Poverty Law, Co-Sponsored by Clinical Legal Education, Critical Theories, Pro-Bono & Access to Justice, Property Law, and Women in Legal Education

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Session Type: Section Programs

Session Capacity: N/A

Location: Marriott Marquis Washington, DC

Room: Georgetown University Room

Floor: Level M1

The American Dream is not a dream. Class mobility has become stagnant. Systemic factors contributing to inter-generational poverty are largely ignored by policymakers, largely due to American mythology. Meritocratic assumptions and narratives of self-sufficiency find their way into public policy, upending support for more equitable and sustainable approaches. To illustrate these structural barriers and illuminate the systemic interventions needed for economic and social mobility, panelists will discuss biases embedded in emergency healthcare, municipal debt, commerce, and worker credentialing systems. Panelists will share insights into how law can be both an obstacle and a tool for mitigating economic and social inequality.