2019 Newsletter Archives

As we observe Older Americans Month, SLLS stands with advocates across the nation to support the legal rights of low-income seniors. With limited resources, many low-income seniors live in poverty, struggling to make ends meet. By providing free legal representation to seniors in our community, we protect them from consumer scams and wrongful evictions, help them access healthcare and affordable housing, and ensure that their wishes are respected and fulfilled. Thanks to our staff, donors, volunteers, and supporters for all you do to improve the lives, health, and well-being of seniors in southeast Louisiana.

-Laura Tuggle, SLLS Executive Director

Thank You For Your Support on GiveNOLA Day!

Thank you to everyone who invested in civil legal aid on GiveNOLA Day this year. You helped SLLS raise over $16,000 to increase access to justice for all—more than 3x what we raised last year!

Thanks especially to the SLLS 50 More Years Committee, our anonymous $5,000 matching donor, Damon Kirin (the Kirin Law Firm), Alison Spindler (Irwin Fritchie), David Bienvenu (Simon, Peragine), and Gianluca S. Cocito-Monoc & Byria Hamblin (Tulane University students) for helping raise funds for and connect other to the fight for fairness.

Did You Know?

Medicaid 101

Many people with disabilities and seniors must pay pricey Medicare premiums, copay's, and deductibles to access healthcare they need. Did you know that low-income people can get help with some of these costs?

Through the Louisiana Medicare Savings Program, individuals with incomes under $1,406/month (and couples with incomes under $1,903/month) may qualify.

For more information or to apply, visit http://ldh.la.gov/index.cfm/page/236. If your application for the Medicare Savings Program is denied, you can contact the SLLS office nearest you to ask for legal help.

Helping A Senior Receive Life-Saving Medical Benefits

*Mabel was looking forward to a peaceful retirement in St. Rose in St. Charles Parish. She suffered from severe medical problems and needed medical treatment for her worsening conditions. With less than $1,000 to her name and relying on her Social Security retirement benefits for income, Mable could not afford to pay the premiums, co-pays and other fees associated with her Medicare insurance. She didn't know what to do.

To find out how an SLLS attorney helped her stay healthy click here to read more.

*Names and other details of this story were changed to protect the identity of our clients.

For the last several decades, Louisiana's held the title of "mass incarceration capital of the world." Sadly, one out of every two people released from prison in Louisiana will return back shortly after within a five year time span. Even worse, one in four African-American children in New Orleans had a father in prison before they turned fourteen—a significant factor that increases the likelihood of the child getting sent to jail or prison at some point in their future. While this cycle of incarceration adversely impacts individuals, families, and the greater community at hand, SLLS is grateful to deploy civil legal aid to those in need. As our team continues to address the civil legal needs of the incarcerated, we hope that you'll take the time to stand up for social justice and learn more about these critical issues within the community. Throughout "Second Chances" month, SLLS has continued to focus its efforts on re-entry projects to help vulnerable populations access vital social services.

-Laura Tuggle, SLLS Executive Director

SLLS Provides Second Chances

Through our Reentry Projects, SLLS actively works to reduce recidivism to improve public safety and support people as they strive to improve their lives. These projects include:

The Reentry Legal Clinic: Working with the Justice and Accountability Center (JAC) and The First 72+, SLLS launched this new legal clinic earlier in this year. SLLS attorneys provide Know Your Rights training and legal assistance to help break down civil legal barriers for people who recently left incarceration, trying to rebuild their lives. For more information, see the flyer on the right.
Veterans Reentry Courts: The SLLS New Orleans Bar Foundation Veterans Fellow and the SLLS Northshore Pro Bono Project volunteers provide civil legal needs assessments and legal aid to identify and address legal problems that could prevent veterans involved in the criminal justice system from re-entering the workforce.
This month, we launched our Justice Reinvestment Initiative programs in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. SLLS is part of a large network of legal aid and social service providers—including the United Way of Southeast Louisiana, Catholic Charities, Goodwill Industries, the Orleans Public Defenders, and the Justice and Accountability Center of New Orleans—working together to help people successfully rebuild their lives while reducing both recidivism and our state's spending on the criminal justice system. Through these programs, an SLLS attorney identifies and addresses our clients' civil legal needs before and shortly after they exit prisons, increasing their chances of finding housing, getting jobs, and successfully reentering their communities.

