It’s always wonderful to have someone who was a volunteer or an intern come to work at The Project. Our new Intake Coordinator, Ingrid Autin fits that description perfectly. Earlier this year, Ingrid came to The Project as a paralegal intern from Nunez Community College in St. Bernard, a parish that we also serve.
Read MoreCongratulations Are In Order
Congratulations to all of the honorees at the Louisiana State Bar Assocation Pro Bono Awards ...
Read MoreLouisiana Bar Foundation Awards Grant To Help Immigrant Families
The Pro Bono Project was thrilled to accept a check on Thursday, May 18 from the Louisiana Bar Foundation’s Community Partnership Panel. The Project was awarded a $6,705 grant to begin a new program offering pro bono Provisional Custody By Mandate (PCBM) clinics for the immigrant population.
Right now, there is an acute need for this pro bono work.
Read MoreStanding Up For Justice
Stakeholder Meeting Convenes with the
President of the American Bar Association and the
Area’s Top Legal Minds to Talk About Pro Bono Work
The Pro Bono Project brought together 60 of the metro area’s top lawyers and jurists to meet with the American Bar Association President Linda Klein and Louisiana State Bar Foundation President-Elect Valerie Bargas on Friday, April 7th to talk about how to build a stronger pro bono partnership. The group met at the Hale Boggs Federal Courthouse in the courtroom of The Honorable Jay Zainey, Judge, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana.
Read MorePhelps Dunbar Adopts the Month of March at the 24th JDC Self Help Resource Center
Phelps Dunbar attorneys are volunteering at the 24th JDC Domestic Self Help Resource Center every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 to noon throughout the month of March.
They will assist visitors with the completion of forms approved by the 24th JDC. Forms include a petition to divorce with children and without children. There are also forms relating to custody matters, such as modification of previous orders.
Our thanks to Phelps Dunbar for their efforts during March. If you or your firm are interested in volunteering at this desk or in any other opportunity with us, please call 504-581-4043 today.
Entergy Adopts the Month of February for our PCBM Workshop!
Every Thursday, during the month of February, volunteers from Entergy will assist clients with their PCBM, a Provisional Custody by Mandate.
Read MoreColvin Law Firm to Volunteer for the Month of February!
The Colvin Law Firm will be volunteering at the 24th JDC Domestic Self Help Resource Center every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 to noon throughout the month of February.
Read MoreCurry & Friend, PLC Adopts the Month of January for our PCBM Clinic
Every Thursday during the month of January, volunteers from Curry & Friend, PLC assist our clients with their PCBM, a Provisional Custody by Mandate.
Read MoreFrom The Project’s Chair and Executive Director: Setting the 2017 Agenda
Building a stronger culture of pro bono within the six parishes served by The Pro Bono Project, and across the state of Louisiana sets the stage for 2017 as a year of collaboration, community, and access to justice.
Read MoreLaw Students Open the New Year at The Project
It didn't take long after the January 1st for law students to arrive at The Pro Bono Project. Staff welcomed students from America University Washington College of Law during the week of January 2-6 and from University of Wisconsin Law School, January 9-13.
Read MoreSpending the Holidays with The Project ...
Not everyone went directly home for the holidays. A few law students actually spent the week working at The Pro Bono Project, with staff attorneys Pat Guzman-Weema and Jenny Abshier, paralegal Zakiya LaGrange and Managing Atttorneys Jesse George and Kathleen Legendre.
Read MoreDear Friends of The Pro Bono Project ...
As 2016 winds down, change is in the air – change that is sure to affect our organization, our volunteers, and our clients in the new year.
Of most pressing concern are possible cuts to civil legal aid funding beginning in 2017. Because of likely funding shortfalls and potential changes to federal policy, our clients will struggle more to access justice; and worse yet, they may be denied the services they need to provide shelter and food for their families.
Read MoreFrom Our Executive Director: Serving Our Clients
I’m still processing what happened on Election Night, and I am sure that you are too. There’s been a nervous buzz in the legal services community about what the changes in Washington could mean for our legal work. It is possible that there may be drastic cuts to legal aid funding lines.
