For the Good of the Gulf: UNC Law Winter/Spring Break Pro Bono Project

Monday, March 14, 2011

"Renew, Rebuild, Rebirth."

Stepping out onto Canal Street again, I was surprised how little New Orleans had changed. The streets still meandered together, one shop after the next with tourists buzzing in and out. And yet, as similar as things were, I began to see something had changed.

In 2007, every store in the French quarter had a sign or a flag or a T-shirt for sale that advertised, "Renew, Rebuild, Rebirth." Houses and buildings throughout the area flew flags with those words. It seemed like the city was just asking for patience while it learned how to move forward.

Returning to the office where I worked in 2007 made me anxious. Three years before, one attorney alone had 250 open case files at a time. Contractor fraud was a way of life. People lived in toxic mold and FEMA trailers. The people I worked helped were proud of their city, but they were scared of each other. Most of their families had not yet come back.

This January, the office, like the city, still seemed the same. But I quickly realized that the clients (and the attorneys) were more relaxed. They still had problems, contractors still breached their contracts, but people didn't cry. The work load at New Orleans Legal Assistance now consisted of things that had nothing to do with Katrina. Some people had moved to the area after the storm. For me, seeing clients with non-Katrina problems made me realize something I hadn't understood that first night on Canal Street.

As I looked more carefully, I saw that the flags with the NOLA mantra had disappeared from the windows of the houses. In the office, people talked of credit card debt and taxes, not just toxic mold and contractors. It wasn't as if Katrina had never happened. It was just as if the city had simply done exactly what it promised it would do back in 2005 when the hurricane hit. "Renew, Rebuild, Rebirth."

Ashley Klein

When I first signed up to go to New Orleans to help out with Pro Bono, I wasn't sure exactly what I would be doing for the Public Defenders Office. After working in New Orleans for the past few years rebuilding homes, I was excited to begin a new adventure by helping the city out in a legal manner instead. At the Public Defenders office I worked on compiling research, writing memos, and interviewing clients to make sure that they were indigent. All of these experiences took the learning I did in my first semester 1L classes and put them to real world work.

I was excited to finally be able to gain some first hand legal experience in any way possible and I am extremely glad that I go to do so with Pro Bono. I sat in on a few court cases, including some aggravated assault and second degree murder cases just to name a few. It was a very interesting experience to watch the cases unfold and to see how the lawyers handled each situation as they came about in the courtroom. I got to watch cases that I discussed with the Public Defenders and helped compile research for unfold before my eyes.

Overall, the experience with the Public Defenders Office in New Orleans was an amazing experience and I learned a lot about the legal profession with real hands on experience. I am very grateful that I could go back and help out the city of New Orleans again in a different arena, and I hope to be able to go back in the near future to help the city out once again in any way possible.

Gideon Kaplan

As a first year law student with only one semester of legal education under my belt, I wondered if I had the tools to contribute in a legal office with real clients and issues. Although I have worked in a law office before, I had never felt as instrumental in the outcome of a process that others were relying on. At the Pro Bono Project in New Orleans, I worked on succession (estates) cases for families whose relatives had died intestate. In one particular case, the decedents were born in the late 19th century, which meant that there were plenty of heirs who stood to inherit the property in question. However, most of them either didn't care, or were out of touch. That being the case, there were a small number of family members who were trying to settle the estate on behalf of all of the heirs.

Speaking with one of the family members brought to life the real problems that families and people face in the legal system. It was rewarding for me to see the assistance we can lend, and at the same time it was eye-opening to see the tremendous challenges that people in lower socio-economic positions face when dealing with legal issues. The trip was gratifying on a person level for me, and I hope that I was able to contribute to the overall assistance that the Pro Bono Project lends to those in need in New Orleans.