This month, we're kicking off a new "Did You Know?" series to share information about work and services available for vulnerable people in the communities we serve.

Did You Know?

Expungement 101

Did you know that, in Louisiana, an arrest—even if you're not convicted and charges against you are dismissed—creates a permanent criminal record?

These criminal records can interfere with your ability to get jobs, housing, or education. Expungements seal criminal records so they are no longer available for public view. To learn more about expungements and to access some forms you might need to apply for one, see Expungements LibGuide developed by SLLS at: https://lasc.libguides.com/basicexpungementforms

Helping People Prosper After They Return Home

*Gene hoped to build a better life for himself. When he was a teenager he was charged with a misdemeanor and was sent to jail. After his release, Gene struggled to make a living for himself. While he was qualified for a job at a large Downtown New Orleans Hotel chain the employer refused to accept his job application since he had a criminal background. How did an SLLS attorney help him overcome his past to become a leader in his family and his community? Click here to read more.

*Names and other details of this story were changed to protect the identity of our clients.

GiveNOLA Day is in ONE week - May 7, 2019

Mark your calendar and show your support for civil justice by donating to SLLS on GiveNOLA Day.

From May 1, 2019 - May 7, 2019, your donation to SLLS at https://www.givenola.org/SLLS goes further because it will help SLLS qualify for extra donations and prizes from the Greater New Orleans Foundation. Thank you for joining the fight to increase access to civil justice for all!

Ready to take the fight for fairness to the next level?

Last week, a Times-Picayune’s front page article revealed that in 75% of civil cases in Louisiana, one or both parties are forced to represent themselves in court because they cannot afford an attorney. Louisiana is one of only three states in the country that does not provide dedicated state funding for civil legal aid.

“Most Americans don’t realize there is no right to a lawyer in a civil case,” said Jim Sandman, President of the Legal Services Corporation. “They don’t realize you could lose your home or your children or be a victim of abuse in need of a protective order and you have no right to a lawyer. Fortunately, the vast majority of states recognize the role of government in trying to make the system accessible to all people, regardless of their incomes.”

At SLLS, we work hard every day to close the justice gap in southeast Louisiana. With the second highest poverty rate in the country, there simply aren’t enough resources to meet the critical legal needs of vulnerable families. To learn more about the crisis in civil legal aid, check out the full story.

SLLS is Bringing Legal Clinics to You!

We are excited to announce free legal clinics in rural areas surrounding Baton Rouge. No appointment needed. YOU may be eligible for legal services if your family income is 200% or less than the federal poverty line.

March 26, 2019—11 am – 2 pm

Convent Senior Center (for people ages 60+)
5775 HWY 44, Convent, LA

April 3, 2019—10am-2pm

West Feliciana Library
5114 Burnett Road, St. Francisville, LA

April 8, 2019—10am-2pm

East Feliciana Library
12220 Woodville, Clinton, LA

April 10, 2019—10am-2pm

West Baton Rouge Library
830 N Alexander Ave, Port Allen, LA

April 15, 2019—10am-2pm

Plaquemine City Court
23640 Railroad Ave, Plaquemine, LA

April 17, 2019—10am-2pm

New Roads City Hall
211 Main Street, New Roads, LA

To find other legal clinics near you, click here.

New Orleans Bar Association Bar & Grille Fundraiser for SLLS

Get your forks out and register today!

The New Orleans Bar Association’s (NOBA) Young Lawyer Section will host its 17th Annual New Orleans Bar & Grille Cooking Competition on Sunday, March 24, 2019 from 1 p.m.-5 p.m at the Peristyle in New Orleans’ City Park.

The event raises critical funds for NOBA’s Veterans Justice Fellowship, supporting SLLS’ work to protect the legal rights of veterans and our medical-legal partnership with the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System. Tickets include free drinks and tastings of the dishes that are prepared on site!

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the New Orleans Bar Association website.

