You think you have the right to an attorney...but do you? | Olivia Lombardo | TEDxYale
In criminal court, the Constitution guarantees a lawyer. But in civil cases—where your home, children, or safety are at stake—you’re on your own. 90% of low-income Americans face evictions, custody battles, and domestic violence hearings without legal help, while opponents often have expensive counsel. The result? A system where justice depends on wealth. From tenants wrongly evicted to families chased down by debt collectors, this talk exposes the hidden crisis of civil justice—and why "equal justice under law" collapses when you can’t afford a lawyer. Olivia is a senior at Yale studying Political Science as an Intensive major. Her research examines how race and class shape access to justice, particularly in civil courts where people lack access to legal representation. As a founding member and Co-Director of the Yale-Student Association for Small Claims Assistance (Y-SASCA), Olivia has worked at the forefront of addressing representation gaps through direct service. Olivia has worked in public defense in New Haven and Washington, D.C., and for U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand as a Women in Government Fellow. Olivia aims to challenge assumptions about justice and advocate for more robust legal protections for vulnerable groups using innovative solutions. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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