It's hard to believe that in just a few weeks, we'll be through the first month of the new year! We've been through football mania with LSU and the Saints, and Mardi Gras is just around the corner but it's business as usual here at The Project.

 

   For those of you who love to bowl -- the NOBA Young Lawyers Section (YLS) is hosting its annual Pro Bowl-O Tournament on Sunday, January 29th from noon to 3:00 pm at Rock 'n Bowl. All proceeds benefit The Project. Get more information and register now at: YLS 2012 or download Registration and Sponsorship forms from our website. 

 

   The YLS has added something new this year -- an on-site raffle for custom designed bowling pins by three local artists. Tickets are 1 for $5 or 6 for $25. Full details: YLS 2012. 

 

   Special congratulations to Board and Executive Committee member, attorney Jan Hayden of Baker Donelson who was named 2011 Woman of the Year of the International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC). Read the story: JAN IWIRC

 

  Finally, thanks all who attended the informative CLE on interdictions presented by Eric Schorr of Sessions, Fishman earlier this month. Our thanks to Eric and his firm for their educational commitment to The Project and its volunteer attorneys.

 

Come on out and bowl for pro bono -- hope to see you at the YLS Pro Bowl-O -Tournament on Sunday!

    

All the best,

Rachel  

Rachel Piercey  

Executive Director 

  

PS -- Spread the word about The Pro Bono Project by using the new social media buttons and connect this newsletter to your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or other social media page. Thanks!     

2011 Volunteer Appreciation Award Winners

     The Pro Bono Project celebrated in high style last month at its annual Volunteer Appreciation and Recognition Awards Ceremony, held at the law firm of Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC and presided over by The Honorable Jay Zainey, Judge, United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana.

 

     Adams and Reese LLP took front and center, once again, as recipient of the 2011 Law Firm of the Year Award. The Honorable Paul Sens, Judge, Municipal Court, Orleans Parish was honored as 2011 Distinguished Jurist of the Year.

• Clarity Litigation Support, LLC, named as the 2011 Pro Bono Corporate Partner

• Loyola University New Orleans College of Law was named 2011 Law School of the Year

• 2011 Distinguished Donor is Gibbs Construction

• Mark Surprenant (Adams and Reese LLP) as the 2011 Friend of Pro Bono

• Anders Holmgren (Tulane Law School), this year's Pro Bono Law Student of the Year

• Brian Hoerner, The Project's 2011 Paralegal of the Year

• The 2011 Leadership Award went to Resource Development Committee members, Elonide Semmes of Boston-based Right Hat LLC and Michelle Egan of San Francisco's O'Melveny & Myers LLP

• The 2011 Distinguished Service Awardees include:
• Michael Duplantier
• Matthew Livaccari
• Chris Ralston
• Barbara Siefkin 
• Sean Sullivan

     The Project recognized Adams and Reese as the Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year for their work in several areas, as well as their firm-wide commitment to pro bono. In addition to case work done by their volunteer attorneys, Adams and Reese, has served as the 'go-to' firm hosting students from out of town law schools who come several times each year to do community service for The Project. 

 

     This year, in particular, the firm has spearheaded the support for the Self-Help Resource Center at Civil District Court, a collaborative effort with the CDC, the LSBA/Access to Justice Committee, Loyola and Tulane Law, and Southeast Louisiana Legal Services that The Project staffs. 

 

     The Center assists pro se litigants with legal information, like court forms and other legal information. Adams & Reese stepped in throughout the year to aid hundreds of individuals, most too poor to afford an attorney, who choose to represent themselves in court.

 

     "Adams and Reese understands clearly what it takes and why it is necessary for The Project to open the doors to those in need of civil legal services within this community. They are committed to The Project, to pro bono and to this community. 

 

     "This kind of support has given us the ability to reach out to many more people and keep metro New Orleans moving forward. Their work this year in helping us make the Self Help Resource Center a success is nothing short of heroic," explained The Project's Executive Director Rachel Piercey.

 

     Attorneys and other professionals were also honored for their volunteer services of 100 and 50 hours, as were 2011 Funders and 2011 Contributing Law Schools.