Alec Covington

Unlike Anything Else

Indigent people charged with crimes in Louisiana’s Orleans Parish often have very little going for them. New Orleans, like many large American cities, is racked with enduring poverty and a highly disparate scale of wealth and opportunity. Many of New Orleans’ indigent criminal defendants have previously been convicted of one or more felonies, making them “double bill,” “triple bill,” or worse, “quadruple bill” defendants. The longer a defendant’s criminal history is, the less likely they are to catch even a small break in the criminal justice system. Many, because of their indigence, cannot afford to post bail and will sit in jail awaiting trial for months without being able to effectively contact employers, friends, or family. There is, however, one small boon in the otherwise dismal plight of the New Orleans indigent criminal defendant: the Orleans Public Defenders office.

My time spent working with the Orleans Public Defenders office (“OPD”) was unlike any previous legal work I had done, either on previous pro bono projects or during summer employment at a small firm. The attorneys working for OPD understand that their clients are often facing steep uphill battles. The office is understaffed and underfunded. However, despite the ever mounting obstacles, the OPD attorneys approached every matter on which we worked with a sense of dedication to the client and an unwavering resolve to give the best possible representation, whatever the circumstances.

While working with OPD, I found the remarkable efforts of the OPD attorneys to be a source of inspiration as I began tackling unfamiliar assignments. As a 2L who has previously worked on criminal defense matters, I was astonished when our supervising attorney handed me two files on our first day with OPD – “my” cases – and assigned me several tasks of which I understood nearly nothing at all. Within hours, however, I was immersed in the work and was reluctant to leave at the end of the day. By using the skills I already had I was able to expand the range of legal work I felt confident undertaking. My time with OPD therefore not only exposed me to poignant realities of the criminal justice system, but it forced me out of my comfort zone and thereby helped me grow as an aspiring attorney. Most importantly, however, the work we completed was unquestionably of critical importance for the clients to whom our supervising attorneys would otherwise not have been able to devote nearly as much time.
- Barrett Holland

From Christmas to New Orleans...

Within one week, I went from being consumed by Christmas, to New Years plans, to arriving in New Orleans; where quickly my group was integrated into the Orleans Public Defender’s Office (OPD). The first question of the day: What are three things you would think about while being arrested and what do you think our clients would think about? Break was officially “over” and it was time to begin my first pro bono experience. I was slightly nervous about what I would actually be able to contribute, having just finished my first semester of 1L year. Very soon after meeting with our supervising attorneys, the nerves were gone and we excitedly began tackling our list of work in hopes of freeing up our attorneys for other meaningful assignments. The office was lacking resources and very understaffed, not to mention they had just announced a hiring freeze due to budget constraints. They were visibly appreciative to have law students willing to volunteer to help during each of our winter breaks. While I knew that Katrina, the economy, and the gulf oil crisis had exasperated conditions, especially for those in poverty, I had no idea how in need this city really was. I am appreciative that I could contribute something, but there is so much more that needs to be done. Each attorney could barely manage their massive caseload and it was obvious how much they appreciated all of the law students volunteering. Due to the lack of resources, both physically and monetarily, it is a constant challenge for the attorneys to attempt to help all the clients in need to the potential that they could.

There existed an enormous ability for all of us; regardless of what year we were, to make a significant contribution to helping out with the workload in the office. One example of this was figuring out how to contact a parole officer so that we could end the client’s previous probation so that they could be released from jail and able to start their next probation. Even just helping with paper work, organizing files, researching specific issues, and providing them with our findings to help them shape their cases seemed to be a meaningful contribution. In another case, at the 11th hour, the office received over thirty hours of jail tapes that they needed to go through in order to properly prepare for the trial that was to happen the next day. The attorney recruited several of us, quickly briefed us on the case, and then instructed us to listen for key “buzz” words that would help him prepare his defense. As with many of our experiences volunteering in the Orleans Public Defender’s office, it was truly a unique situation to be able to see your work instantaneously being used to help the attorney’s client and case. In many of these situations the work would not have been able to be completed if not for the extra resources that the volunteers provided.

