History

The Louisiana Bar Foundation, in an attempt to meet an increasing need for legal services to the poor in our community, created The Pro Bono Project in the fall of 1986. The Foundation's sponsorship of an organized pro bono program tapped a previously unused resource by utilizing the local private bar. The private bar's enthusiastic response spurred the Louisiana Bar Foundation's Pro Bono Project from a mere concept to a full service, viable working resource in the community. Presently, The Project's volunteer panel includes over 1400 attorneys representing approximately 20% of the private bar of the metropolitan area and covers the volunteer spectrum from solo practitioners to in-house corporate counsel to the largest firms. Panel attorneys are asked to volunteer 20 hours per year or to accept up to 3 cases per year in the area of civil law.

Due to assistance and funding from Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS) (formerly New Orleans Legal Assistance), the Louisiana Bar Foundation's Interest on Lawyer's Trust Account (IOLTA), Title III funds and private donations, The Project is on its way to completing its twenty-fourth year of operation. The Project was developed in 1986 with funding from the New Orleans Legal Assistance Corporation, a seed grant from the American Bar Association and in-kind services from the Foundation. Title III funds were disbursed to The Project beginning in June 1988, by the Jefferson Council on Aging and the St. Bernard Council on Aging for the delivery of legal services to their elderly clients. Presently, The Project maintains a contractual agreement with the Jefferson Council on Aging, staffing legal clinics with volunteers at targeted Senior Centers. Private donations began to supplement The Project's budget in September 1989, as a result of its first annual fundraiser, "The Justice for All Ball". This event continues to be the premiere legal fundraiser in our community.

By 1991, the Advisory Board of Directors for The Project began to feel that the organization had matured sufficiently to stand as an independent entity. On August 7th, 1991, state of Louisiana Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws were filed, as was an IRS application for tax-exempt, non-profit status. Independent status and 501(c)(3)tax status were subsequently granted. Independent status has allowed for maximum accountability to The Project's mission and goals and provided for a greater sense of ownership among our volunteer attorneys. Our strong ties with the legal community, with metropolitan social service agencies and with the bar associations of surrounding parishes permits The Project to fulfill its primary responsibility: legal access for the poor.