Meet Marabi
From her start as one of LIFT’s very first participants, to accepting a position as the Advisory Council Co-Chair, Marabi Madrigal has always been committed to making a difference.
Hear Marabi tell the story of her journey through the LIFT program and learn why she is devoted now, more than ever, to empowering LegalServer site administrators with tools that will enable them to better serve the most vulnerable populations.
Since 2001, LegalSever has been committed to building tools that support the civil legal aid and public defender community in their efforts to serve underrepresented and marginalized members of our society - seeking to realize the ideal of fundamental fairness for all.
Sharing in the vision of an equitable justice system, LegalServer site administrators across the country have dedicated themselves to helping the agencies they work for effectively leverage the tools and features available to them through their LegalServer case management system.
LegalServer Is Fun Together (LIFT) is an independent, volunteer-driven, collaborative learning program that supports site administrators of color by helping them develop their skills while putting technology’s role in increasing access to justice in context.
LIFT participants are committed to developing a dynamic working knowledge of LegalServer’s tools and features so they can help expand the reach and impact of the agencies they work for. This site is dedicated to their stories and efforts at helping create a justice system that works for everyone.
Their Stories. Their Voices.
Every LIFT participant brings their own unique perspective to the process of developing as a site administrator. With an eye on impact, hear stories from people who first joined LIFT as less experienced administrators.
How LIFT Works
1:1 Mentoring
Less and More Experienced Administrators are carefully paired and meet virtually for one hour each month for six months. Together they explore LegalServer to advance user knowledge and experience.
Monthly Group Trainings
Group gatherings help to develop skills and an understanding of the ins and outs of LegalServer and address topics relevant to the civil legal aid and public defender community.
A Safe & Supportive Community
Experienced administrators offer technical expertise and tricks-of-the-trade while fostering a learning environment where participants can feel safe to ask questions, take risks, and try new things.
LIFT strives to eliminate potential power differentials common to many mentor/mentee relationships. Instead, they foster an atmosphere of shared learning and mutual respect. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a more experienced participant to remark that they feel as though they are learning just as much as their less experience partner. Perhaps that’s why so many people who have participated in the program volunteer to support the next year’s cohort.
Need a LIFT?
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More Experience. Bigger Impact.
Dedicated members of the civil legal aid and public defender community, these more experienced site administrators help less experienced administrators advance their skills and strengthen their impact.
Mentors Lift People Up!
It will come as no surprise that mentorship is proven to be a key component in career success. For individuals, studies show quality mentoring relationships help lead to advancements, raises, increased opportunities, and overall job satisfaction.
Organizations that support mentoring relationships within their structure find themselves rewarded with higher levels of employee engagement, increased innovation, higher retention rates, and internal knowledge-sharing.
Above and beyond the cost-savings and development of institutional knowledge that accompany mentorship programs like LIFT, they help create a culture of shared learning and sense of community. It’s from this place that true change becomes possible.
LIFT was founded in 2021 under the leadership of a group of consultants. Recognizing that within the legal and tech industries, disparities in growth opportunities existed for many people of color, a team dedicated to leveling the playing field, and shortly after welcomed the first cohort of site admins to the LIFT program. Today, LIFT continues to strengthen the civil legal aid community by supporting more than 25 new learners every year.
Behind the Scenes
LIFT was founded on the belief that diversity makes us stronger and systemic challenges require a systems-based approach to overcome. Here are just a few of the many voices behind the vision. To learn more To learn more, download the LIFT 2025 Strategic Plan.
Stay Connected
Join the mailing list and keep up with the latest from the LIFT community
Change We Can All Get Behind
Cultural bias, limited access to resources, and lack of representation in higher-level positions are just a few of the many hurdles people of color commonly face in the work force.
But the fact remains, we are stronger together!
LIFT levels the playing field by creating a safe place for people to engage with a dynamic curriculum that builds skills and confidence!
- Diversity increases innovation, creativity, strategic thinking & decision making
- Ambitious professionals are often attracted to inclusive organizations
- Diverse, inclusive workplaces can result in a more motivated, productive workforce
- Diverse teams often have higher morale and remain loyal to their organizatione
Making a Difference Since 2021
Download a copy of the 2025 Strategic Plan to learn where LIFT is headed in the coming years
Leadership in Support of Lift
Executive directors and agency leadership praise the value LIFT brings to the civil legal aid and public defender community. Have a look at LIFT through their eyes.
“We rise by lifting others.”
Robert G. Ingersoll
