Baton Rouge Bar Foundation Pro Bono Project

The Baton Rouge Bar Foundation Pro Bono Project is dedicated to improving equal access to justice for all and has been making a meaningful change in people’s lives since 1986.

Pro Bono Project volunteers:

• Have an opportunity to give back to the community in a concrete and impactful way
• Develop critical lawyering skills and gain experience
• Obtain support through our training seminars and volunteer mentors
• Gain exposure and develop communication skills in various legal settings
• Receive recognition for their work through our Century Club

In 2010 our volunteers assisted 1185 clients with legal consultation and representation in many areas of civil law. 

Law students and paralegals can also volunteer to perform client intake at Thirst for Justice, or serve as interns at the Baton Rouge Bar office. The Pro Bono Project is an approved  internship site for the LSU Paralegal Program. In addition, the Pro Bono Project is an approved site for fellows participating in the Southern University Law Center Chancellor’s Public Service Initiative Stipend program. Contact Robin Kay to find out how  you can  help.

The Pro Bono Project is funded by grants from the Louisiana Bar Foundation Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, Family, District and City Court Filing Fees and the Baton Rouge Bar Foundation.

Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Corporation refers cases to the Pro Bono Project for placement with volunteer attorneys.  Our volunteers provide legal assistance to low income clients and agree to accept a minimum of two cases per year.  Cases are available in the areas of consumer finance, bankruptcy, education, employment, family law, health, housing, juvenile, SSI, immigration, wills and small successions.  Volunteers may also serve on our pro bono volunteer panel exclusively as conflicts attorneys for clients accepted directly through the Baton Rouge Bar Foundation when an adverse party is represented by Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Corporation.

Accepting pro bono cases also provides opportunities for reduced fee Continuing Legal Education.  Mentors are available to assist you and malpractice insurance is provided by the Pro Bono Project.

If you would like to volunteer for the Pro Bono Project, click here.

The Pro Bono Project provides a walk-in legal clinic every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon from 3 to 5 p.m. at the St. Vincent de Paul Bishop Ott Shelter located at 220 St. Vincent de Paul St. in Baton Rouge. Volunteers provide legal counseling and advice to low income clients on matters of civil law only. 

If you would like to volunteer for Thirst for Justice, click here or contact Emily Chambers for available dates.

The Pro Bono Project provides walk-in legal clinic two to three times a month at several locations throughout the greater Baton Rouge area.  Volunteers provide legal advice to clients of various social service agencies including Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Delmont Services Center of Baton Rouge, and the East Baton Rouge Parish Branch Libraries.  Clinics are held weekdays from 9 to 11:45 a.m. and Saturdays from 9:30 to 11:45 a.m.  The Pro Bono Project also partners with the Southern University Law Center Clinical Education Program to present an evening clinic each semester.

To volunteer for Ask-A-Lawyer, click here or contact Emily Chambers. For a calendar of upcoming clinics, click here.

The Young Lawyers Section of the Louisiana State Bar Association, in cooperation with the Baton Rouge Bar Foundation Pro Bono Project, sponsors the Wills for Heroes Program in Baton Rouge.  Wills for Heroes is a national initiative provides wills at no cost to first responders (law enforcement officers, fire fighters and EMS).  Volunteer attorneys prepare notarial wills, powers of attorney and living wills at each event.  Wills for Heroes events are held twice a year in Baton Rouge.

If you would like to volunteer, contact Robin Kay for more information.

Are you a client needing legal help?

Civil (no criminal) cases are referred by Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Corporation (SLLS) to the Pro Bono Project for placement with volunteer attorneys.

To qualify for free legal services, you must contact Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Corporation (855) 512-3980 or (225) 448-0331  or complete a web application at www.slls.org . Eligibility for service is based on gross income and in relation to family size. An applicant's assets are also considered.  If SLLS accepts your case, it may be referred to the Pro Bono Project for placement with a volunteer attorney. 

If you do not qualify for free legal services, you may contact the Lawyer Referral and Information Service of the Baton Rouge Bar Association at 225-344-9926 for a referral to an attorney.  The LRIS is a fee based service.

The Pro Bono Project provides a walk-in legal clinic every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon from 3 to 5 p.m. at the St. Vincent de Paul Bishop Ott Shelter located at 220 St. Vincent DePaul St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802. (click here for a map)

Volunteers provide legal counseling and advice to low income clients on matters of civil law only.

The Pro Bono Project provides walk-in legal clinic two to three times a month at several locations throughout the greater Baton Rouge area.

Volunteers provide legal advice to clients of various social service agencies including Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Delmont Services Center of Baton Rouge, and the East Baton Rouge Parish Branch Libraries.  Clinics are held weekdays from 9 to 11:45 a.m. and Saturdays from 9:30 to 11:45 a.m.

For a schedule of upcoming Ask A Lawyer Clinics, click here.