There's always plenty to do at The Project. Whether you take a case, serve on one of our volunteer committees, spend a day working in our office, staff one of our many legal clinics or organize a fundraiser -- The Project is always in need of extra hands and hearts to be ready to respond to the needs our residents. If you want to be more involved, we invite you to contact Linton Carney or me and let us know your area of interest.  

 

     This month's In Brief will give you the latest on what we've been up to this past month and what's ahead in the coming weeks. But, before we do, The Board and Staff of The Project are pleased to announce that the Gulf Justice Consortium, of which The Project is a member, is the recipient of the ABA's Section of Litigation's prestigious John Minor Wisdom Award. 

 

     The Award recognizes the collaborative efforts of the Gulf Coast legal service providers working jointly to address the civil legal needs arising from the BP Deep Water Horizon oil disaster. The consortium's efforts have significantly improved access to the claims process for low and moderate income people all across the Gulf Coast region and presents a model for future collaborations addressing common problems.

 

     The Award will be presented at the Section of Litigation's Annual CLE Conference in Washington, DC on Friday, April 20th at the Awards Luncheon. Congratulations goes out to all the member organizations. For more information on the conference: ABA Litigation

 

     Hope everyone had a great Mardi Gras!

 

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!     

     Whether strike or spare -- The Pro Bono Project was the true winner when the New Orleans Bar Association Young Lawyers Section hosted its annual Pro-Bowl-O Tournament on the last Sunday in January. This is the second year the YLS has hosted this event with all prceeds going to The Project. 

 

The Winners: (l to r) Blue Williams, Stanley Reuter, Liskow & Lewis.

     Now, bowling for a cause can really be a lot of fun, as the many teams and individuals can testify (no pun intended). Rock 'n Bowl played host once again this year and the house was packed by friends, family and supporters of the bowlers and The Project. 

 

     Competition was high, but friendly, for the various individual and team awards with Stanley Reuter (1st Place), Blue Williams (2nd Place), and Liskow & Lewis (3rd Place) showing off their bowling acumen as the top team winners.

 

     Barrasso Usdin's "Justice League" walked away with top honors for their creativity, winning the Best Costume Award.

Best Costume: "Justice League," Barrasso Usdin.

Congratulations to the other bowling award winners: Michelle West (Highest Female Score); Jim McMillan (Highest Male Score); Rachel Johnson (Lowest Female Score); and Adam Swensek (Lowest Male Score).

 

     There was plenty of food and drink to keep things lively and those in attendance got a special treat -- the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets to win one of three bowling pins designed, decorated and donated by local artists Simon Hardeveld, Stephán Wanger and Alex Beard. 

 

Raffle Winners: Cami Capodice, Jimmy Michaels and Rachel Piercey, accepting on behalf of winner, Katie Lasky.

     Congratulations to the winners of these one-of-a-kind art pieces: Cami Capodice, Jimmy Michaels and Katie Lasky.

  

    This year's tournament raised over $3,000 for The Project, thanks to the generosity of the event sponsor firms: 

• Turkey level sponsors: Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Blue Williams, LLP and Liskow & Lewis;

• Double level sponsors: Krebs, Farley & Pelleteri, PLLC, Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver and McGlinchey Stafford, PLLC; and 

• Strike level sponsor: Gieger, Laborde & Laperouse, LLC

     A special thanks goes out from The Board and Staff of The Project to all those from YLS and NOBA who worked to make this event possible: co-chairs Kristen Schorp and Monica Manzella, YLS Chair Elizabeth Sconzert, Carey Menasco, NOBA staff Helena Henderson and CC Kahr. 

     When the economy takes a turn for the worse, everyone feels it, but none more so than the The Project's clients. Already living on less than most of us can imagine, our clients often get themselves into trouble trying to provide for the needs of their family. 

     Whether it's seniors trying to help their adult children who may be unemployed or a parent working hard to keep a family afloat -- consumer debt issues can make life even tougher. 

    The Project's staff attorney Jesse George is working hard to make sure that clients and residents in need have access to the many volunteer attorneys who work with The Project in this area.

     To this end, Jesse is working with Common Ground Relief Legal Clinic and other community organizations to provide pro bono civil legal services. For one Saturday in each of the past two months, The Project has co-sponsored a consumer debt clinic with Common Ground and funded by the Norflet Progress Fund. 

     Our volunteer panel stepped up to offer counsel and help open the doors to the civil legal system for the 11 clients who attended in early February. Another Saturday consumer debt clinic is scheduled for March 10th (see sidebar); volunteers are always needed.

     On another front, to help move through the increasing number of bankruptcy cases, The Project held a 'mini clinic' on Friday,

Attorney Chance White (l) working with client.

February 3rd. Attorney Chance White came by the office to lend his expertise in this area by helping to triage four pressing bankruptcy cases. 

     Even though this seems like a small amount, Chance spent the day working through the legal logistics of each case, enabling some of The Project's clients to leave with greater peace of mind. It's this kind of commitment to pro bono that enables The Project to open the door for those in need.

    The next 'mini-clinic' with Chance White is scheduled for Friday, March 2nd from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at The Project's offices. Please contact Jesse George for further information.

    Our thanks to Chance and all the volunteers working with Jesse and our Consumer Debt program to remind us all, once again, why pro bono matters.