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.
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!
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 theBoard of Directors pageof 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?
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