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Access to Justice Committee

Over the past several years, the Access to Justice Committee has made a concerted effort to
ensure that the Committee’s work includes all members of our justice community by focusing
efforts on issues that are common to all providers. The Access to Justice Committee focuses on
projects which help integrate Louisiana’s network of civil legal services delivery. In examining
the progress made, Committee members recognize the benefits to clients when providers work
together to expand the capacity of all Louisiana providers. At the encouragement of funders and
providers alike, the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Access to Justice Committee has accepted
greater responsibility and agreed to provide leadership in building and strengthening our
Louisiana Justice Community. Previous committee efforts have brought service providers
together to analyze issues relevant to the coordinated delivery of legal services. The issues
included: Self-Represented Litigation, Client Access, Full Range of Services, Private Attorney
Involvement, Resource Development and Community Education and Involvement. The resulting
concepts were incorporated into the ongoing work of the ATJ Committee and subcommittees. In
March 2015, the ATJ Policy Committee convened an Access to Justice Summit, bringing
together a broad cross-section of organizations and individuals who have been active with access
to justice efforts in Louisiana. The Summit highlighted the successful access to justice efforts
accomplished in Louisiana through cooperation of the various organizations, identified issues
which need additional focus, and discussed ideas and opinions of an evolving concept for an
Access to Justice Commission.

Access to Justice Committee Subcommittees

Disaster Planning Subcommittee, Chair Ann Gregorie

The Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA), in conjunction with the American Bar Association
Young Lawyers Division (ABA/YLD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), coordinate the statewide disaster plan for legal assistance when disaster strikes in
Louisiana. As part of this plan, the LSBA maintains a webpage, www.lsba.org/dr, as a portal for
disaster information that is activated once the disaster plan has been enacted. The subcommittee
also works with Louisiana Appleseed to maintain a Disaster Training Manual, used as a source
for training material and as a guide for those attorneys who volunteer their time with disaster
victims. In addition to the LSBA Disaster response website, the LSBA also houses and maintains
the toll-free disaster hotline (1-800-310-7029) stipulated in the statewide disaster plan. The
hotline provides the appropriate legal referral information for those who call.

Over the past few years, the LSBA’s “Access to Justice Committee’s Disaster Plan for Legal
Assistance” has been implemented on numerous occasions. As provided in the plan, the
subcommittee facilitates regularly scheduled meetings, activates the LSBA Disaster Response
website, and monitors the needs in Louisiana to determine the best assistance the LSBA and the
civil legal aid providers can offer to those affected. In response to COVID-19, the subcommittee