Welcoming 2019 SLLS Board of Directors Officers

We’re excited to announce that Mark C. Surprenant, Of Counsel and Pro Bono Paladin at Adams and Reese, has been elected as SLLS’ Board President. He takes the reins from Vivian Guillory, who successfully led SLLS through its 50th Anniversary year celebrations and the expansion of many of our programs, including domestic violence, re-entry, and veterans services. Mark’s dedication to community service and passion for increasing access to justice for all continues to inspire our staff, volunteers, and the broader community.

Our board of directors also elected the following officers:

Joseph Ballard – Vice-President

Lila Arsan – Second Vice-President

Christopher Ralston – Secretary

Jennifer Van Metre – Treasurer

Regina Joseph – Assistant Treasurer

Visit the Board of Directors page of our website to see the full listing of our SLLS Board of Directors. You can also find information about upcoming board meetings. Meetings are open to the public, except for when the board goes into executive session.

Ready to take the fight for fairness to the next level?

Helping A Young Man Pursue The College of His Dreams

Cameron was a high school senior who dreamed of enrolling in LSU and becoming the first college graduate in his family. While his parents lived in Mississippi, Cameron lived with his 23-year-old step-brother in a small apartment in Covington, LA. His parents believed that it was for the best because they could not longer take care of him themselves.

To find out how a volunteer civil legal aid attorney helped guide him through the challenges of adulthood, click here now.

Addressing The Legal Needs Of Our Community

Throughout the month, SLLS held a variety of legal clinics to help low-income and at-risk people obtain the legal help they need to improve their lives.

Jefferson Parish Expungement Clinics

Thanks to the generous contributions from the American College of Trial Lawyers Foundation and the Justice and Accountability Center of Louisiana, and in partnership with the Jefferson Parish Bar Association, volunteer attorneys, and 24th JDC Judges (the Hon. Leo Faulkner, the Hon. Adrian Adams, and the Hon. June Darensburg), our team hosted the Jefferson Parish Clean Slate clinic. The clinic was held at the Johnny Jacobs Playground in Marrero.

Orientation for volunteer attorneys (Volunteer attorney orientation) (Volunteer attorneys assisting a client)

Veterans Affairs (VA) Advance Directive Clinic

Thanks to the support of Capital One, the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, and volunteer attorneys, we helped vulnerable veterans obtain living wills, with the completed documents becoming part of their medical records. The clinic was held at the VA Hospital in New Orleans.

(Rebecca Schiller, volunteer attorney, with a veteran) (Left to right: Kurt Duncan, Special Assets and Litigation Director at Capital One, Juliana Stricklen, SLLS Volunteer Coordinator and Serve Louisiana Member, and Rebecca Schiller, Volunteer Attorney, with a veteran)

Legal Clinic For Seniors

We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with the New Orleans Council on Aging, the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Society, and our Distinguished Fellow, Terrell Broussard, the Louisiana Access to Justice Commissioner. Legal clinics will be held monthly at the Arthur Monday Senior Center in Algiers and at the Carrollton/Hollygrove Senior Center.

(Left to right: Cory Vidal, President of the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Society and Hancock Whitney Bank, with a grateful client)

Standing Up For Equal Justice With The SLLS Northshore Pro Bono Project

Thank you to all of the generous supporters, pro bono attorneys, and treasured guests for taking the time out of your day to help us celebrate the magnificent achievements from our pro bono team in Covington. We would also like to thank all of our CLE and luncheon presenters, including Mayor Mike Cooper of Covington, Louisiana State Senator Beth Mizel, and several judges from the 22nd JDC for their continued commitment in preserving civil legal aid for indigent communities throughout our service area. Please take a moment to view some of these below. If you’d like to see the rest of the photos taken at the event, check out our Facebook page.

