Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Seeks Support in Washington for southeast Louisiana’s Civil Legal Needs
Posted on: April 11, 2024
For Immediate Release
Date: April 11, 2024
Contact: Laura Tuggle, ltuggle@slls.org, 504-529-1000 x 270
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Seeks Support in Washington for southeast Louisiana’s Civil Legal Needs
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Leaders from Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS) met with congressional staff in Washington, D.C. on April 8 to discuss the importance of constituent access to the legal system on issues like fair housing, veterans’ benefits, domestic violence and burdensome medical debt in southeast Louisiana.
SLLS Executive Director Laura Tuggle joined attorneys from every corner of the nation to mark the 50th anniversary of Legal Services Corporation supporting civil legal aid across the United States. “Civil legal aid is an often overlooked but essential solution to helping strengthen communities, improve public safety, stabilize families in crisis, and protect vulnerable populations,” said Tuggle.
Tuggle, along with Roxanne Newman, Deputy Director, and Douglas Carey, Director of Pro Bono Programs, held a meeting with representatives from the offices of Representatives Carter, Letlow, and Scalise, as well as staff from Senators Cassidy and Kennedy, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson’s office.
The largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans, LSC was established by Congress in 1974. To mark its historic 50th anniversary, LSC has embarked on an outreach campaign — “Protecting the Promise” of equal justice. LSC held its quarterly board meeting in conjunction with a forum on Access to Justice and a gala Monday and Tuesday (April 8-9).
LSC’s 2022 Justice Gap report found that low-income Americans received no or insufficient legal help for 92% of their civil legal problems.
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About Southeast Louisiana Legal Services
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS) fights for fairness in the justice system. We provide free civil legal aid to low-income people across 22 parishes in southeast Louisiana. We have six offices: Baton Rouge, Covington, Hammond, Harvey, Houma, and New Orleans. Our mission is to achieve justice for low-income people in Louisiana by enforcing and defending their legal rights through free legal representation, advocacy, and community education. For more information about SLLS, visit www.slls.org and follow us on Facebook (@SLLShelps).
Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974. For 50 years, LSC has provided financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans. The Corporation currently provides funding to 131 independent nonprofit legal aid programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.