In 2015 The Pro Bono Project (The Project) handled 1,400 cases, serving almost 3,000 people. As the need for pro bono civil legal services in the six parishes that the organization serves continues to grow by an average of 10-15% annually, The Project’s Executive Director Jennifer Rizzo-Choi and its Executive Committee have divided the tasks once overseen by a “chief legal officer” into two separate management positions: a Managing Attorney for Direct Client Services and a Managing Attorney for Volunteer Engagement.
Read More2016 JFAB: Going Once … Going Twice … Gone!
Sold to the highest bidder with lots of fun and entertainment, thanks to auctioneer John Calhoun, who has come on board to work with Justice For All Ball Auction and Raffle Committee Chairs, Mark Kaplinsky and Lacey Rochester, respectively.
Read MoreSummer Interns: Back To School
Summer is always eventful at The Pro Bono Project between the excitement surrounding JFAB preparations and managing the day-to-day work around clients, cases and volunteers! Those volunteers often include a group of summer interns/externs ...
Read MoreKeeping Up With Staff ...
The Pro Bono Project welcomed ...
Read MoreSetting the Bar High: JFAB 2016 Honorary Co-Chairs Gary Solomon, Jr. & Seth Bloom, Esq.
They’re young, they’re hip, each successful in their chosen field and they’re committed – to New Orleans and to The Pro Bono Project. Gary Solomon, Jr., (l) and Seth Bloom, Esq., (r) may be considered the proverbial ‘men about town’ – but don’t let that fool you. The two are committed to leading this city forward and bringing about positive change in whatever way they can.
Read MoreBravo: LSBA Honors Current and Past Board Members
At the recent annual meeting of the Louisiana State Bar Association in Destin, FL, two of The Pro Bono Project’s most ardent supporters were honored with the prestigious President’s Award, which recognizes attorneys for their substantial contribution to the legal profession.
Read MoreThe Next Generation of Access To Justice Leaders
The Pro Bono Project recently hosted two interns as part of the inaugural year of the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Access to Justice Developing Leadership Intern Program. This program is the result of the collaborative efforts of the Louisiana Supreme Court, Louisiana District Judges Association, Louisiana Bar Foundation, civil legal aid providers, law schools, the Louisiana State Bar Association, and four law firms: Adams and Reese and Phelps Dunbar supported two New Orleans-based interns; and Baker Donelson and Jones Walker sponsored two interns in Baton Rouge.
Read MoreMedia Release: JFAB 2016 Honorary Co-Chairs
Board member and Justice For All Ball Committee Chair, Jan Hayden of Baker Donelson is pleased to announce that Gary Solomon, Jr. (l), co-founder and president of Solomon Group and Seth Bloom, Esq. (r), founder and managing partner of Bloom Legal LLC will serve as Honorary Co-Chairs for The Justice For All Ball. The Ball is scheduled for Friday, September 16, 2016, 8 pm to midnight at the Audubon Tea Room; a patron party will precede the event.
Read MoreMan of the Moment: Linton Carney
Since July of 2009, Chief Legal Officer Linton Carney has worked quietly behind the scenes at The Pro Bono Project, managing the caseload, volunteers, interns and clients that pass through The Project’s doors annually.
Read MoreAdopt A Day; Adopt A Month At The 24th JDC
Recently, The Project was asked by the Court and the Bar Foundation to manage the Self Help Resource Center (SHRC) at 24th Judicial District Court in Jefferson Parish. We need your help to man the SHRC and so we're reaching out to firms and solo practitioners to adopt a day, a week, or a month. Volunteer now!
Read MoreNotes: In Brief May 2016
It’s hard to believe that a month has gone by since my arrival at The Pro Bono Project. What a whirlwind it’s been!
Read MoreJennifer Rizzo-Choi New Executive Director of The Pro Bono Project
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.
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