Page 263 - 2024 Orientation Manual

Previous successful projects include:
● Flood Proof Incubator Project in Baton Rouge (2018-2022)
● Juvenile Re-Entry Assistance Program (JRAP) (2016-2018)
● Expungement and Re-Entry Court Incubator Project (2016-2018)
● Immigration Bond Project (2016-2017) in Alexandria

Voluntary Pro Bono Reporting
The Access to Justice Department collects reports of annual pro bono hours (both hardcopy and
online.) These numbers are critical to understanding the effort of the private bar to meet the legal
needs of the poor, as well as the amount of legal need that remains unmet. Accurately assessing
this gap in service is essential to obtaining adequate funding to provide for this unmet need. It also
demonstrates to funders that Louisiana’s private attorneys are dedicated to this issue. For these
reasons, all attorneys are encouraged to report their hours annually.
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. Program
sponsors are Butler Snow, LLP, the LSBA’s Civil Law & Litigation section, Entergy, and Phelps
Dunbar, LLP.

Training
The Access to Justice Department offers a wide variety of low-cost and no-cost Continuing Legal
Education (CLE) opportunities focused on various areas of public interest law to civil legal aid
attorneys. The ATJ Training and Projects Counsel works with public interest law task forces,
training subcommittees, and various non-profit organizations to create affordable and pertinent
CLE programming for Louisiana’s justice community. While this position was originally created
as a training coordinator through funding subsidized by the Legal Services Programs, the position
has expanded to include building and fostering relationships among five substantive task forces,
pro bono organizations and other members of the justice community to ensure educational needs
are met.

ATJ provides training through in-person, remote, and pre-recorded formats, giving attorneys
multiple options to attend and access the educational seminars they may not otherwise receive due
to costs as well as time away from the office. Recorded CLEs are made available on probono.net/la
to legal aid, contract, and volunteer attorneys. The ATJ Department also provides customized
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