(Left to right: Mike Cooper, Mayor of Covington, and Mark Surprenant, (Left to right: 22nd JDC Judge Mary Devereux, Div. K, Ana Lopez, SLLS SLLS Board President) Staff Attorney and Paula Charles, SLLS Managing Attorney)

(Left to Right: Elizabeth Sconzert, SLLS 50 More Campaign Committee (Left to Right, Back Row- Brandt Lorio, SLLS Board Member, Mark Member, 22nd JDC Judge William Knight, Div. J, 22nd JDC Judge Surprenant, SLLS Board President, Beth Mizell, Louisiana State Senator, Raymond Childress,Div. A, Cynthia Bordonaro, SLLS Northshore Pro District 12, Mike Cooper, Mayor of Covington, Kathryn Mitchell, SLLS Coordinator, Kathryn Mitchell, SLLS volunteer, and 22nd JDC Volunteer, and Patricia Bonneau, Northshore Community Partnership District Attorney, Warren Montgomery) Panel; Front Row- 22nd JDC Judge Dawn Amacker, Div. L, Paula Charles, SLLS Managing Attorney, Laura Tuggle, SLLS Executive Director, Judge Allison Penzato, Louisiana Court of Appeals, District 3, Div. C, Roxanne Newman, SLLS Deputy Director, and Elena Perez, SLLS Managing Attorney of Pro Bono Program.

Ready to take the fight for fairness to the next level?

As we ring in the new year, SLLS has hit the ground running, advancing civil justice and fighting for fairness for marginalized people throughout southeast Louisiana. Some of the most vulnerable people we serve are survivors of human trafficking who face legal obstacles in recovering from the trauma of this crime. New Orleans and Baton Rouge are “hot spots” for human trafficking due to our close proximity to the I-10 and nexus to major transportation centers. This January, designated as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we want to thank the Pennington Foundation and Empower 225 (formerly called HP Serve) for their partnership in funding civil legal aid for victims of human trafficking.

We are also excited to announce a brand new collaboration with Eden House. We are offering civil legal services to survivors recovering from the impact of trafficking in their residential program. While the need for civil justice is great, there are never enough resources to help everyone. Consider investing in justice today by clicking here to make a donation to SLLS or email volunteer@slls.org to learn more about our volunteer opportunities.

– Laura Tuggle, SLLS Executive Director

Providing Freedom to a Victim of Human Trafficking

“Camila” was excited when she married her high school sweetheart; but after only a few years he changed. He was not the man she thought she fell in love with. He became her tormentor, a sex trafficker forcing her into unthinkable situations. He continually threatened to kill her, to kill himself, to kill their daughter. He burned down part of her house. When she tried to run away, he would find her.

How did a young and passionate civil legal aid attorney help Camila finally escape her trafficker and help her gather the strength and self-confidence to start rebuilding her life for her and her daughter? Click here to find out more.

Join Us in Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of SLLS’ Northshore Pro Bono Project

Send us your RSVP by 02/05/19.

You’re invited to out Feb. 22nd event in Covington to commemorate SLLS’ Northshore Pro Bono Project’s 10th anniversary.

The free celebration will include a 4.0 hour CLE, including 1 hr of ethics & 1 hr of professionalism, at Bogue Falaya Hall (317 N Jefferson Ave, Covington, LA 70433).

We will also have a luncheon presentation to celebrate the important contributions pro bono attorneys have and will continue to make to increasing access to justice for vulnerable people on the Northshore. Come for one or two sessions or for the whole day.

Guest speackers include…

The Hon. Beth Mizell, Louisiana State Senator, District 12
The Hon. Mike Cooper, Mayor, City of Covington
Eric Barefield, LSBA Ethics Counsel
Honorable Judges from the 22nd JDC
and local attorneys

Click on the flyer on the right to send us your RSVP today.

We hope to see you there!

Law Student Opportunity: Rural Summer Legal Corps Fellowship

Apply by February 11, 2019 to serve as the Rural Summer Legal Corps Fellow in our Baton Rouge office to provide critical legal help to rural communities in our area.

The Fellow will focus on expanding access to justice in six rural parishes in the Capitol Area. The RSLC fellow will start and/or expand our library outreaches and clinics, develop and distribute information on how to access civil legal services, and start new relationships with community partners in the area. On a daily basis, the student will be engaged as part of the SLLS team delivering life changing civil legal help.

The Corps member will gain skills in client interviewing, advocating for clients, legal research and writing, will develop community legal education workshop materials, and will support library based legal clinics in these rural areas. Click here to learn more about the position.

Visit rurallegalcorps.org to learn more about RSLC and submit your application.

Ready to take the fight for fairness to the next level?