizona and the nation about justice, equity and public trust in legal institutions.

What began as a virtual gathering of members from Arizona’s affinity bar associations quickly grew into an ongoing effort to foster meaningful dialogue about equal justice and access to the legal system. More than 200 attorneys and judges participated in ALEJ’s inaugural program.

Click here to read ALEJ’s story in the November 2026 issue of Arizona Attorney Magazine.

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What We Do

Facilitate Dialogue

ALEJ brings lawyers and judges together to discuss important issues affecting the legal profession, the courts, and Arizona communities. Through facilitated discussions and small-group conversations, participants share experiences, explore different viewpoints, and identify common ground.

Develop Ideas and Recommendations

Each program concludes with participant-driven recommendations and consensus findings that help guide future discussions and initiatives.

Encourage Action

ALEJ encourages participants to move beyond conversation and consider how they can advance equal justice within their own practices, organizations, and communities.

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Annual Convention Programs

Since 2020, ALEJ has hosted programs at every State Bar of Arizona Annual Convention, bringing together Arizona Supreme Court justices, appellate and trial court judges, prosecutors and public attorneys, private practitioners, government lawyers, law professors, community leaders. These sessions have become a recognized forum for discussion on issues affecting Arizona’s legal profession and justice system.

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Key Initiatives

Education

Developing programs that encourage attorneys to think critically about justice, leadership, service and professional responsibility.

Legal Integrity & Public Protection

Launched in 2025, this initiative focuses on protecting the public from legal fraud, misinformation, and the unauthorized practice of law, with special attention to vulnerable and non-English-speaking communities.

Preservation & History

Preserving the history of Arizona’s affinity and collaborative bar organizations through interviews, stories, and historical resources for future generations.

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Partners

ALEJ collaborates with organizations across Arizona, including:

• Arizona Supreme Court Commission on Diversity, Equality & Justice
• Arizona Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice
• Arizona State University Center for the Study of Race and Democracy
• Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University
• Arizona Town Hall
• State Bar of Arizona
• Arizona’s affinity and collaborative bar associations

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Get Involved

ALEJ welcomes lawyers, judges, law students, and community leaders interested in advancing equal justice through dialogue, education and action.

Contact: AzLawyersForEqualJustice@gmail.com