Lawyering for Liberation: Movement Lawyers with Ameca Reali and Marbré Stahly-Butts

In this episode of Activist Lawyer, our host Sarah Henry sits down with movement lawyers Ameca Reali and Marbré Stahly-Butts for an insightful conversation on what it truly means to practice law in service of liberation. The episode explores movement lawyering not as a niche specialty, but as a fundamentally different orientation toward legal work - one rooted in community, accountability, and collective power.

At the heart of the discussion is Reali and Stahly-Butts’ book, Lawyering for Liberation: A Toolbox for Movement Lawyers. Rather than offering abstract theory, the book - and the conversation- centres lived experience. Both guests discuss their personal journeys into movement lawyering, shaped by family, community care, and early encounters with the criminal legal system.

Focusing the conversation on movement lawyering in a practical sense, host Sarah Henry asks the question - what distinguishes movement lawyering from traditional legal practice? The guests emphasise that while the legal tasks may look the same- litigation, policy advocacy, legal defence - the purpose and measure of success are radically different. Winning a case is not the ultimate goal; building durable community power is.

An important point to note is the idea that lawyers, even with the best intentions, can sometimes cause harm. Drawing on historical examples such as Brown v. Board of Education and labour organising within the United Farm Workers, the episode illustrates how legal ‘wins’ can undermine broader movement goals when lawyers act without deep coordination, political analysis, or accountability to the communities they serve.

The conversation also situates movement lawyering within a global context. Reflections on Palestinian liberation, Black liberation, and international solidarity underscore the importance of coordinated strategy and cross-movement relationships - especially in moments of intense state repression. Lawyers, the guests argue, have a unique responsibility to use their institutional credibility to challenge dominant narratives and expose injustice.

Throughout the episode, black queer feminism and intersectionality emerge as essential frameworks for liberation. Rather than add-ons, these perspectives are presented as foundational tools for understanding power and ensuring that no one is left behind in the struggle for justice.

For aspiring movement lawyers, the advice is clear: root yourself where you are, build real relationships, sharpen your political analysis, and become a skilled tactician. Movement lawyering is not about individual heroics, but about collective effort, humility, and long-term commitment.

This episode of The Activist Lawyer Podcast is both an invitation and a challenge - to rethink what lawyering can be, and to imagine how legal skills might contribute to movements not just for reform, but for true liberation.

Marbré Stahly - Butts

Ameca Reali