Lewis Gladney, Intake Attorney, has worked in legal service for over 40 years! Lewis was born and raised in Baton Rouge. He attended the LSU Law School and moved to Natchitoches, Louisiana upon graduation. Starting in 1979, he worked with Kisatchie Legal Services Corporation, which later merged with Legal Services of North Louisiana.  He presently works in ALSC's Intake Unit.

Throughout his 45-year career in legal services, he has represented thousands of clients, not limited to family law, housing and consumer law, disability law, elder law, and other legal issues. He coordinated pro bono activities for a number of years. His career has been dedicated to helping the poor and providing a voice for those who would otherwise be silent. Lewis was awarded the 2024 Career Public Interest Award from the Louisiana State Bar Association. We are grateful for his continued work and providing quality services to our client community. 

Dene Thibeaux, Family Law Attorney, was inspired to pursue a career in law by reading John Grisham’s “The Client” in the fifth grade. Having to leave college early, Dene experienced the challenges of being a single mother, dealing with custody and child support issues firsthand. These trials only strengthened the passion that began in elementary school. Determined to achieve her goal, she returned to college, eventually attending law school in order to serve others in the community. Dene has practiced law for over 7 years with experience in both Child in Need of Care and family law. 

“Having been in similar circumstances to many of my clients, a single mother without the means for an attorney to navigate the legal system, it’s been a privilege to do this work and I’m grateful for the opportunity that ALSC gives me to be the advocate I wish I had during those times” says Dene. Dene’s compassion for women and single mothers drives her every day to find options and support for those women and their families.

In recognition of her efforts, Dene was named Lafayette’s Remarkable Woman for 2024! You can view her story on local news station KLFY here. ALSC is proud to have Dene as a part of its team.

Hailey Barnett, Disaster Law Managing Attorney, has a passion for disaster recovery and helping others to regain their homes and a sense of normalcy.  Hailey has been practicing law for 4 years and has led the Disaster Unit for 3 years. Her in-depth knowledge and connections with community partners have paved the way for a better outreach program within the disaster unit. She conducts presentations and outreach throughout our 42-parish service area.

Her efforts have been recognized! Hailey was awarded Louisiana State Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division Top 40 under 40! Hailey says, “I wanted to use my law degree to advocate for those that may not have the resources or means to access justice on their own, and I find the civil legal aid work we do at ALSC is incredibly satisfying. I am honored to have received this award.”

LSC celebrates 50 years!

Legal Service Corporation is celebrating its 50-year anniversary this year! ALSC had the opportunity to network with dozens of other legal aid organizations at the 50th Celebration in Washington D.C., in April 2024. The landmark anniversary featured many speakers and contributors, including Ms. Hillary Clinton, Honorable John G. Roberts Jr., Chief Justice of the United States, Mr. Merrick Garland, US Attorney General, and writer Mr. John Grisham. We also heard from personal client testimonials and their journeys with legal assistance.  

ALSC met with congressional staff members during that visit to discuss the importance of access to civil legal aid in Louisiana’s districts 3, 4, and 5. In an effort to bring awareness to our programs and make connections to build stronger partnerships with leaders across the state, our staff met with aides of Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson; Congressmen Clay Higgins and Julia Letlow; Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy. ALSC staff members included Sachida Raman (Executive Director), Tamiko Chatman (Deputy Director), Thomas Fields (Litigation Director), Vandana Chaturvedi (Family Law Unit Managing Attorney), and Franchesca Hamilton-Acker (Child in Need of Care Unit Managing Attorney). 

Several ALSC attorneys participated in National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) training course, which adopts a "learn by doing" approach to enhance courtroom skills. NITA collaborative teaching approach involves attorneys working in a simulated courtroom setting while receiving a constructive critique of their performances.  ALSC participants included Brittany Edwards (CINC), Christopher Breaux (Disaster), Chris Traylor (General Law), David Everitt (General Law), Jessica Krogsgard (Housing), Taylor Robinson, (Housing), Adam Tripplett (Family Law), Qadraex White (CINC), Janet Dugas (Family Law), Emily Belanger (Family Law), Dene Thibeaux (Family Law) and Tamiko Chatman (Deputy Director). 

ALSC Justice on the Geaux!

Outreach is at the heart of our organization. Through our Disaster grant, we were able to purchase two mobile office units so we can bring justice to you, enabling us to drive to remote locations. The buses are outfitted with technology crucial to connecting clients and future applicants with the intake process, attorneys, courts, and other legal resources. KATC News Channel 10 covered one stop in Vermilion Parish with our Family Law and Pro Bono Units. View the story here. 

We are currently planning out the remainder of 2024 and beginning of 2025 outreach events! If you would like to partner with us or host ALSC for legal presentations or clinics, reach out to us today at www.la-law.org/outreach. 

