The Pro Bono Project is pleased to announce that after a thorough local and national search, it has selected Jennifer Rizzo-Choi as its new executive director. Ms. Rizzo-Choi comes to The Project after having served for the past three years as the National Pro Bono Promotion Counsel for Washington D.C.- based Human Rights First. She holds a Juris Doctorate from SUNY Buffalo Law School and a Bachelor of Arts (Cum Laude) in Journalism from Ithaca College in New York. She takes the helm of The Project on May 2, 2016.
Read MoreVolunteer Now for 24th JDC Self Help Resource Center
The Pro Bono Project has taken the lead in managing and recruiting volunteers for Self Help Resource Center (SHRC) at 24th Judicial District Court in Jefferson Parish beginning on April 19, 2016. You can sign up on VolunteerSpot.
Read MoreClosing the Healthcare Gap: Medical-Legal Partnership Opens a New Door
Healthcare in the United States has been a major issue for the past several decades. Regardless of whether you’re young or old, rich or poor, working or retired – the cost of healthcare has escalated exponentially in the past 30 years.
In 2013, the year before the Affordable Care Act began, more than 42 million citizens were uninsured – that’s about 13% of the population. Since then, reports show that number has dropped by approximately 16.5 million people.
But what about the 25.5 million Americans that still don’t have health insurance? Many are uninsured because they still can’t afford it, are ineligible in some way or have completely opted out of the health insurance marketplace.
In most cases, these folks are using community health centers that provide basic care and offer services beyond those of pharmacy-run “minute clinics.” Most community health centers serve both the insured and uninsured. This setting has revealed the tremendous gap in healthcare delivery, which often requires a legal solution to fill.
Read MoreWhen Age and Illness Meet Legal - Anything Is Possible
Manuel* came to the clinic needing help – not medical but legal help.
He is 76 years old and has been a legal permanent resident for many years. Now, he wants to become a citizen, but he’s been afraid to apply. Because of his age and some medical conditions, he does not think he will be able to complete the exam portion of the citizenship process.
Read MoreGillis Long Poverty Law Center: A Commitment To The Working Poor
Over the past several summers, The Pro Bono Project has welcomed the opportunity to host Loyola law school interns through the Gillis Long Poverty Law Center (GLPLC). Unlike many of the out-of-state law students who come to The Project for a short time during spring, winter and summer breaks, the Gillis Long scholars work an entire semester, approximately three months, at The Project.
Read MoreLaw Students Come From Around The World
It seems that every month, there is a new group of law students from universities across America. Interestingly, many of those law schools host students from a variety of world cultures, such as China, India and others.
Read MoreChairman's New Year Message
Dear Friends of The Pro Bono Project:
Friends often tease me about being change-resistant—about relishing tradition and order to a fault. But even I acknowledge the inevitability of change and the potential it creates.
Read MoreTaking A Holiday Break At The Project
While the holiday season was busy for many people with parties and family gatherings, The Pro Bono Project was having some busy days with law students from George Washington Law, American University Washington College of Law and Columbia Law School.
Read MoreWelcome 2016 New Board Members
The Pro Bono Project is pleased to announce the 2016 officers and new members to the Board.
Read MoreHelping Us Open Doors in 2015
People are always asking us, “If your attorneys are volunteers, why do you need
my year-end donation?” It’s a great question. Here’s the answer:
Every year hundreds of lawyers generously donate their time to help the underserved residents of six Louisiana parishes with challenges that involve potentially complex and costly legal issues. The issues are as diverse as the clients themselves, and the lawyers who step up to help them are our local heroes.
Read MoreGeorge Washington Law Students At The Project
Students from The George Washington University Law School spent four days in late December at The Pro Bono Project working with Chief Legal Officer Linton Carney, staff attorneys Ona Sanders and Patricia Guzman-Weema, and staff paralegal Zakiya LaGrange.
Read MoreApplause For Our Volunteers
The house was full on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 for The Project's annual Volunteer Appreciation Awards and Reception at Jones Walker, which followed the year-end Professionalism CLE, "Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Discovery." (See related story: CLE)
Thanks to all who turned out to applaud their colleagues for their tremendous efforts in 2015, which saw more than 2,200 people helped in just over 1,400 cases handled by our volunteers.
Read MoreProfessionalism CLE Offers Insights During Discovery
The Professionalism CLE held in conjunction with the 2015 Volunteer Appreciation Awards and Reception on Wednesday, December 9 from 4-5 pm at Jones Walker offered attendees some critical insights on how to "Avoid Common Pitfalls During Discovery."
Read MoreNotes: November 2015 In Brief
All year, we've been celebrating YOU through the hours you've given, the cases and clinics you've worked, the CLEs you've attended so you can be more knowledgeable pro bono lawyers, the funds you've given to enable us to continually respond to the needs of the community in the six parishes we serve and the fun times we've had bowling, dancing and partying together for a good cause.
Read MoreLong Time Executive Director Announces Retirement
Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." No one knew that better than the woman who spoke those words, the activist, author and educator, Helen Keller.
For more than 29 years, The Pro Bono Project has been the daring adventure of my life - there was no road map when I began. Organizations like The Project were just coming online in the mid-1980s and it was a unique challenge at the time. Today, more than 1,000 similar organizations exist across the country - we were among the pioneers.
Now, I am ready to take on a new 'daring adventure.'
Read MoreIt's October: National Pro Bono Celebration Is Here
For the past seven years, the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service has shined the spotlight during October on the increasing need for pro bono services, and the lawyers and other professionals who lend their time and talent to those who cannot afford, but need, the services of a civil lawyer.
Read MoreVolunteers Make Pro Bono Count
We’re always asking our volunteer lawyers to tell us why they give their time and talent to The Pro Bono Project and to the pro bono cause in general.
Read MoreNotes: October 2015 In Brief
As we approach National Pro Bono Celebration (NPBC) week, it occurs to me that pro bono work is happening around us all the time.
Since pro bono is such a part of the culture of the legal industry, we are often forget that 'volunteers' help to power most communities.
Where would this city, this region, this nation be without the many volunteers that come to the aid of organizations that serve those in need?
Rockin' 'n Bowling ...
It was fun Sunday for all who came out to Rock 'n Bowl to support The New Orleans Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section annual Pro-Bowl-O Tournament on August 9th.
Read MoreNotes: August 2015 In Brief
This month's In Brief commemorates the 10th Anniversary of Katrina. You've already seen some of our remembrances on our Hurricane Katrina Retrospective page. This month we add three more stories.
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