BRBF Pro Bono Project provides several community outreach programs

In a community that exhibits a growing need for legal assistance, the Baton Rouge Bar Association seeks to fulfill that role with public outreach programs administered by the Baton Rouge Bar Foundation Pro Bono Project, which provides critical legal services to members of the community.

The Pro Bono Project offers three legal clinics: Ask-A-Lawyer, Thirst for Justice and the Self Help Resource Center.

These clinics provide assistance to the public in areas such as family law, loss of housing, bankruptcy and loss of income through disability. Caroline Cooper and Robin Kay are the Pro Bono Project coordinators.

Ask-A-Lawyer is a program that allows attorneys to volunteer their time to answer legal questions on civil matters and give advice to community residents seeking help. The program is an opportunity for individuals to meet with attorneys face-to-face. This service is available two to three times a month at various libraries and social service agencies including Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Charles R. Kelly Service Center of Baton Rouge, the East Baton Rouge Parish Libraries and surrounding areas. A complete schedule of the dates and locations can be viewed on the BRBA website at www.BRBA.org.

Thirst for Justice is a walk-in clinic that also provides legal counseling and advice to clients on matters of civil law only. The clinic operates on a first come, first-served basis. Its hours are 3 p.m. — 5 p.m. every Wednesday and Thursday at the St. Vincent de Paul Bishop Ott Shelter located at 220 St. Vincent dePaul St. in Baton Rouge.

The Self Help Resource Center is a walk-in clinic for self-represented litigants at the East Baton Rouge Parish Family Court. The self-help assistance desk is available for people seeking to resolve a limited range of family-related legal problems on their own. While the center does not provide direct legal services, it offers access to community resources, legal information and court-approved forms to file for divorce, establish or modify custody, or amend child support obligations. Volunteer law students and staff provide help with filling out these forms under the supervision of an attorney. It is a collaborative effort of the EBR Family Court, BRBF Pro Bono Panel, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, LSU Law Center, Southern University Law Center and Louis A. Martinet Legal Society. Interested litigants can visit the center 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday.

The Baton Rouge Bar Association has served the legal profession and the community for more than 87 years. With a cross-section of 2,400 member attorneys in the Greater Baton Rouge Area and surrounding parishes, the Association is dedicated to providing legal advice and services to members of its community. For more information contact BRBA Executive Director Ann K. Gregorie at 225-344-4803.