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LSBA Pro Bono Publico & Children’s Law Awards
The LSBA’s annual Pro Bono Publico and Children’s Law Awards honor those individuals and
organizations who have gone above and beyond to provide or support the provision of legal
services to Louisianans who would otherwise be unable to afford them. The ATJ Committee and
department staff conduct the nomination process, and award recipients are ultimately approved by
the Board of Governors. The award recipients are recognized at an annual ceremony and reception
hosted by the Supreme Court in May. Awards include:

● Pro Bono Publico Award
● Career Public Interest Award
● David A. Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award
● Friend of Pro Bono Award
● Law Student Pro Bono Awards
● LA.FreeLegalAnswers Award
● Children’s Law Award
● Century Club Awards

Free Legal Answers
LA.FreeLegalAnswers.org is an online pro bono site where members of the public can submit civil
legal questions and have them answered for free by attorney volunteers. The site was launched in
August 2016 as part of a national effort by the ABA to expand pro bono access across the nation.
Of the 38 participating states, Louisiana was one of the first to launch its site. The ABA runs the
site and maintains the software, and the LSBA, through the ATJ Department, is responsible for
recruiting volunteers to answer the online submissions and promoting the site to the public.
Members of the public must meet income guidelines to submit questions, and volunteer attorneys
remain anonymous unless they choose to identify themselves. To date, 233 attorneys have
registered as volunteers and 4,047 questions have been posed on the site, 3,286 (81%) of which
have been answered.

LIFT Legal Incubator Program
Legal Innovators for Tomorrow (LIFT) is a nationally recognized and first-of-its-kind legal
incubator program in Louisiana. Having worked with 35 attorney participants, the program
promotes access to justice by helping new attorneys build public interest solo and small law firms
that increase legal representation to underrepresented populations and families with limited means.
To accomplish this, LIFT offers free resources (such as case management software), law practice
management and technology training, business skills development tools, and a collaborative work
environment to help attorneys build innovative and sustainable law firms.

LIFT also partners with organizations on projects that address specific unmet legal needs in various
parts of the State. To date, LIFT has partnered with seven civil legal aid providers, nonprofit
organizations, and universities to operate five different incubator projects:

● Domestic Violence Project in New Orleans (2015-present), operated in partnership with
the Family Justice Center and Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, works with attorneys
to increase access to family legal services for survivors of domestic violence.

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