Ronald S. Flagg

Ronald S. Flagg

Host of Talk Justice, An LSC Podcast

Ronald S. Flagg was appointed President of the Legal Services Corporation effective February 20, 2020, and previously served as Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel since 2013.  He previously practiced commercial and administrative litigation at Sidley Austin LLP for 31 years, 27 years as a partner. He chaired the firm’s Committee on Pro Bono and Public Interest Law for more than a decade.

Flagg served as president of the District of Columbia Bar in 2010-2011 and currently serves as Chair of the Bar’s Pro Bono Task Force.  He presently also chairs the board of the National Veterans Legal Services Program. He has also served as Chair of the District of Columbia Bar Pro Bono Committee, Chair of the Board of the AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly, as a member of the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates, on LSC’s Pro Bono Task Force, and as a member of the Board of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, the Board of the District of Columbia Access to Justice Foundation, and  the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission.

Flagg graduated with honors from the University of Chicago and cum laude from Harvard Law School. He began his career as a law clerk to Judge Myron L. Gordon, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and as attorney-advisor in the United States Department of Justice, Office of Intelligence Policy.

Host of
Recent Episodes
December 10, 2024

New Report Builds a Framework for Civil Justice Innovation

Legal scholars discuss the American Academy of Arts & Sciences’ new report, “Achieving Civil Justice: A Framework for Collaboration,” on Talk Justice.  Since 2014, the Academy’s Making Justice Accessible project. has highlighted...

November 12, 2024

How Collaboration Powers Legal Aid’s Hurricane Response

Legal aid staff in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina discuss their wide-ranging hurricane response efforts on Talk Justice. In the wake of devastating hurricanes in the southeast, legal aid organizations are mobilizing...

October 8, 2024

How Can Legal Aid Hold On to Good Attorneys?

Legal aid directors from Minnesota and Arkansas discuss their multi-faceted efforts to attract and retain high-quality attorneys and other staff on Talk Justice. It’s no secret that legal aid does not lead...

August 27, 2024

A Deeper Look at Homelessness

An attorney who has provided civil legal services to people experiencing homelessness shares her perspective on Talk Justice. Carolyn Perez is passionate about correcting common misconceptions around homelessness, saying those we see on...

July 23, 2024

Medical Debt Suits Plague Courts and Patients—Is There Another Way?

Guests from Kansas and Tennessee discuss the growth of medical debt lawsuits, their impact on patients, and efforts to mitigate these suits on Talk Justice.  The Wall Street Journal recently reported on...

June 25, 2024

Senator Ben Cardin on Equal Justice and Supporting Legal Aid

United States Senator Ben Cardin joins LSC President Ron Flagg to discuss his perspective on access to justice as a legislator and lawyer on Talk Justice. The Maryland Senator shared about his...

May 28, 2024

Lawyers Can Help Revitalize Neighborhoods

Guests from a successful St. Louis collaboration discuss Legal Services of Eastern Missouri’s (LSEM) Neighborhood Advocacy Program on Talk Justice. There are 24,000 vacancies and abandoned properties in St. Louis. LSEM was...

April 23, 2024

John Grisham on Storytelling and Justice

Bestselling author and lawyer John Grisham joins LSC Board Member Robert Grey for a conversation on how his journey from small-town lawyer to big-time author influenced his philanthropic priorities and made him...

April 9, 2024

Upsolve’s New Student Debt Relief Tools

Guests from the online bankruptcy service Upsolve and Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) discuss a new, free web resource for people struggling with student debt on Talk Justice. PLA received funding from a...

March 12, 2024

Confronting the Legal Tech Justice Gap

Experts discuss the vast funding gap in legal tech. LSC President Ron Flagg hosts the conversation with guests Bob Ambrogi, lawyer and award-winning legal tech journalist, and Cat Moon, director of innovation...

February 27, 2024

Tools to Empower Disaster Survivors and At-Risk Communities

Experts discuss resources for disaster preparedness and recovery on this episode of Talk Justice. As natural disasters become more frequent, LSC and First Street Foundation have collaborated to bring HeartlandDisasterHelp.org to life....

January 9, 2024

Taking Community Justice Workers Nationwide

Former Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC) Executive Director and current Frontline Justice Founding CEO Nikole Nelson joins LSC President Ron Flagg for a conversation on using community justice workers to expand access...

December 26, 2023

Causes and Consequences of Eviction

Experts discuss a new report on the causes and consequences of eviction in Montana, as well as the impact of eviction on U.S. children. The recently released “Montana Eviction Impact Report: Beyond Housing...

