Every career has a starting point—and for some of today’s legal leaders, that journey begins with legal aid.

In a recent article from Heart & Soul, Zelda B. Harris reflects on how her early experience with Land of Lincoln helped shape her path in the legal profession. Long before becoming a law school dean, she was working directly with individuals and families facing serious legal challenges—learning what justice looks like in practice.

?Read the full article

For many attorneys, legal aid is where the law becomes real.

It’s where new lawyers work directly with people navigating housing issues, financial hardship, and other life-changing challenges. These experiences are fast-paced, complex, and deeply human—and they leave a lasting impression.

“That experience stayed with me.”

At Land of Lincoln, we see this every day. Legal aid doesn’t just build legal skills—it builds perspective, empathy, and a lifelong commitment to justice.

Today, as a law school dean, Harris is helping shape the next generation of attorneys—carrying forward the lessons she learned early in her career.

That’s the ripple effect of legal aid.

It strengthens communities today while also shaping the future of the legal profession. The work we do doesn’t end with a case—it continues through the people it impacts.