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Legal Innovators for Tomorrow (LIFT) accepting applications for third cohort in Flood
Proof Project
Amy Duncan, Staff Counsel
The LIFT Flood Proof Project is excited to open the application process for its third group of
participating attorneys to increase access to legal services for disaster survivors. The Flood
Proof Project is designed to address the legal needs of disaster victims after the catastrophic
flooding in Baton Rouge in 2016. The inaugural class collectively provided more than 500 pro
bono hours while developing their solo and small law firms over an eighteen-month period. In
addition to providing pro bono representation to disaster survivors, the newest members of the
program will be mentored by experienced Southeast Louisiana Legal Services attorneys and
the current participating class of attorneys participating in the program over the next 6 months.
Currently four attorneys are participating in LIFT through its Domestic Violence Project in
New Orleans and the Flood Proof Project in Baton Rouge. Although the pandemic has greatly
affected their practices and ability to meet with clients, they have already dedicated more than
300 hours to pro bono representation and solo practice development. LIFT continues to work
closely with its partner organizations, including New Orleans Family Justice Center, SLLS,
SULC, LSU Law School, the ABA Center for Innovation, to innovate and adapt the program
to better support the attorneys in light of today’s challenges. The Flood Proof Project is made
possible through funding support provided by the Louisiana Bar Foundation’s Access to
Justice Grant. Information about both programs is available at www.lsba.org/lift.

“Lawyers in AND Libraries” Statewide Week of Service continues virtually
Stephanie Beaugh, Staff Counsel
th
The 7 annual Lawyers in AND Libraries event was held in conjunction with National
st
Celebrate Pro Week on October 26-31 and leveraged other existing pro bono programs, such
as LA.FreeLegalAnswers.org and the LIFT Fellows, to make it a virtual success. Despite a
pandemic and the midweek arrival of Hurricane Zeta, volunteer attorneys across Louisiana
turned out to help provide free, virtual legal assistance by answering patrons’ questions in one-
on-one sessions over the phone and on LA.FreeLegalAnswers.org. Some volunteers also
provided live presentations on pressing and pandemic-related issues via our newly created
Lawyers in Libraries Facebook page. Public libraries throughout the state helped promote
events, distributed bookmark flyers, and shared info on websites and social media. Although
the event was very different from past years, it was still a success! Volunteer attorneys assisted
over 84 patrons from 25 parishes through the Ask-A-Lawyer sessions alone. And the webinar
presentations have already reached over 2,500 viewers on Facebook. For more information,
visit www.LouisianaLawyersinLibraries.org.

LA.FreeLegalAnswers.org year end statistics for 2020
Rachael Mills, Staff Counsel
LA.FreeLegalAnswers.org originally launched in 2016, but the pandemic has served to
highlight the value of the site as a remote tool to assist those in need during these challenging
times. This was demonstrated by the overall increase in questions in 2020, as well as specific
increases in questions related to landlord/tenant issues, employment, and public benefits.

2020 Statistics:

Total Number of Questions Submitted: 1,043

Total Number of Questions Answered: 818