8:00:00 AM - 8:45:00 AM  

Buffet Breakfast  

9:00:00 AM - 10:00:00 AM  

1  Credit  

Health Law Updates
(Sara V. Pic, Attorney at Law; David Williams, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services)
This session will cover topics under the Affordable Care Act including medical billing, charity care accountability and Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage), as well as Medicaid transitions to managed care programs.
 

9:00:00 AM - 10:00:00 AM  

1  Credit  

Employment Law Legislative Updates and Practice Issues
(Erika Zucker, Loyola University, Walter McClatchey, Acadiana Legal Services Corporation)
This session will provide updates on legislation and initiatives to improve access to justice for employees, as well as practice tips for advocates representing low-wage workers.
 

10:05:00 AM - 11:05:00 AM  

1  Credit  

Foreclosure Prevention and Defense
(Federal Trade Commission; Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; Lee Aronson, Legal Services of North Louisiana)
Representatives from the Federal Trade Commission and the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will discuss foreclosure prevention. Additionally, the session will cover renter’s issues as they relate to foreclosure.
 

10:05:00 AM - 11:05:00 AM  

1  Credit  

Bridging the Gap: Language Access in Louisiana
(Luz Molina, Language Access Coalition; J. Richard Williams, Louisiana Supreme Court)
This session will provide an overview of the civil and criminal law around LEP and how it is developing. Advocates will learn how to ascertain LEP issues related to their clients and gain tools to manage those issues. Ethical issues related representing LEP clients and in working with certified interpreters will also be discussed.
 

11:05:00 AM - 11:15:00 AM  

Break  

11:15:00 AM - 12:15:00 PM  

1  Credit  

National Consumer Law Partnerships
(Federal Trade Commission; Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)
This session will introduce advocates to the new federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Advocates will learn about new rules that can benefit their clients and how the CFPB and FTC can assist with enforcement actions and provide consumer education.
 

11:15:00 AM - 12:15:00 PM  

1  Credit  

Bridging the Gap: Holistic Approaches to Public Interest Practice
(Joshua Holmes, AIDS Law of Louisiana; Collette Pichon Battle, Moving Forward Gulf Coast)
Topics include Ethnic, Racial and Cultural Competency; Psychological issues for low-income clients; Representing clients with mental and physical disabilities; Representing clients with substance abuse and dependency issues.
 

12:15:00 PM - 1:00:00 PM  

Lunch  

1:00:00 PM - 2:00:00 PM  

1  Credit  

Family Law Civil Procedure
(Veronica Jones, Attorney at Law; Angela Lockett, Attorney at Law)
Family law experts will discuss best practices in civil procedure for advocates representing low-income litigants in various Louisiana judicial districts.
 

1:00:00 PM - 2:00:00 PM  

1  Credit  

Public Benefits
(Elena Perez, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services)
Advocates from all practices areas will get an overview of Social Security to help them identify and address public benefits issues. The session will cover basic differences between SSI, SSDI and Medicaid and Medicare, as well as factors for Social Security payments, issue spotting, and how certain settlements and other benefits can affect Social Security.
 

2:05:00 PM - 3:05:00 PM  

1 Ethics  Credits  

Ethics: Pressing Issues for Public Interest Attorneys
(Eric Barefield, LSBA Professional Programs Counsel)
As legal assistance programs adjust to meet economic challenges, the ethical issues confronting legal service attorneys are changing as well. This session will provide answers to some of the most pressing issues for legal service attorneys, such as funding restrictions and client needs, assisted pro se, and referrals.
 

3:05:00 PM - 3:15:00 PM  

Closing Remarks