In coordination with the Coalition, the Civil Right to Counsel Leadership and Support Initiative (CRCLSI) engages in outreach and strategic planning, provides technical support to local advocates, coordinates the Coalition’s work, educates interested stakeholders and promotes the development of the civil right to counsel. CRCLSI performs a national role and will concentrate its technical assistance efforts in several local settings. It is engaged in a mapping process to identify where prospects for obtaining a civil right to counsel seem best.

In addition to technical assistance, CRCLSI’s current and planned activities include: 

Litigation: Model pleadings; legal research; coordination of pro-bono activities; amicus briefs; expert witnesses; co-counsel; counsel of record.

Policy Advocacy: Model legislation; participation in administrative rule-making; strategic assistance with developing advocacy campaigns.

Communications: Messaging support; training; press outreach; identifying allies; electronic newsletters; publications, web site, conferences and presentations.

Social science research: Literature review; development of a research strategy; reports. 

Roles of CRCLSI members
 
The CRCLSI partners work in close coordination, with each having one or more areas of primary responsibility, as described below: 
 
The Public Justice Center has lead responsibility for support of litigation efforts and to coordinate and strengthen the Coalition. John Pollock; Debra Gardner.
 
The Brennan Center for Justice is responsible for communication and legislative advocacy support and is leading the strategic mapping. Laura Abel; David Udell.

The Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants (SCLAID) of the ABA will lead efforts to coordinate with state and local bench, bar, and access to justice leaders. Terry Brooks. 
 
The Committee for Indigent Representation and Civil Legal Equality (CIRCLE) (hosted by the Northwest Justice Project) leads the effort to define and carry out social science research in support of achieving a civil right to counsel. Debi Perluss.

The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law is responsible for development and maintenance of a civil right to counsel web site, a periodic newsletter of developments, and other information and technology support. Marcia Henry.