I feel confident that our work allowed the supervising attorneys to be able to get to more cases and/or be able to give more of their focus to existing ones. I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to volunteer with the Pro Bono group in New Orleans and feel confident that our work, along with the other volunteers, contributed to helping the fight for justice and contributing to provide a better quality of life for the people of New Orleans. The attorneys are an inspiration, as they have truly dedicated themselves to bettering the community and fighting for justice, regardless of socio-economic status. They are visibly restoring justice and public safety within the city.

Each year the NOLA Pro Bono winter break group truly helps the OPD in furthering their mission to: “provide each eligible client with client-centered legal representation of the highest quality – zealous, conscientious, caring, professional, ethical and skilled – whether in criminal, juvenile or municipal/traffic court.”

Amy Bruch

Andrew Darcy (2L)

Although the journey to New Orleans may have been tiresome due to the fact that the van ride spanned over thirteen hours, it was well worth the wait. While in New Orleans, we explored the city for their authentic local cuisine and in search of the quintessential nightlife. The city was a lot of fun, but such fun does not come close to the amount of life experiences that I gained through my work at the Orleans Public Defenders (OPD) office. My work at the OPD focused primarily on data entry, legal research and handling initial intake from persons who were arrested for various misdemeanor offenses. In interviewing clients, I received first hand experience as to what those persons are feeling and their side of the story. Additionally, within the interviewing process we asked for various bits of information as to what needs certain inmates desired and which persons they wished for us to contact. For example, such inmates provided us with various contact information of family and friends of whom might be able to post their bond to get them back into their homes.

This experience gave me a greater appreciation of our legal system and how important public defenders are in the legal system. Although our short time at the OPD does not allow us to see the cases through to their fruition, the initial stages were very exciting and it is good to know that the legal system is a place for all. The OPD sees more cases than one could ever imagine due to the high crime rate in New Orleans and any bit of help that we could provide was greatly appreciated. Even though it felt as if we were doing rather simple duties by performing initial client intake, basic legal research and data entry, we were allowing our attorneys to hear more cases by performing a substantial portion of their administrative work.

It seems that although Hurricane Katrina happened several years ago, people are still volunteering and doing what each can do to get the great city of New Orleans back on its feet. This is evident by the work of around 40 volunteer law students from CUNY, American University, and UNC all working together at the OPD office over their Christmas breaks. Furthermore, the OPD seems to be expanding in size and obtaining first class attorneys to handle the wide assortment of legal issues facing the people of New Orleans. In providing legal services, the OPD is ensuring that each underprivileged person in New Orleans is not precluded from the legal system. Although we cannot see the outcome of the cases in which we helped, I know that I learned a great deal about the actual practice of law and the important role that public defenders play in providing legal services for those that are in desperate need of their help.

Alligators, jazz bands, nutria rats….and divorce petitions—oh my!

Alligators, jazz bands, nutria rats….and divorce petitions—oh my! I had no idea what to expect when I arrived in New Orleans, but I ended up being really surprised about how much the city has to offer and how grateful people are to have our help. Because I took I took family law last semester, I was excited about applying what I learned while volunteering at the Pro Bono Project.

I helped clients obtain simple divorces called 103(1) divorces. I completed divorce petitions, interviewed clients, and filed documents at court. I learned about small differences between two different parishes (aka counties), and about the procedural differences between couples that have minor children, adult children, or no children. Most importantly, Matt at the Pro Bono Project taught me to never, ever punch holes in a document that needs to go to court (Sorry Matt!). I never thought of the word “divorce” as having happy, positive connotations, but the clients we helped were so excited and grateful to begin the divorce process. All of the clients had unique stories to share, and many of them needed our help so they could move on with their lives.

Aside from the client interaction, one of my favorite parts of the trip was experiencing the Louisiana culture. The staff at the Pro Bono Project immediately introduced us to the vibrant New Orleans culture with a King Cake for breakfast on our first day. It was delicious and completely unexpected. It was just the beginning. One afternoon, we took a swamp tour through a bayou where I got to hold a baby alligator and see nutria, which are nasty, gigantic swamp rats. Even though alligator is on every restaurant menu in New Orleans, I associate the city with music. People play music on street corners, in clubs, in restaurants, everywhere.

