Rural Justice Legal Incubator Project

The purpose of the Project is to help solo practitioners build public interest-focused practices, while bringing much-needed legal services to low- and moderate-income Louisianans living in underserved, rural communities. Participating attorneys will work with experienced Acadiana Legal Service Corporation (ALSC) lawyers to provide services in some of the following parishes: Avoyelles, Cameron, Catahoula, Claiborne, Concordia, De Soto, East and West Carroll, Franklin, Grant, LaSalle, Madison, Richland, Sabine, Tensas, Union, and Vernon. The types of cases may include successions, family law, expungements, advanced directives, bankruptcy, social security/disability, Child in Need of Care (CINC), and housing and consumer issues. Click here to view the flyer.

An informational webinar about the 2025 LIFT Rural Justice Incubator Project was held at ALSC's Alexandria office. Click here to watch a highlight from the webinar from Ashley Johnson-Alford, a 2025 LIFT graduate. Click here to watch the full webinar.

To learn more about the 2022 Rural Justice Project, you can also watch this short video here.

Questions about the program can be directed to ATJ Projects Counsel Emily Belanger at emily.belanger@lsba.org.

Meet the 2026 Class of LIFT Fellows in the Rural Justice Legal Incubator Project!

Desiree Cotton-Turner, DC Strategic Consulting, LLC
Desiree Cotton-Turner is the founder of DC Strategic Consulting, LLC. She is a graduate of Southern University Law Center and has been working as a Public Defender in Baton Rouge. Desiree established her law firm to offer affordable legal services across Louisiana in the areas of family law, expungements, and estate planning.

Miguel Robles-Coles, Robles Legal Services
Miguel Robles-Coles is the founder of Robles Legal Services, a solo practice in New Iberia. He is a graduate of LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center and has been working as an immigration attorney, specializing in detained and non-detained removal work. Miguel’s firm will offer low-cost legal services across rural Louisiana in the areas of immigration, family law, expungements, and estate planning.

Sharita Spears, The Law Office of Sharita L. Spears, LLC
Sharita Spears is the owner of The Law Office of Sharita L. Spears, LLC. She is a graduate of Southern University Law Center and has been working with the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act within Louisiana’s prison system. Sharita established her solo practice in 2021 and is hoping to expand her work across Louisiana’s northern parishes, offering affordable services in the areas of family law, successions, personal injury, and expungements.

Alexis Tukes-Jones, The Law Office of Alexis Tukes-Jones, LLC