Page 333 - 2021bogOrientationManual

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.
o The ATJ Disaster Response subcommittee also met regularly
after Hurricanes Delta and Zeta.
o The current disaster plan is under review and being updated to
address the new issue that arose during the pandemic.
▪ 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
input from IFP Committee members as LSLI revised IFP
statutes and sent a bill with those revisions to the
legislature. The bill did not move through the legislature

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