Overall, I learned a lot, gained valuable client intake skills, and got to apply the black letter law I learned in school. More importantly, I feel like the work that UNC Law did in New Orleans was much needed and appreciated. In turn, we enjoyed and appreciated all that the special city has to offer.

Elizabeth Ann Ruiz

Having completed only one semester of law school, I was a little overwhelmed when I received my first assignment from the supervising attorney at Southeast Louisiana Legal Services. He specialized in bankruptcy cases, breach of contract suits where contractors would be paid to repair someone’s house, but never do the work, and property tax issues–things I had not even taken a class on. I began the week thinking I did not have the skills necessary to make any substantive progress on these cases, but I quickly learned that even though I had no formal training in these areas, I had already begun thinking like a lawyer. As a result, I found that I was able to make a substantial contribution to the cases that were assigned to me during the week. I grew up thinking lawyers always had an answer, but this experience showed me that they do not always know what to do right away. The legal profession requires creative thinking and problem solving to novel and unfamiliar problems.

My experience in New Orleans also showed me the limitations of the legal system and the legal profession. My supervising attorney worked in an office building with about 30 other attorneys. He told me how some days the office’s entire telephone system went down as a result of the damaged infrastructure caused by Hurricane Katrina, making it difficult or impossible to progress on any of the cases that required conversations with clients or other attorneys. He had taken on so many cases that many of them were in danger of expiring because of a statute of limitations. He also told me that he did not even have time to make any progress difficult cases because he had so many “little fires” to put out in other cases. He was very grateful for the assistance pro bono groups offered his office. Without us, many of his cases would have been forgotten. Being a firm believer that every person should have his or her day in court, it was really disappointing to turn away clients simply because they did not have enough evidence to make a case.

Spending a week in New Orleans seeing the “real” side of the legal profession was truly an eye-opening experience for someone who has been immersed in the academic side of it since August. This experience showed me that I really could make a difference in peoples’ lives, even with my limited legal training. It showed me that the legal aid and pro bono service are valuable resources to those who are not wealthy enough to afford high-priced attorneys. But it also showed me that the system has limitations. Being a part of pro bono is truly a rewarding experience because I am able to make the legal system more available to those who would otherwise be excluded from relief or assistance.

--
Adam Lanier

SUCCESS with SUCCESSIONS and much more!

I am proud to say that my first experience of the spirit, excitement, and soul that the city of New Orleans has to offer was with UNC Pro Bono. I would like to first highlight my work experience and then mix in some of the cultural experiences that made working with the attorneys and citizens of New Orleans so rewarding.

We were welcomed into the New Orleans Pro Bono with a traditional New Orleans King Cake. Having never been to the area, I felt as if the attorneys were making a great gesture at helping us to fit into the New Orleans culture. The basic synopsis of the king cake: try not to slice a piece of cake with the baby! After enjoying some cake, we were immediately immersed into our legal subject areas. Although I wanted to work on family law, the group and project need was with intestate succession and estate cases. After gaining a more accurate understanding of my job tasks, I found creating affidavits to present to clients who were unable to track title to family property, to be rewarding. What I found most interesting about working on the succession cases is that requirement of accuracy forced me to pay attention to detail and to truly learn and appreciate the language of deeds and the creation of an affidavits, and the economic effects that carelessness can have on the attorney. What I liked most about the succession cases were the client interaction. I had the chance to work in the wills and succession clinic, where I interviewed clients seeking to have a succession completed on their family’s property. Among the people I interviewed, I learned that one family’s home was lost in Katrina and that the family simply wanted the property in hopes that one day it would be worth more. Client interaction is by far the most exciting and rewarding part of doing pro bono. In that single moment of interaction, you are an attorney, at least in the clients eyes, and its your expertise, preparation, and empathy that can be a catalyst of change in their respective situations.