ALSC has launched its access to online applications for legal services in April to give another component of access to justice. This online application system enables individuals who are unable to call during intake hours to complete an application at their own convenience.

This online system guides the applicant through the process of applying for legal services based on income eligibility and legal issues. ALSC is committed to providing continued education for eligibility guidelines and resources for self-help or pro se cases. 

Seeing the light amongst the darkness. 

Hurricane Laura struck Lake Charles in 2020, leaving devastation stretching as far as Arkansas and Missouri. Betty Larce and her great aunt, survivors of this storm, lived in Betty’s aunt's home, which sustained significant damage. Betty, a single mother with a special needs adult son, relocated to New Orleans after the storm when FEMA removed the trailer provided to Betty after Hurricane Laura. Sadly, Betty’s aunt passed away in November 2022, leaving property and house to Betty.  Betty reached out to RESTORE LA to pursue funding to fix the major damage to her home but was unable to move forward until a succession was completed. Betty was unemployed, and although the will was valid, she did not have the $3000 - $5000 to hire a private attorney and open a succession to settle her great aunt’s estate. Her world as she knew it turned into a cycle of emotional darkness, unmet critical needs, and homelessness. Stability for her son and herself was the single most important thing for Betty, and although distraught about what to do next, her prayers, she believes, brought angels in the form of ALSC’s staff members to help Betty get back on the road to recovering her home. 

RESTORE LA contacted ALSC with Betty’s application that qualified her for free legal services with ALSC’s disaster unit. Hailey and Christine made a significant impact on Betty’s life. “Dealing with Acadiana Legal Services, those like Hailey and Christine was phenomenal,” says Betty. “They didn’t just take care of my legal needs, they took on some personal needs, like providing resources to find food, and providing a heater during the cold winter days. ALSC is beyond just the job - they are here to truly help you get right.” To move forward with the RESTORE program, her great aunt’s notarized will need to be probated for ownership to fully transfer to Betty. ALSC filed to have the will probated, and once it was successfully probated, Betty was finally about to have a home, provide stability for her son, and participate in repairs provided by RESTORE LA. Additionally, the title is cleared for future generations. “I am thankful for everything you did for us, and I encourage you to keep doing what you are doing because your efforts changed my life.” Today, Betty has retained a job, reconnected with her community, and construction on her home has started! 

Around the Office

Family Law Unit Starts 2024 with new vigor.  

Actively working to achieve our goal of increasing the number of cases handled by the unit, Family Law steps into the outreach ring to seek out client needs. While our team has been going through a transition period throughout our offices, Family Law continues to serve its mission to provide quality services to the highest number of clients and applicants possible. 

We continue to make a meaningful impact in our clients’ lives including Sasha*, 21-year-old young woman who stepped up to take custody of her minor brothers, aged 13 and 14, after their father passed away. This family’s mother previously abandoned the boys, started living a life that was dangerous, and is not currently a part of their lives. In college, Sasha, stepped up to take custody of her brothers so they could have a stable life and attend a good school. With the help of ALSC, Sasha was granted sole custody of her brothers and did not have to pay fees to obtain custody. 

Our Family Law unit has been active in outreach this quarter, which included a trip to Vermilion Parish Library in Abbeville, LA. Utilizing the ALSC Justice Bus, we took onsite applications and garnered the attention of KATC News. In Caddo Parish, one of our paralegals, Shannon, aided our Pro Bono team in an ALSC Pro Se Divorce Clinic.

Our Unit Managing Attorney, Vandana, attended the Legal Service Corporation 50th Anniversary in Washington D.C. in March and the Louisiana Bar Foundation Gala at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans in April.  Family law has a continued goal of outreach and community connections throughout the rest of 2024. 

GRANT AWARD

ALSC Receives Grant from the Caddo Parish Commission for Expungements.

Based on a needs assessment, ALSC recognizes that financial barriers exist for our client community when it comes to expungement services. ALSC has been awarded a grant to provide free legal services to eligible Caddo Parish residents.

Through this grant, ALSC seeks to lessen clients' burdens by covering expungement fees, ultimately empowering them to clear their criminal records, thus significantly improving their prospects for employment, housing, and overall reentry into society. This work is leading to positive social and economic outcomes for our client community in Caddo Parish. 

URGENTLY HIRING!

We are currently hiring within all departments of our organization. We are in need of staff attorneys, particularly within our Family, CINC, and General Law units. ALSC has amazing benefits. If you are interested in joining a team of attorneys and paralegals dedicated to bringing exceptional legal services to our underserved communities, apply today! For a full listing, please visit www.la-law.org/careers.

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