Civil Legal Resource Folder Check out ATJ's Civil Legal Resource Folder! This folder offers easy, user-friendly access to civil legal resources in Louisiana. Whether you’re with the judiciary, private bar, legal aid/pro bono community, or a community partner, you’ll find tools designed to connect people to the legal help they need.
https://rb.gy/4idzay
The Trauma-Informed Approach: Best Practices for Children's Attorneys resource guide is now live.Developed by the LSBA Children's Law Committee, the guide covers:
· How trauma presents in children across age groups
· Building a trauma-informed attorney-client relationship
· Reducing the risk of retraumatizing a child during litigation
· Recognizing and addressing vicarious trauma in your own practice
It's intended for Louisiana children's attorneys practicing in child welfare, delinquency, and mental health.
Access the guide:
· Direct link:
https://www.lsba.org/documents/ChildrensLaw/2026TraumaInformedApproachBestPractices.pdf
· Or via the
Children's Law Resources page
Rise to the Challenge: Serving ALICE Through Local Pro BonoThe LSBA Access to Justice Program hosted a virtual CLE on October 2nd which focused on Louisiana's ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population and highlighted why pro bono service matters. Louisiana has the highest rate of financial hardship in the nation; 49% of households live below the ALICE Threshold and approximately 60% of the state's land mass is within a civil legal resource desert, which are areas located more than 45 minutes from in-person civil legal help. Approximately 600,000 people living within these deserts are eligible for legal aid assistance, but there is only one legal aid attorney for every 11,000+ residents.
Presenters included LSBA President Curtis R. Joseph, Sarah H. Berthelot of the Louisiana Association of United Ways, and LSBA YLD Chair Christopher J. Sellers Jr. They discussed how pro bono work helps the increase the number of people able to access affordable legal services. The program closed with four regional breakout groups where local pro bono organizations shared ways for attendees to get involved in their own communities.
LIFT Disability and Elder Law Project The LSBA’s Access to Justice Dept. administers the Legal Innovators For Tomorrow (LIFT) program which is a legal incubator designed to help new attorneys build viable, public interest–focused law practices while expanding access to justice for low- and moderate-income residents. The LIFT program has partnered with Disability Rights Louisiana (DRLA) to launch the Disability and Elder Law Project, which is focused on increasing access to affordable legal services for people with disabilities and the elderly.
There is one attorney participating in the project: Cori Phelps. She attended orientation at DRLA's office and is ready to expand her practice statewide to assist vulnerable populations access affordable legal services.
Limited Scope, Unlimited Potential: Rethinking How You Deliver Legal ServicesThe Access to Justice Commission's Modest Means Committee hosted Limited Scope, Unlimited Potential: Rethinking How You Deliver Legal Services at Southern University Law Center. The hybrid CLE provided Louisiana attorneys with practical guidance on incorporating limited scope representation (LSR) into their practices as a sustainable business model while expanding access to justice.
The program featured a variety of perspectives on implementing LSR. Professor Virginia Listach and members of the Modest Means Committee shared their experiences successfully integrating LSR services into their practices. Austin Benton demonstrated technology and practice-management tools that can help attorneys deliver LSR services more efficiently and effectively. Judge Erika Green, Judge Cynthia Clay Guillory, and Judge Patti Oppenheim offered valuable insight into how limited scope representation is viewed and implemented from the bench, while Eric Barefield discussed the ethical considerations and potential pitfalls attorneys should consider when offering LSR services.
Attorneys interested in expanding their practices by offering LSR services are encouraged to join the Modest Means Directory, which connects participating attorneys with clients seeking affordable legal services while helping expand access to justice across Louisiana. You can learn more or join the Modest Means Directory here: https://www.lsba.org/Public/FindLegalHelp/ModestMeans.aspx.
ATJ Commission Launches Legal Help Access Point in St. BernardJune 22, 2026, the Louisiana Access to Justice Commission recently launched a Legal Help Access Point at the United Way St. Bernard Prosperity Center located at 7143 St. Claude Ave., in Arabi.
The Access Points are physical computers or booths that allow users to access a spectrum of services and information to get assistance with their civil legal issues. At the Access Points, users can: get access to Self-Help resources and automated court forms; find out if you qualify for free legal aid; get customized legal help and referrals through the Civil Legal Navigator; meet virtually with an attorney in a confidential enclosed space; attend a virtual hearing with participating courts via an online court program.
4th Annual Access to Justice (ATJ) Conclave On Wednesday, April 1
st, the Louisiana ATJ Commission hosted the 4th Annual Access to Justice (ATJ) Conclave, which highlighted the vital role pro bono initiatives, statewide resources, and community partnerships play in connecting low- and moderate-income individuals with essential legal assistance. The Conclave’s theme, Justice for All (JFA) Five Years Later: Looking Back and Looking Forward with a Focus on Civil Legal Deserts, invited participants to reflect on progress made while exploring strategies to expand access to justice in underserved areas across Louisiana. LSBA Past Presidents Stephen Dwyer and Alainna R. Mire, along with current LBF President Edmund Giering, IV, and current LSBA President Edward Walters, Jr., were all on hand to welcome Conclave attendees. Further, consultant Tara Veazey facilitated the Conclave for the 4th time, helping to shape the strategies that expand access to justice for all in our state. Overall, the Conclave provided insight into established programs, facilitated opportunities for shared learning and collaboration among leaders, and identified areas for replication, growth, and improvement. By bringing together the judiciary, legal aid providers, pro bono programs, and community organizations, the Conclave strengthened coordinated efforts to ensure that Louisiana’s legal system is accessible, navigable, and responsive to the needs of all residents.
2026 Louisiana Association of Drug and Specialty Courts ConferenceOn April 22, LSBA ATJ staff presented at the 2026 Louisiana Association of Drug and Specialty Courts Conference, sharing strategies for connecting clients to civil legal resources and addressing reentry needs.
In Forma Pauperis (IFP) Bench Card and White PaperThe ATJ Committee recently released its new
In Forma Pauperis (IFP) Bench Card and White Paper, providing judges and court staff with practical guidance for handling IFP requests and improving access to the courts for individuals with limited financial resources. The materials were highlighted at the
28th Annual Meeting of the Louisiana Judicial Council of the National Bar Association in Bossier, where
ATJ Committee Chair Judge Woodruff-White, Judge Guillory of the 14th JDC, and
Greg Hopkins, Pro Bono Manager at the ALSC, shared insights on the importance of consistent IFP practices and the role of the bench and bar in expanding access to justice across Louisiana.
Monthly Law Talks Scheduled The Access to Justice Commission’s Justice For All Project presents Law Talks, a monthly educational series of virtual presentations on timely and important legal topics, led by legal aid and volunteer attorneys. These sessions are hosted via Zoom and livestreamed on the Louisiana Lawyers in Libraries Facebook page. Additionally, many local libraries host in-person watch parties; be sure to check with your library for viewing opportunities in your community. View the full Law Talks schedule here:
https://www.lsba.org/documents/News/ATJ/2027LawTalksSchedule.pdf
Welcome to Newly Admitted Attorneys!Welcome to the Louisiana legal community—and congratulations to all newly admitted attorneys! We invite you to explore meaningful ways to serve clients and communities across the state. Learn how Louisiana’s civil legal aid network, pro bono programs, and the Access to Justice Commission work together to expand access to justice for all. Discover valuable resources such as the
Find Legal Help page,
LA.FreeLegalAnswers.org, the
Online Modest Means Directory, and the
Disabilities Assistance Network (DAN), and see how the
Access to Justice Commission strengthens collaboration and promotes equal access to justice.
More...