The Pro Bono Project

TO PROVIDE FREE, QUALITY CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES TO THE UNDERSERVED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THE PROJECT RECRUITS, TRAINS AND MENTORS PRO BONO ATTORNEYS ON A VARIETY OF CIVIL LEGAL AID MATTERS. THE PROJECT OFFERS PRO BONO REPRESENTATION TO QUALIFYING LOW INCOME RESIDENTS OF THE 6-PARISH GREATER NEW ORLEANS AREA, WHO NEED FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION ON THE FOLLOWING MATTERS: DIVORCE, CUSTODY, CHILD IN NEED OF CARE MATTERS, LOW INCOME HOUSING ISSUES, PUBLIC BENEFITS ACCESS, IMMIGRATION RELIEF, BANKRUPTCY RELIEF, CONSUMER DEBT ISSUES, SUCCESSIONS, WILLS/ESTATES, AND HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVES/MEDICAL POWERS OF ATTORNEY, ETC. THE PROJECT ASSIGNS CASES TO VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS THAT COME IN VIA GENERAL INTAKE AND ALSO TRAINS VOLUNTEERS TO WORK AT SPECIALIZED CLINICS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS NEEDED. THE PROJECT PROVIDES LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO OVER 900 LOW INCOME CLIENTS ANNUALLY WHO ARE SEEKING AN UNCONTESTED DIVORCE. MANY OF OUR CLIENTS FEEL STALLED IN THEIR LIVES IF THEY CANNOT GET A DIVORCE; THEY ARE OFTEN NOT ABLE TO MOVE ON FINANCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, AND THEY LACK THE ABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM TO PURSUE A DIVORCE ON THEIR OWN, PRO SE. THE PROJECT STRIVES TO WORK WITH CLIENTS TO PREPARE THEM FOR THIS LIFE TRANSITION BY SCREENING AND PREPARING THEIR CASE, ASSIGNING IT TO A VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY ON A CLINIC DAY, AND THEN PROCESSING THEIR DIVORCE PETITION THROUGH THE COURT. THE PROJECT PROVIDES LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO 80-100 CHILDREN A YEAR WHO ARE IN CHILD IN NEED OF CARE PROCEEDINGS. THESE ARE CHILDREN WHO HAVE OFTEN BEEN REMOVED FROM THE FAMILY HOME DUE TO ABUSE OR NEGLECT, AND ARE PLACED IN FOSTER CARE. THE CINC ATTORNEY ESSENTIALLY SERVES AS THE VOICE OF THE CHILD, WHO MAY HAVE THEIR OWN WISHES ABOUT HOW TO RESOLVE THE LIVING ARRANGEMENT. CINC PROCEEDINGS ARE FRAUGHT WITH EMOTION, AND THE CHILD HAS OFTEN COME FROM A TROUBLING HOME ENVIRONMENT. HE OR SHE MAY HAVE OTHER PRESSING SOCIAL SERVICE AND LEGAL NEEDS AS WELL, SO OUR CINC ATTORNEYS TRY TO PROVIDE HOLISTIC REPRESENTATION AND SERVE AS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE CHILD IN OTHER ARENAS (I.E. WITH THE DA'S OFFICE, AT SCHOOL COUNSELING SESSIONS, ETC.) ADDITIONALLY, THE PRO BONO PROJECT, IN COOPERATION WITH ORLEANS CIVIL DISTRICT COURT AND THE 24TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, OPERATES A SELF-HELP DESK FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DOMESTIC LEGAL ISSUES. THE DESK PROVIDES AN OPTION FOR PEOPLE WITH FAMILY LAW QUESTIONS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COURT FORMS AND FILING PROCESS SO THEY CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND REPRESENT THEMSELVES.