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Our impact in 2024 includes over 10,000 persons serviced in our 42 parish service area. Whether it's helping a veteran secure housing, assisting a senior with a benefits appeal, or representing a parent fighting for custody and safety, your partnership ensures that vulnerable Louisianans do not face these challenges alone. Read our 2024 Annual Report for more stories of impact and why legal aid matters in Louisiana. |
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Expanding Our Impact Through Legal Internships |
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We are committed to expanding our reach and deepening our impact in the communities we serve. By forming strong partnerships and developing innovative alliances, we deliver legal services that make a lasting difference in our clients' lives.
One way we invest in the future of legal aid is through our Legal Internship Program, which offers law students hands-on experience working alongside our attorneys and staff. Interns assist real clients with real legal challenges, gaining practical skills and insight into public interest law.
This summer, our interns made a meaningful contribution by supporting our substantive law units, helping to increase access to legal aid across our service area. Their efforts improved efficiency and ensured more individuals received timely legal assistance.
A highlight of the program was observing court proceedings, during which interns engaged directly with judges and court personnel. These experiences provided valuable exposure to courtroom procedures and exclusive career advice from members of the judiciary.
We proudly recognize our 2025 summer interns for their dedication and enthusiasm. Their commitment to justice and service inspires us all.
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Why Legal Aid Matters: Lessons from Disaster Recovery |
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Disasters have a way of revealing the cracks in our foundations, not just in buildings, but in the systems meant to support our communities. When hurricanes, floods, and other crises strike, they expose vulnerabilities in housing, healthcare, employment, and access to justice. Legal aid plays a critical role in helping individuals and families navigate these challenges, ensuring that recovery is not just about rebuilding structures but restoring lives. This theme was front and center at the Katrina Forward Symposium held at the University of Louisiana in August. The event brought together former federal representatives, senators, and state and local officials to reflect on the lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina and the ongoing efforts to rebuild and strengthen Louisiana's resilience. Speakers shared powerful insights into the systemic flaws that disasters lay bare and the hard-fought battles to reclaim what was lost. Their stories underscored Louisiana's hard-earned expertise in disaster recovery and restoration, and the importance of ensuring that every resident has access to the legal support they need to rebuild their lives. Legal aid organizations are often on the front lines of disaster response, helping people secure housing, access benefits, and protect their rights. As we continue to face natural disasters and public emergencies, their work remains essential to a just and equitable recovery. |
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Hailey Barnett Joins Panel at Legal Symposium Honoring Hurricane Katrina.
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Hailey Barnett, Managing Attorney of the Disaster Unit, participated in a panel at the Legal Symposium Honoring Hurricane Katrina, hosted by Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS). As we mark 20 years since Hurricane Katrina, this event served as a powerful reminder of the storm's lasting impact and the importance of ongoing disaster preparedness across Louisiana.
Reflecting on her contribution to the panel, Hailey shared:
"I discussed the post-disasters of 2020 and 2021, hurricanes Laura, Ida, Delta, Zeta, Winter Storm Uri, and the Severe Storms of 2021, and how vital succession work is to protect residents' property and ensure they have access to post-disaster benefits. Succession work helps disaster survivors access crucial aid such as federal FEMA and Community Block Grant Funding, other state-funded programs, and even local programs. Furthermore, succession work helps clear property titles so that in the future, families can access post-disaster aid more easily, as well as maintain maximum control of the property and their biggest asset—their primary residence.
Hailey's leadership and advocacy continue to influence how we support disaster survivors and build legal pathways to recovery and resilience.
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Our lifeline is at risk
We provide free civil legal services to low income individuals across a 42-parish region, where over 400,000 people are eligible for help. From protecting survivors of domestic violence to defending the rights of seniors, children, and families in crisis - our work is a lifeline for those who have nowhere else to turn. Today, that lifeline is at risk. The proposed cut to Legal Services Corporation (LSC), which is the primary funder of civil legal aid, would devastate our ability to serve the Louisiana communities that need us the most.
What's at stake?
Fewer attorneys to represent survivors of abuse, tenants facing eviction, and children in need of care.
Longer wait times for urgent legal help - or no help at all.
Reduced outreach to rural parishes where legal resources are already scarce.
Elimination of critical programs like the Senior Safeguard Project and the Economic Stability Project.
Access to our Courts is guaranteed under our Louisiana Constitution.
We believe that everyone deserves access to justice, regardless of income, zip code, or circumstance, but we can't do it alone. Your support helps us Bridge the Gap - ensuring that families, seniors, and children continue to receive easy and timely access to quality legal services.
Donate today to protect civil legal services for over 400,000 eligible individuals across Louisiana. Together we can keep the doors open to justice. |
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We are currently seeking licensed, full time staff attorneys to represent low-income and elderly clients in various civil matters, like family law, housing, child-in-need-of-care, consumer and estate planning. We have urgent positions open in our Monroe, Shreveport and Alexandria offices. If you would like to join us serving others, please send a resume, cover letter and writing sample to careers@la-law.org.
Interested in volunteering only? Great news! Grab your pro bono hours by volunteering for our pro bono program to help expand our services and help our clients receive high-quality representation. Visit www.la-law.org/volunteer to sign up today! |
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Acadiana Legal Service Corporation
www.la-law.org
All information available in this newsletter is for general information purposes only. If you need legal help, you should contact a lawyer. You may be eligible for our free legal services and can apply by calling 1-866-275-2572.
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