I learned a valuable lesson in New Orleans, sometimes you have to do what you don’t like or arent particularly interested in, so that one day you can do what you love. Thanks to the insight of the attorneys in the NO Pro Bono Office, I was able to also work with a family law attorney in my last couple of days. I worked on child abuse and neglect cases. I had a first hand chance to shadow an attorney and to learn what issues are most prevalant amongst neglected children. For many neglected kids in New Orleans, a good portion of their family was relocated after hurricane Katrina or are deceased. These were the cases in which the children were listed as neglected, however; child abuse, rape, and teenage pregnancies seemed to be the overwhelming majority of the cases. My job was to provide an update to the supervising attorney, an outside perspective, as to whether or not the office should continue to handle the case, close the file, or if it was outside our scope, pass it to another attorney.

In addition to these opportunities, I also took time to immerse into the NOLA culture. I went on a swamp tour and learned about alligators, the history of Cajuns and Creoles in LA, about the rivers and bayous, and families that live in those bayous. It was amazing to see how invested the people living in the bayous were in maintaining their dwelling place. After Katrina hit and completely wiped everything out, they rebuilt. It was a very strong city and me experiences in New Orleans have strengthened my commitment to public service.

Day 1:

After my first day of working at the New Orleans Pro Bono Project I am reminded of the impact attorneys can have on the lives of their clients. Our clients in this case were impoverished individuals seeking a divorce. When a marriage comes to an end, it typically leaves at least one, if not both, former partners in emotional turmoil. It was not until I spoke to my first two clients over the phone that I could really appreciate the value of the free legal service we were providing.

The phone calls on this first day were for the purpose of making contact with the client to set up an interview to complete the divorce process. Both of the clients were really excited to hear from me and communicated how they were ready to get it over with and move on. During the phone calls, I could hear in the tone of their voice how genuinely thankful they were for the free legal assistance we provide. Speaking with the clients and hearing their appreciation let me know I was making a valuable contribution to their lives. I am thankful for having the opportunity to have such an impact through the New Orleans Pro Bono Project.

Jeremy Spears

Stepping Outside the Classroom

On the trip to New Orleans I was able to help the New Orleans Pro Bono Project on issues ranging from family law to bankruptcy. In just four days I was able to complete multiple no fault divorce petitions, meet with clients, and file each petition at the local courthouse. What struck me was the eagerness demonstrated by the clients and their trust in my ability to help them. There were no complaints and expressions of genuine joy at seeing progress toward a positive outcome of their cases. The need for pro bono family law work in New Orleans was clearly great, and although the staff at the Pro Bono Project were doing their best to meet the demand, there seemed a deficit in manpower. Because of this reality, our work was able to alleviate at least a fraction of their workload.

I was glad to be stepping outside the classroom, however momentarily, and into the real world of legal practice. I was similarly surprised to see the work that a group of 20+ law students could accomplish in less than a week. It made me proud to be surrounded by such a dedicated and selfless group of fellow students, and proud to be attending a school dedicated to giving back to those that need the help the most.

Michael Danielson

After a 14-hour journey, we finally arrived in New Orleans late Sunday night. I spend the next few days volunteering at the Orleans Public Defenders and exploring the spirit of a city that has survived in spite of various catastrophes. Having worked at a public defenders office before, I was not surprised by much of what I experienced: energetic and hard-working atttorneys, towering caseloads, and an overwhelmed justice system. I spent the majority of my time with helping my supervising attorney with research and trial preparation. She had several cases pending at the same time, and her situation was not unique either. Even with 40 law students and a full staff of attorneys there was still no shortage of work to do.

