The Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) held its 39th annual Pro Bono Publico & Children’s Law Awards Ceremony was held on May 20, 2025, at the Louisiana Supreme Court in New Orleans. Louisiana’s seven Supreme Court Justices presided over the ceremony in an official court session to demonstrate their fervent support for pro bono and the efforts of the volunteers being honored.

Welcoming remarks were offered by LSBA President Elect Edward J. Walters, Jr., Louisiana Bar Foundation Vice President Michael J. Mestayer, and Chief Justice John L. Weimer who commended the award recipients for going above and beyond their professional duties to ensure access to legal services for low-income Louisianans, calling them “shining starts in the galaxy of the legal profession.”

Pro bono service is essential to ensuring that all people can access justice in Louisiana, where the number of people eligible for free legal services outnumbers legal aid attorneys by an enormous 11,250 to one. This means that while legal aid providers serve thousands of people each year, they cannot serve everyone who cannot afford an attorney. These awards recognize members of the legal profession who are leading the charge in closing the gap between needed legal services and available legal help through their pro bono service.

The LSBA is pleased to honor the following individuals and organization with the listed awards:

Children’s Law Awards
Pelican Center for Children & Families – Zachary
Hon. Jennifer Guillot Womble – Harvey

Law Student Award
Laura A. Derbonne – Tulane University Law School
Marcus C. Moses – Loyola University College of Law
Raegan Nguyen – LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center
Destiny Singleton – Southern University Law Center

Friend of Pro Bono
Ascension Parish Assessor’s Office – Donaldsonville
Chris Ortte – Lafayette
Wendy M. Riley – New Orleans

Pro Bono Publico
Regina Bartholomew-Woods – New Orleans
Butler Snow LLP – Baton Rouge
Steven J. Farber – New Orleans
Leonid Grinberg – Baton Rouge
Jessica L. Karr – Covington
Heidi Kemple Martin – Shreveport
Taneisha Wylette Riggs – Lafayette
Randal J. Robert – Baton Rouge
LaKendra D. Sampson – Prairieville
Amber Sheppard – Slidell
Rebecca L. Vishnefski – Shreveport

LA.FreeLegalAnswers Award
Daniel Wayne Nodurft – Chalmette

Lawyers in Libraries Award
Gregory L. Landry – Lafayette

Career Public Interest Award
Talya Bergeron – Baton Rouge

David A. Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award
Justice John Michael Guidry – New Orleans

Photos of the ceremony are available here.

Pro Bono Downloads

• COVID-19 Housing Law Training Manual for Volunteer Attorneys
• Louisiana Pro Bono Toolkit

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I want to help! Where can I find pro bono volunteer opportunities?
Pro Bono volunteers are an essential element to providing the poor with a full range of quality legal services. In the current economic climate, legal aid organizations are facing increasing demands for their services and pro bono attorneys are an important supplement to these efforts. Probono.net/la provides more information about how to get involved and a list of pro bono and legal service organizations searchable by parish. For COVID-19 related volunteer opportunities go here. 

You can also find organizations looking for volunteers at www.probono.net/la. 

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I need help. How do I find Pro Bono Legal Services? 
If you are looking for pro bono legal advice or guidance, you can find information regarding the programs in your parish through the LSBA's Find Legal Help webpage.

You can also find a list of a list of legal services offices in your parish on the Find Legal Help webpage.