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of Louisiana (located at the Louisiana Supreme Court). These services are available to all public
libraries in the state but are especially impactful in areas without a physical legal aid office and/or
pro bono program.

LEAP is highlighted by “Lawyers in Libraries” events, which bring pro bono attorneys into
libraries to provide limited services. Events are held throughout the year but culminate in the
annual week of service held in October in conjunction with National Celebrate Pro Bono Week.
ATJ staff provide logistical support and resources via www.LouisianaLawyersinLibraries.org.

In 2022, lawyers volunteered in-person at participating libraries and virtually, offering both "Ask-
a-Lawyer" consultations, in-person and by phone. Additionally, webinars on important legal topics
were broadcasted daily during this week via our “LSBA Louisiana Lawyers in Libraries” Facebook
page. In total, over 104 events took place statewide with 105 attorneys volunteers. During this
week, over 400 library patrons were served, and the Facebook webinars reached over 650 viewers.
Planning is underway for 2023 Lawyers in Libraries events, which will be held October 23-28.

Consumer Debt Working Group
The Consumer Debt Working Group convened in August 2016 in response to a Louisiana
Appleseed white paper that described the access to justice issues consumers face in cases brought
by third party debt buyers. The working group hosted several CLE trainings for legal aid and pro
bono attorneys and assisted in the pilot launch of a consumer law clinic at Tulane law school. Upon
the request of a judge, the group developed automated self-help forms available via Louisiana Law
Help: https://bit.ly/3x0N8hG. The Working group was discontinued after the launch of the
automated self help form.

ATJ Developing Leadership Intern Program
The ATJ Developing Leadership Intern Program was initiated in 2015 for the purpose of exposing
law students to the experiences and skills necessary to become the next generation of access to
justice leaders. Four students - one from each of Louisiana’s four law schools - are chosen to
participate in the program. Each student is sponsored by an organization with a commitment to
access to justice; the sponsors provide guidance, mentorship, and a $3,000 stipend for the interns.
Over a 6-week period, interns work with civil legal aid programs to learn about the civil legal
needs of low-income people and the ways in which these organizations address those needs.
Program activities are hands-on and include interviewing clients, attending court hearings, and
participating in community outreach efforts. Additionally, interns have the opportunity to tour the
Louisiana Supreme Court and interact with trial court judges who have been actively involved in
developing and supporting pro bono and access to justice efforts throughout Louisiana.

This year’s ATJ Developing Leadership Intern program runs May 15 - June 23. New to the
program this year as sponsors are Butler Snow, LLP and the LSBA’s Civil Law & Litigation
Section. The two remaining sponsors for the 2023 program include Entergy and Phelps Dunbar,
LLP.

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