My experience with the OPD really showed me that being a public defender was not just a job, but a calling. The attorneys at the OPD did not have the luxuries of a large law firm. Their clients were often poor and many lacked basic knowledge of the criminal justice system. Extra efforts had to be made to meet clients at their homes or other locations. Sometimes the first discussion about a case came 10 minutes before court started, and it was a constant struggle to work against a system that already seemed stacked against their clients. At times the justice system seemed without order. It seemed like judges made their own rules and pick and chose when they decided to follow the law. I wondered how one did not burn out in this line of work; endless hours with little pay and few resources. These attorneys worked solely on their desire to help others and the belief that they were making a difference.

Within the city itself there were some stark contrasts. Most of the downtown areas were vibrant and flourishing, but there were still many empty buildings and vacant lots. And while gaps between the wealthy and the poor are apparent in most large cities, I noticed more of it in New Orleans than I have elsewhere. There is still much work to be done, but there are also many hands willing to do the work.

Thanks,

Jabeen Ahmad

Helping to Resolve Property Issues

Today was a day of introductions at the New Orleans Pro Bono Project. We were introduced to Executive Director Rachel Piercey, who expressed her sincere gratitude of Carolina Law’s commitment to pro bono work in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina. She spoke of the difficulty coordinating legal services in the wake of the storms, but expressed optimism as the city has come back.

We were also introduced to our supervising attorneys from Kilpatrick Townsend. We split into two groups and dove directly into case files. In my group, we began examining cases of intestate succession.

We were introduced to the different terminology of Louisiana’s Civil Code system as well. What I called a life estate for several months during my first semester of law school was now replaced by a legal usufruct, a similar legal instrument. We contacted the Jefferson and Orleans Parish Assessor’s Offices to determine property values at the time those decedents passed and completed affidavits to settle long-standing inheritance issues for our clients.

It’s very rewarding to know we’ll be solving an issue for a family in New Orleans. My particular case file involves the death of a parent in the immediate months after the storm. Five years later, an important issue of property ownership remains unresolved. It feels good to know you can help someone in that position, even as a first year law student.

Adam Parker

The first day I arrived at the Public Defender’s Office in New Orleans, I was immediately put to work. The massive caseloads that each public defender carries showed us how much need there was for our assistance. There was never a lull in the work because if you assigned attorney was at court when you finished an assignment, you could ask any available attorney for an assignment and they would have more than enough for you to do. As a 1L, I had minimal research and writing experience prior to my work in the office. I was able to develop my research and writing skills in a way that tangibly assisted many of the needs of their clients. I knew that since we were there for only a short period of time, we would not have the opportunity to see a case to completion, but have the opportunity to assist on bits and pieces of many cases, we would be allow the attorneys to spend more time with clients or addressing issues that may have been more complicated.

New Orleans is a city still recovering from the effects of Katrina it’s correlation with the increased crime rate as well as an increase in the number of Hispanics coming to the city looking for work. Many of the Hispanics that came to New Orleans after Katrina, were illegal immigrants and thus were subject to high crime because they were not able to establish bank accounts, thus carried lots of cash and were deemed “ walking ATMs” in many areas of the city. Furthermore, criminals were willing to commit crimes against Hispanics because they would rarely report them. While I had read about the increase in crime in these areas, I had not realized how intricate the effect was on people throughout the city.

–Amit Bhagwandass

Working with Daily Enthusiasm

After my first semester of law school (and a fourteen hour car ride), I was eager to start my first legal experience outside of the classroom. I worked at the Orleans Public Defenders office. The attorneys seemed overworked and lacked the resources I expected them to have. Our arrival was surely welcomed. In addition to the twelve UNC Law students, American University and CUNY law students were volunteering there as well. One of my tasks was to update and organize my supervising attorney’s 200+ open cases. During the process, I noticed some cases had no new activity in months, sometimes years. A significant number of other cases were on hold after the client failed to appear for court. I thought it must be frustrating to devote your time to a client, only to have them absent on their court date.

