Gillis Long Pro Bono Program - News and Updates - Loyola University School of Law

New Pro Bono Opportunity: Collection Defense Project

Added: August 29, 2007
Bill Cherbonnier, a noted local bankruptcy and consumer protection lawyer, is looking for pro bono students to assist in his new Collection Defense Project. Bill is seeking to aggressively defend cases brought by unscrupulous debt collectors and needs students to work in every aspect of this practice.

If you are interested, more information is available here:

Fair Housing Action Center Seeks Testers

Added: January 10, 2007
We've received the following request for volunteers from the Fair Housing Action Center:

The Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center is a private, non-profit civil rights organization established in 1995 to eradicate housing discrimination throughout the greater New Orleans area. In the past, our agency has partnered with local colleges and universities to encourage student participation in community service and social justice work. We are eager to jump start this relationship for the Spring 2007 semester and would like to invite you to partner with GNOFHAC to provide service learning and/or extra credit opportunities to your students in exchange for their work with our organization.

We are currently recruiting students to serve as Civil Rights Investigators, also known as �Testers�. When our organization receives a complaint of housing discrimination from a housing provider, we send paired Testers to investigate discriminatory practices by posing as housing applicants. After an investigation is conducted we compare the treatment of each Tester to determine whether a housing provider is engaging in discriminatory conduct. We are in great need of individuals from all backgrounds to work with us and have found in the past that students are very responsive to this unique service opportunity. The hours are extremely flexible and we are able to offer a small payment (between $10.00-$40.00) to compensate Testers for their work.

I would be happy to further discuss with you how our agency can partner with you to offer this unique service opportunity to your students. We would be happy to present information in your classrooms or forward information that you can circulate with your students directly.

Please feel free to contact me at (504) 208-5070 or email .trobinson@gnofairhousing.org Thank you for your time and I look forward to the opportunity to work with you in the coming months!

Thena Robinson
Coordinator of Investigations

New Pro Bono Opportunity: Employment Rights at NOLAC

Added: September 5,2006
Job Termination/Unemployment Rights Clinic
Hope House, 916 St. Andrew (off of Magazine St.)
Tuesdays, 3-6 p.m.

DESCRIPTION: Employment Rights Clinic for indigent clients, supervised by free legal aid program, New Orleans Legal Assistance (an office of Southeast La. Legal Services) (�NOLAC�).

STUDENT ACTIVITIES: Interviewing clients on site; subsequent follow-up which may include: developing cases, research & drafting, negotiation, and/or administrative hearing representation � under supervision of attorneys from NOLAC�s Employment & Public Benefits Unit.

REQUIRED : 20-30 hours of service this semester; student should be available for 4 consecutive weekly clinics, plus case follow-up as needed (flexible, during week subsequent to each clinic).

TRAINING: Initial 30-60 minute training by Webex or teleconference; orientation to substantive legal issues available online-discuss with supervising attorney; additional training on-the-job as needed.

DATES:
Sept. 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
Oct. 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th
Oct. 31st, Nov. 7th, 14th, 21st
Nov. 28th, Dec. 5th, 12th, 19th

LOCATION: Hope House, 916 St. Andrew St., New Orleans, LA

For More Information: Rowena Jones, Esq; 529-1000, x247; rtjones@nolac.org.

Equal Justice Works 2006 Summer Corps program

Added: February 6,2006
Equal Justice Works is excited to announce the launch of the 2006 Summer Corps program! As you may know, Summer Corps is an AmeriCorps-funded program that will provide 315 law students with the opportunity to earn a $1,000 education award voucher for dedicating their summer to a qualifying legal internship at a nonprofit, public interest organization. As an Equal Justice Works law school, your first- and second-year students are eligible to apply for this program.

Summer Corps slots are awarded on a first come, first served basis, with consideration for Equal Justice Works law school representation and geographic diversity. For more information about the eligibility criteria and application and selection process for the 2006 Summer Corps program, please visit our website at www.equaljusticeworks.org. The online application will be available to students via our website from March 22 at 12:00 noon through April 5 at 5:00 pm.

This year, in response to the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Equal Justice Works is committed to setting aside 65 Summer Corps slots for law students who are providing disaster-related legal services in the Gulf Coast region. Students are eligible for the Katrina Summer Corps if the primary purpose of their internships is to assist hurricane victims or evacuees in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi or Texas. Please tell your students to check the box marked "Katrina Summer Corps" on the online application if they are eligible to be considered for one of these 65 slots.

More info:http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/summercorps06.pdf.

Post-Katrina Pro Bono Policies

Added: September 15,2005
For those of you who are currently enrolled in the pro bono program, you will be given full credit for the pro bono work you do during the post-Katrina period. Simply log on to the Online Timesheet and log your hours. If you wish to do pro bono work during the post-storm period, please apply for the program in the normal fashion, by submitting the online application. Applications will be processed as soon as possible. Although we will try be as flexible as we can in light of circumstances, we cannot guarantee credit for any pro bono work done that is not pre-approved through this application process. If you have questions, e-mail Judson Mitchell at probono@loyno.edu.

Skadden Fellowship Announced

Added: July 19,2005
Skadden Fellowship Foundation has announced its intention to award twenty-five fellowships per year to graduating law students and outgoing judicial clerks. Fellows will provide legal services to the poor (including the working poor), elderly, homeless and disabled, as well as those deprived of their human rights or civil rights. The aim of the sponsor is to give Fellows the freedom to pursue public interest work. Therefore, the Fellows create their own projects before they apply. Grants will be made to sponsoring organizations only. Therefore, before the final application, a public interest organization which will sponsor the applicant must be identified. For more information, go to this website.

Great Work, Law Students!

Added: March 30,2005
Loyola Law School students have performed over 1,000 hours of pro bono work in the first three months of this year! This shows extraordinary effort and demonstrates a real commitment to public service. Thanks to all of you!

Project LEAD Training and Orientation Set

Added: January 13, 2005
The orientation and training for the Jefferson DA's Project LEAD is set for Wednesday, January 26 at 1 p.m. in Room 413 of the law school. Interested students will have the opportunity to learn more about the program and to decide whether or not to participate. Any questions should be directed to Judson Mitchell

Pro Bono Website Updated

Added: January 7, 2005
The Pro Bono website has been re-designed. The design should be easier to use and contain more helpful information. Among other improvements, forms can now be typed in online using Acrobat Reader and then printed for sigature. A FAQ has been added along with search and lost password facilities.

New Pro Bono Opportunity - Jefferson DA - Project LEAD

Added: January 7, 2005
A new pro bono opportunity is available this semester for Loyola law students at the Jefferson Parish District Attorney's office. The JPDA is actively seeking volunteers to participate in Project LEAD, a law-related education program for elementary and middle school students. Working with assistant district attorneys and investigators, students will prepare and present classes on relevant legal topics and participate in mock trials.

This is an excellent opportunity for students who want to volunteer for pro bono credit, but need flexibility as to scheduling. Orientation and training will be held at the law school and classes will be presented at the target schools. If interested, sign up to volunteer online