October 31, 2023

How Legal Aid Leverages Pro Bono Attorneys 

In recognition of Pro Bono Week, experts discuss new developments in legal aid pro bono engagements on LSC’s Talk Justice. The conversation highlights the JPMorgan Chase Pro Bono Fellowship and partnership with...

July 25, 2023

Judge David Tatel on LSC’s Beginnings and Access to Justice Today

Senior Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit David Tatel joins LSC President Ron Flagg to share his memories of the 1974 founding of the...

July 11, 2023

How Civil Legal Aid Can Use Opioid Settlement Funds

Legal leaders from Arkansas, Kentucky and Texas discuss how their organizations acquired opioid settlement funds and the impactful legal services they are providing to those affected by opioid use disorder on LSC’s...

May 23, 2023

ABA President Deborah Enix-Ross

American Bar Association (ABA) President Deborah Enix-Ross joins LSC President Ron Flagg to discuss her priorities in leading the ABA, the role of lawyers in preserving democracy and closing the justice gap...

April 25, 2023

Author John Grisham on Legal Aid

Bestselling author John Grisham talks about his experiences as a lawyer and the importance of legal aid on this episode of Talk Justice. Legal Services Corporation (LSC) President Ron Flagg introduces Grisham’s...

March 14, 2023

Illegal Eviction’s Role in Housing Instability

Civil legal aid providers noted an increase in illegal evictions during the height of the pandemic, as some landlords pursued avenues outside the court system for forcing tenants out. Legal experts discuss...

January 17, 2023

Using Supervised Non-lawyers to Provide Limited-Scope Legal Assistance

Legal experts discuss Alaska’s recent approval of the use of supervised non-lawyers to provide limited-scope legal assistance on the latest episode of LSC’s “Talk Justice” podcast, released today. LSC President Ron Flagg...

November 15, 2022

Closing the Justice Gap with Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack

Michigan Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack joins LSC President Ron Flagg to discuss access to the courts in the wake of the pandemic, lessons learned from the bench and her next chapter...

October 11, 2022

Harvard Law School’s Martha Minow on Why Civil Justice Matters

There's no denying the disparities of equal access to justice in our legal system, especially when it comes to our civil justice system.

September 13, 2022

How Law Schools Can Close the Justice Gap

Law school leaders discuss how their academic institutions work towards expanding access to justice on the latest episode of LS’s “Talk Justice” podcast. Thomas Miles, Dean and Clifton R. Musser Professor of...

August 23, 2022

The Value of Medical-Legal Partnerships

Leaders from Georgetown University’s Health Justice Alliance discuss how the medical-legal partnership (MLP) benefits both law and medical students on the latest episode of Talk Justice. Dr. Ana Caskin, deputy medical director...

July 26, 2022

In Conversation with Trailblazing Minnesota Justice Anne McKeig

Associate Justice Anne McKeig of the Minnesota Supreme Court joins the podcast to discuss her legal career and how courts can expand access to justice. 

June 28, 2022

A Conversation with NLADA President April Frazier Camara

Newly appointed National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) President and CEO April Frazier Camara shares her goals for the NLADA and the personal history that led her to advocate for access...

May 10, 2022

The Justice Gap: The Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-income Americans

Coach Harbaugh and LSC Leaders Share What New Data Means for Nation's Justice Gap

March 22, 2022

Pro Bono and the Pandemic

Positive developments in pro bono practice that should remain in place in a post-pandemic world

March 8, 2022

The Crisis in Access to Justice in Rural America

Experts discuss new technology and other client-centered developments that are helping to close the justice gap in rural communities.

February 22, 2022

American Rescue Plan, Evictions, Broadband and the Digital Divide

Senior Advisor to the president and American Rescue Plan Coordinator Gene Sperling discusses implementing the historic $1.9 trillion rescue plan and what it means for access to justice.

January 11, 2022

Expanding Access to Justice in Rural Communities

A2J is going country.

December 14, 2021

How the pandemic and natural disasters impact domestic violence

What do survivors of domestic violence do when disasters cut them off from the world?

October 12, 2021

Shifting the Narrative on Access to Justice Advocacy

Massachusetts Representative Joe Kennedy III and Upsolve CEO Rohan Pavuluri sit down with LSC President Ron Flagg to discuss Access to Justice

September 28, 2021

How State Attorneys General Can Work with Legal Aid Providers to Serve Low-Income Americans

Five attorneys general join host Ron Flagg for a powerful conversation about civil justice initiatives.

September 14, 2021

How the Pandemic Is Impacting the Opioid Crisis and People in Recovery

Expert guests discussing COVID's effect on the Opioid Crisis and people who suffer from it.

August 24, 2021

Why Civil Legal Aid and Access to Justice Are Important to American Business

Distinguished business leaders discuss the business community’s perspective on the importance of access to justice during the pandemic.