I also had two research assignments during the week. For one, I was surprised at how straightforward the issue was. I found the answer I needed quickly, which led me to question whether I had found the right information. Surely I would not be researching something that is easily found through LexisNexis, I thought. Then I realized that my supervising attorney lacked the time between going to court, interviewing clients in jail, and preparation for trial to research a simple issue.

My time at the Orleans Public Defenders’ office showed me that it takes a special person to enter the public interest legal sector. The attorneys at the OPD came to work with daily enthusiasm for what they do – protect and defend the rights of those who cannot afford an attorney. Despite their obvious lack of resources, the attorneys still love their jobs.

Josh Kinard

When I first learned about the New Orleans Pro Bono Trip, I knew I wanted to attend. With family from Louisiana, the state and area have always had a big impact in my life. I first traveled to New Orleans proper in 2006 for a service trip, one year after Hurricane Katrina. That trip introduced me to issues that has followed the city and cultivated my interest in continuing to rebuild New Orleans. In the spring of 2006, I built houses with my university. This past week, I had the opportunity to use my legal education to assist the Orleans Public Defenders (OPD).

When we first arrived in the Orleans Public Defenders office, we met other eager law students from American University and CUNY Law. While we do not attend the same law school, working with law students for around the country gave me a great supportive feeling. It is wonderful to know that law students around the world are working to help rebuild and support communities worldwide. After meeting our colleagues, we had orientation where we learned about the needs of our clients. Our supervising attorney had each student put themselves in the place of a client. He had us answer the questions, what would you do if you were arrested and what do you think the clients are concerned with? As someone whose father is a police officer, I never really considered what I would think or would do, if I were ever arrested. The questions that seemed so simple made me put myself in the position of my client and understand where he or she is coming from.

After orientation, we received or assignments and met our supervising attorneys. I worked with a group of three students and we had two supervising attorneys. Going in the office as a first year student, I didn’t quite feel equipped to handle these cases on my own. But I realized that I do have the tools to solve essential problems. Additionally, with the help of my group mates, we were able to draft unfamiliar documents, investigate case elements, interview our client, and help our attorneys prepare for hearings. Working at the Orleans Public Defenders office was an invaluable experience. I was able get involved in active cases and have a direct role in preparing for hearings, all things I didn’t except to do as a first year student. One of the most beneficial aspects of the trip was the opportunity to interact with the attorneys. Being able to watch and live their everyday life helped me gain a greater understanding of the life of a public defender.

Having worked for a year with county’s District Attorney’s office prior to starting law student, this was a great educational experience. I now realize that both public defenders and district attorneys have unique challenges. Overall, this trip exposed me to the life of a public defender and helped me gain a greater understanding of the criminal law system. I am very grateful for the experience and the opportunity to work with the OPD. The OPD are continuing to rebuild and providing an important resource; they are providing access to legal services and fair trial.

-Yolanda Fair

Making a Girl Feel Needed...

Working for a Public Defender really makes a girl feel needed. The OPD is definitely a busy place to be. As a 2L, I was able to do legal research and apply my knowledge from Crim Pro to help clients immediately. We were all thrown in the mix and given responsibility immediately. I also performed administrative tasks helping my attorney, Ariel, update her computer index so they can keep track of clients as they move through the system.

In addition to working in the office, Ariel made sure that I was exposed to court. I got to watch jury selection for a couple of cases and opening statements. It was definitely interesting to compare techniques and styles of different attorneys. Going to court was something that I especially enjoyed because I am interested in doing litigation work. It was also entertaining to see attorneys get scolded by judges for things like tardiness, dress code or not having the calendaring information for a particular client. Going to court teaches you just as much about what not to do as what to do.

When I was not working I was on a personal mission to eat my way through New Orleans. We had ferdis,beignets, alligator, crawfish etouffee and gumbo. I was always satisfied. NOLA’s people, music and personality have a unique flare that makes New Orleans unlike anywhere else. I am lucky to have enjoyed it here this week. The time and labor that I put in with OPD was more than repaid by enjoying this struggling but beautiful city.

