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The Disaster Preparedness and Response subcommittee has met
since March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing together
Justice Community members to provide a coordinated response.
In response to Hurricane Laura, the subcommittee again implemented
the Statewide Disaster Plan for Legal Assistance. LA Appleseed
completed the update of the disaster training manual for volunteers.
The 1-800-310-7029 disaster hotline was activated and provides a
recorded message providing referral information. In addition, the LSBA
Disaster Response website was activated providing vital legal
information and volunteer opportunities for attorneys. Free legal
answers has become an integral component of disaster response.
The ATJ Disaster Response subcommittee continues to meet not only

in response to the pandemic and Hurricane Laura, but also Hurricanes
Delta and Zeta.
 Identify and assess current substantive legal issues faced by civil legal
aid providers; and
o Coordinate substantive law task forces (CINC, Elder Law,
Family Law, Housing and Consumer Law, Public Benefits)
• Coordinated and convened quarterly meetings for the 6
statewide substantive law task forces to discuss
common issues faced and training needs. Each Task
Force will host a practice area specific training at the
2019 LA Justice Community Conference.
● Scheduled and completed all quarterly task force
meetings for 2020. Each Task Force hosted CLE at the
virtual 2020 LA Justice Community Conference. 2021
quarterly meetings scheduled.
● Ongoing development of trainings with task forces for
the substantive law recorded training series geared
towards new attorneys.
o Investigate IFP issues
• Surveyed the legal providers regarding common issues
faced with misapplication of IFP statutes and used
research to substantiate LSLI request to examine.
• With approval of BOG was able to get Louisiana
Legislature (House and Senate) to adopt resolutions
requesting LSLI to examine current IFP statutes.
• ATJ Commission members will participate in Louisiana
State Law Institute meeting scheduled mid-January to
discuss IFP issues

• As stated above, the ATJ Commission chair obtained

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