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Access to Justice

Top 10 List of Accomplishments for 2024

As we look back at 2024, the Access to Justice Department would like to thank its supporters and partners
with whom we have worked this past year to help ensure access to justice for all. While this past year has
brought challenges, it has also brought opportunities to provide access to justice. Through coordinated
efforts with our partners, we have successfully supported access to justice. A few of those many
accomplishments are listed here.

1. Expanded Rural Access with the Launch of Legal Help Access Points in Chalmette. Located
in the St. Bernard Parish Government Building is a new access point developed through the Justice
for All grant. Legal Help Access Points provide a private space to navigate legal resources,
determine eligibility for free civil legal aid, meet virtually with an attorney, and attend online court
hearings.

2. Educated and Inspired the Next Generation of Students from Louisiana’s four Law Schools
th
on, and Encouraged their commitment to Access to Justice. The 9 class of the Access to
Justice Internship program inspired future civil legal aid leaders by providing interns a unique all-
encompassing view of Louisiana’s Civil Legal Aid Network through its six-week summer program;
and a fifth year of participation in LSU Paul M. Hebert Law School’s Apprenticeship Week where
the course titled “Serving the public, serving the profession” focused on developing practical skills
that assist professional advancement and public service.

3. Hosted the second Access to Justice Conclave convening ATJ thought leaders from around the
state to increase awareness of available legal help resources, explore court and community
navigator projects, and coordinate education on how best to navigate civil legal help, information,
and resources. Following the event, the ATJ Commission’s Community Outreach and Education
Committee delivered four trainings to court personnel and our partners at 2-1-1, ViaLink, and LSU
Libraries distributing helpful guides and materials to use for patrons and staff.

4. Celebrated 21 Years of Statewide Public Interest Training for Civil Legal Aid Attorneys
through the Louisiana Justice Community Conference. The event brings together members
representing dozens of non-profit legal service providers in our state. The CINC pre-conference
and DV conference were held in conjunction with this year’s event as well as a Public Interest
Networking reception hosted by the LA Bar Foundation.

5. Expanded Access to Pro Bono and Affordable Legal Representation through the LIFT
Incubator Program and Modest Means Directory. Through the Rural Justice and Disaster Title
Clearing Projects, LIFT worked with six attorneys to increase access to free and affordable legal
representation in underserved rural parts of the state and for people impacted by Hurricane Ida,
respectively. The Modest Means Directory added attorneys to its listing and received 25,000
applications since its launch in 2018 showing an increased demand for affordable legal services.

6. Held the Self-Represented Litigants Service Providers Summit in Alexandria, bringing
together judges, clerks of court, court staff, legal aid and pro bono providers, local bar