Amelia Thompson

Crossing State Lines: Public Defense Work in NOLA

While I have done pro bono work in a few different places, I had never had the opportunity to do public defense work in another state. As such, the most striking thing I learned during my time in New Orleans was how much indigent defense services can vary across jurisdictions. Specifically, I learned that the variances in sentencing among jurisdictions can have a profound effect on the environment and mindset among the defenders, the prosecutors, and especially the clients. This was made evident to me when I went to visit a client who was facing a felon in possession charge, which only involves the client having any kind of felony on his record, and being found with a gun anywhere around him. When his attorney informed him that this charge now, as of recently, carried a mandatory minimum of 10 years with a maximum of 20 years. When the client heard this news, his facial expression and body language completely changed and you could literally feel the hope leave the room, in spite of the fact that he actually had a fightable case.

The extremely rigid sentencing, combined with the stories of prosecutorial and police misconduct, and overall lack of resources, have created an environment with an even smaller amount of room for hope than is normally provided in the realm of indigent defense. Despite this state of things, however, I noticed and was inspired by the steadfastness with which the attorneys, students, and even the clients held on to that small amount of hope. While the resources and manpower were at an all time low given the complications created by Hurricane Katrina (demonstrating just how many facets of life it touched), the goal of justice for our clients remained strong. Overall, I was inspired while I was in New Orleans. Inspired by the attorneys.

Lauren Gebhard

Meeting My First Clients!!

Last night, we arrived in New Orleans, and soon after we checked in, we did what many people love to do when they come to New Orleans: eat!

We were able to enjoy authentic New Orleans cuisine as soon as we got here, at a delicious restaurant by the name of Mothers, and the succulent shrimp, spicy red beans and rice, and smooth debris set a wonderful tone for the rest of the trip.

This morning, we met in the lobby to walk over to the Pro Bono Project, where we will be volunteering this week. We met the president, Rachel, and the chief legal officer, Linton, and learned more about the Pro Bono Project, the Louisiana State Bar, and the legal climate in Louisiana.

After dividing the projects, Linton put us to work. I was doing family law, more specifically, divorces. We began by finalizing necessary paperwork for each client, and calling as many as we could to schedule appointments for them to come to the office and meet with us so that we could go over the paperwork with them, and have it signed and notarized.

I am very excited about our meeting them in a few days. With each file came a wealth of information about the client, including how long they had been married, any children, and the situation under which they are now seeking divorce. I want to be able to see them as more than names in a file, and meet them face-to-face. The best part for me, I think, will be the client interaction, and I’m greatly looking forward to that later this week.

Jaha Avery

Introduction to Legal Experience

Being a 1L with virtually no prior legal experience, I was not sure what to expect going into this trip. All I did know was that I loved New Orleans - having lived there for several years - and I was excited to help the city in any way I could. Working with Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, I quickly learned how much responsibility the legal profession entails. Our attorney was the last hope for many of his clients, and he had a huge number of cases assigned to him. In an understaffed and underfunded office whose phone lines and internet regularly went down, we quickly learned how the practice of law here was anything but glamorous. While they attorneys cared very much about their clients, there was only so much they could do in the circumstances. It was an unfortunate reminder that justice is often limited by resources.

Our attorney specialized in bankruptcy and contractor fraud cases. I dealt specifically with two cases in which homeowners could no longer afford to make their mortgage payments after their homes had been severely damaged by Katrina. My cases had been at a standstill for a while because there was no clear legal solution to the predicament, but I was able to some research and come up with a few possible legal theories that could support their cases. Knowing I helped move the cases forward and brought these clients one step closer towards a resolution was a very rewarding experience.

Overall, the New Orleans pro bono trip was very enlightening. I feel as if I learned significantly more about both the legal profession and the New Orleans community in my short time there. I saw firsthand how Katrina's devastation still haunts the area today, and I am grateful that I was able to help some people overcome the burdens of their past in order to bring them a more promising future.

Kelsey Feeheley