Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon & Awards

Every year, The Pro Bono Project honors lawyers, law firms, students, businesses, and members of the judiciary who have provided, improved, and excelled in supporting our delivery of legal services. These services are of critical importance to the increasing number of people in our area. We host our annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon to show our deep appreciation for those who support our mission to improve access to justice in our community.

This year's ceremony was held on November 29th at 12 noon at Jones Walker. A free panel discussion and professionalism CLE preceded the lunch and awards at 11 a.m.

Executive Director C.C. Kahr Honored as 2022 Women of the Year Recipient by City Business

On November 14th, The Pro Bono Project's Executive Director C.C. Kahr was honored as one of the 2022 Women of the Year recipients presented by New Orleans CityBusiness.

Women of the Year recognizes 50 women from the area whose successes in business and contributions to the community have made them movers and shakers in the region.

C.C. is incredibly proud to be recognized and included among such an amazing cohort of women leaders.

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2022 Volunteer Appreciation Award Recipients Announced

Every year, The Pro Bono Project honors lawyers, law firms, students, businesses, and members of the judiciary who have provided, improved, and excelled in the delivery of legal services.

These services are of critical importance to the increasing number of people in our area. We host our annual Volunteer Appreciations Event to show our deep appreciation for those who support our mission to improve access to justice in our community.

This year's ceremony will be held on November 29th at 12 noon at Jones Walker. A free panel discussion and CLE will precede the lunch and awards at 11 a.m. Details to come! Contact C.C. Kahr for information or to rsvp.

We wish to thank all our volunteers for their time, talent, and resources.

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ABA's National Celebration of Pro Bono Week

Every year in October the American Bar Association joins legal organizations from around the country in hosting the National Celebration of Pro Bono. Beginning on Sunday, October 23rd, legal aid providers and non-profit organizations like The Pro Bono Project honor their volunteers and supporters. This year The Pro Bono Project is hosting a number of events to draw attention to civil legal aid and the important work volunteer lawyers, law students, paralegals, and others do to support access to justice for under-served and under-represented members of our community.

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Justice For All Ball 2022 - Back and Better Than Ever!

While the 2022 Justice For All Ball (JFAB) is just a memory – you can still have some fun. Check out our gallery of photographs by Red M Gallery. These photos capture the great food, music, and silent auction items featured.

We are grateful to those who supported this event including our honorary chair, Boysie Bollinger, and committee co-chairs, Lacey Rochester and Scott Sternberg. For over a year, our Justice For All Ball Committee worked tirelessly on all the details. Emcee Mark Romig kept attendees engaged and the Merry Antoinettes hit the dance floor.

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Meet our Summer 2022 Interns

Meet Sarah deQuay…

I am a rising 3L at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. My experience with the Pro Bono Project has been super rewarding already. I love that every day is different and filled with new learning experiences. This opportunity has truly opened my eyes to the challenges so many people face in accessing and navigating the legal system. I cherish the fact that I am able to help people through these hurdles with all of the lovely attorneys and staff at the Pro Bono Project. I look forward to continuing this work throughout the summer and for the rest of my legal career!

Meet Jack Vitter…

I am a rising junior undergraduate at the University of Georgia. My major is political science, and I plan on attending law school after college. I really look forward to being able to assist a variety of clients with legal aid and, as result, hopefully give them better peace of mind. Interning at the Pro Bono Project has been such an educational experience and allowed me to truly see how important free legal help is for so many people. The staff has been extremely friendly, welcoming, and helpful with any problems. I will not take this incredible opportunity for granted, and I really look forward to doing more pro bono work in my future legal career.

Meet Deja Wells…

I am a rising 2L at Tulane Law. I plan to take the Texas Bar exam following graduation. I hope to start as a public defender, and to gain experience in the court room to start my own non-profit. I plan to use my law degree as a platform to allow me make a difference in our education system. Interning at the Pro Bono Project has been a very rewarding experience. I appreciate being able to work with experienced lawyers, staff, and other volunteers. Working here has made me realize the importance of having lawyers that are invested in helping people who might not otherwise have access to legal assistance.

Meet Jada Doucet…

I am a rising 2L at Loyola. While I am unsure exactly what type of law I want to practice after graduating, I want to gain as much knowledge and experience in as many different types of law as I can. Working for The Pro Bono Project has been such an enlightening and rewarding experience for me and has provided me with tons of practical knowledge, as well. I have enjoyed meeting lots of people and getting familiar with the Orleans and Jefferson court systems (and making a few friends there). One of my favorite experiences has been working at the Self Help Resource Center and assisting people with navigating the court system as a self-representing litigant. I'm looking forward to the rest of my summer with The Pro Bono Project, as well as seeing the ways that my time there has prepared me for my future!