Read MoreThere's Another Jenny In The House
It turned out that finding a new part-time successions attorney was easier than we thought – she was already right under our roof!
Read MoreThe Common Ground of Volunteerism
AmericCorps and The Pro Bono Project have something in common in their missions: they help to strengthen and move communities forward, while providing an educational/training component for their member volunteers. So, it’s no surprise that when Executive Director Jenny Rizzo-Choi wanted to find someone who could bring a variety of skills to fill in some of the non-legal gaps around The Project, she chose to access an AmeriCorps volunteer.
Read MoreJenny’s Thoughts for October: The Importance of Pro Bono …
For one week every October since 2009, The American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service has recognized pro bono civil legal service with its National Pro Bono Celebration (NPBC). Hundreds of events are held across the country annually, by organizations like The Pro Bono Project, to provide direct services to pro bono clients and additional volunteer opportunities for attorneys, paralegals and others. This year, the NPBC runs from Sunday, October 23 until Saturday October 29.
Read MoreHigh Demand Prompts Pro Bono Project Expansion
From New Orleans Citybusiness, September 19, 2016 by Prinsey Walker
A 15-year-old girl faced deportation back to El Salvador this year. Remaining in Kenner with her two American siblings meant that she needed a lawyer willing to help her, but she lacked the financial resources to afford one.
Read MoreThank You: 2016 Justice For All Ball
It's over for 2016 and we had lots of fun!!
A special Thank You to our Honorary Co-Chairs Gary Solomon, Jr. and Seth Bloom, Esq. for their efforts in making the 2016 JFAB a big success.
To all our Spotlight Sponsors, Benefactors, Patrons, Sponsors and all those who purchased Ball and raffle tickets, bid at the live and silent auction or made financial contributions - your generous support is greatly appreciated.
Congratulations and applause to JFAB Committee Chair Jan Hayden, and Vice-Chair Dana Douglas, and the many sub-committee chairs and committee members and other volunteers and staff who worked tirelessly behind the scenes throughout the year and during the Ball.
Our thanks also to all of the local restaurants, caterers and bars who contributed their culinary and mixology talents to the evening, as well as to the staff of the Audubon Tea Room, who coordinated with everyone.
To the many businesses throughout the metro area who provided a raffle or auction prize, ad space or other product or service - your donation helped make the evening fun for all! And, of course, to 501 Auctions for making it easy for everyone to get in on the bidding during the live and silent auction.
To auctioneer John Calhoun, Flow Tribe and the NOCCA Student Jazz Quartet - thank you for entertaining everyone from beginning to end!
Finally, a huge thanks to Solomon Group for bringing their high tech/high touch creativity and production to overall event from the invitation design to the environs of the Patron Party and Audubon Tea Room.
The JFAB takes a village to produce every year and we couldn't do it without the many individuals and businesses who work with us on this event. We've named only a few here - our gratitude extends to everyone in this large 'JFAB family' who helps to make the Ball fun for party-goers and a success for us. Thank you for your continued support!!!
If you missed this year's event - you can see some highlights on our Facebook page or the JFAB 2016 page. RAFFLE and AUCTION winners are up.
Have A Little Southern Comfort At The Beach ...
Nothing like a little "Southern Comfort" at the beach for a few days.
Featured as a live auction item, attorney Linda Olup, proprietor of Southern Comfort is offering some lucky supporter of The Pro Bono Project six (6) nights and seven (7) days at this lovely Panama City beach house, which sleeps up to 10 people.
Rare House of Orléans Document Up for Bid in Live Auction
One of the premier items up for bid in the live auction is Royal Orléans House manuscript recording the payment of "portion of pension" for the benefit of Sieur Hennequin.
This is a chance to bid on a beautiful, rare document that could make a terrific centerpiece in your conference room, dining room - or really anywhere that you want to showcase your NOLA-ties. This kind of unique document has a great story behind it and it sure makes for a great conversation starter!