Meet Jace Austin…

I am a rising 3L at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, who plans to practice in Louisiana after graduation. I am interested in social justice litigation, criminal law, and real estate law. Being a native of New Orleans, I joined the PBP with the hopes of gaining experience with helping my community navigate through their legal issues. PBP has provided me the most immersive opportunity to provide that assistance to date. I cannot wait to see what’s in store for the rest of the summer. 

Hurricane Preparation

Today is the start of Hurricane Season, and we are predicted to see above average activity. When a storm arises, it’s hard to know what to bring during an evacuation and even harder to make the decision when time is limited. We want to help make things a little easier for you as you navigate this potentially stressful time of year. Please use this checklist to gather essential documents as you prepare for Hurricane Season!

Watch our Staff Attorney for Successions & Community Outreach, Rachel Jokinen, discuss important legal documents to take with you during an evacuation:

We're back! A Message from the Justice For All Ball Chairs

We are honored to serve as the 2022 Chairs of The Pro Bono Project’s 34th Annual Justice For All Ball. As a past supporter of the Justice For All Ball (“JFAB”), you are well aware of the importance of The Pro Bono Project’s (“The Project”) important work in delivering free civil legal services to the underserved in our community.

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The Pro Bono Project's 2022 Board of Directors

The Pro Bono Project is pleased to announce its new officers and board members for 2022:

Officers

Jedd S. Malish | Chair
King & Jurgens, L.L.C.

Lacey Rochester | Vice Chair
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C.

Tracey N. Knight | Secretary
U.S. Attorney’s Office - EDLA

Kelly Donaghy | Treasurer
Pan American Life Insurance Group

Sharonda R. Williams | Immediate Past Chair
Loyola University New Orleans

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Volunteer Appreciation Awards 2021

Every year, we honor lawyers, law firms, students, organizations, and members of the judiciary who have provided, improved, and excelled in the delivery of volunteer legal services. These services are of critical importance to the increasing number of people in our area.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, we will host our Volunteer Appreciation Event virtually with pre-recorded content posted on our website and social media pages. We will post this year’s content on Thursday, January 6th.

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Giving Tuesday - A Time for Thanks

The holidays are a time to pause and be grateful. The Pro Bono Project is deeply appreciative of all our volunteers, supporters, and funders. Without you, we would be unable to provide legal services and access to justice to the most vulnerable in our community. 2021 has brought many challenges, but our community demonstrates its resilience with their commitment to pro bono.

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Hurricane Ida Resources

Hurricane Ida made landfall as a Category 4 storm in Southeast Louisiana on August 29, 2021 - sixteen years after Katrina. The next few weeks and months will present many challenges as our community recovers from the storm and its aftermath.

Like Katrina, our community will look to one another for information, support, and assistance. The staff and volunteers of The Pro Bono Project are here for Southeast Louisiana. For legal and non-legal resources, consult our Hurricane Resource page and contact us with any questions. To apply for legal assistance, call 504.581.4043 or go online to our application for legal assistance.

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33rd Annual Justice For All Ball - Canceled

The Pro Bono Project has made the difficult decision to cancel our annual fundraiser, the Justice For All Ball, previously scheduled for Friday, September 17, 2021. This was not an easy decision as our supporters have been looking forward to an in-person event since last fall. However, our Board of Directors and staff know this is the right decision to make given the ongoing public health impact of the pandemic. The safety of our attendees and the community is our priority.

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Thank You to Our 2021 Summer Gillis Long Interns

For over thirty years, the Gillis Long Poverty Law Center at Loyola University College of Law provides law students the opportunity to serve the greater good while supplementing their coursework with real world legal research and practice. Each summer, The Project welcomes interns who gain invaluable legal experience and skills while assisting us in our mission to provide free civil legal aid to under-served members of our community.

Working with our staff, clients, and volunteers, Jordan Giles and Devon Clancy bring enthusiasm, energy, and a commitment to meeting today’s challenging times. Their work on our Successions program along with supporting our Divorce Workshops and Self Help Resource Centers has been exceptional. Today is Jordan's last day! We wish her well and know she is a friend to The Pro Bono Project for life. Devon will be staying on with us through the fall semester.

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