Youth Justice Win

Jefferson Parish Public Schools has agreed to change its policy for homebound and hospitalized students after the Youth Justice Clinic filed a complaint that alleged the district violated special education laws. Homebound programs aim to help students who have to miss school for an extended period of time to return without falling too far behind. Typically the students have a medical or psychiatric condition such as cancer, an immune disorder or a debilitating injury or condition that confines them to the home or hospital. Read more here.

Clinic Director's Successes

The U.S. State Department named Professor Davida Finger a Fulbright Specialist for the next 3 years. The Fulbright Specialist program matches U.S. academics and professionals with significant expertise with the opportunity to complete short term project-based exchanges designed by institutions around the world. Professor Finger's focus is on collaboration with experiential curricula and law clinic programs.

Additionally, research by Professor Finger is cited in the Times-Picayune, ProPublica, Salon, MSNBC and news outlets nationwide as new data shows that the federally operated Road Home program implemented after Hurricane Katrina favored the wealthy and “shortchanged the poor.” She did an interview with Spike Lee for the upcoming Netflix documentary series, KATRINA - 20 YEARS LATER.

Fall 2023 Justice Journal

Click below to see the full Fall 2023 Justice Journal, the newsletter for the Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic and Center for Social Justice. The Justice Journal newsletter contains updates, new projects, and highlights of section successes in the Law Clinic. Look out for the next newsletter to stay updated on the latest clinic news. Read past newsletters here.

Fall 2023 newsletter

Clinic Receives Grant Support

The Loyola Law Clinic recently received grant funding from the Louisiana Bar Foundation, which will allow the clinic to provide civil legal services to families involved in the child welfare system or at risk of entering foster care. Emily Aucoin, J.D. ’20, joins the Law Clinic as a staff attorney under a My Community Cares grant.

Renter's Rights

The Maroon published a piece on renter's rights by clinic director, Davida Finger. Professor Finger works on housing justice and is an evictions expert. In the piece, she shares helpful tips for renters in New Orleans.

Read the piece here.

Honored by the AALS

Professor Judson Mitchell was named to the 2023 Pro Bono Honor Roll by the Association of American Law Schools in recognition of his exceptional work providing pro bono legal services.

Workplace Justice Project

The Workplace Justice Project, supervised by Professor Luz M. Molina, continues to advocate for low-wage workers. Since 2013, the WJP has provided direct legal services (intakes, consults, limited legal representation, litigation etc.) to approximately 1,600 people and recovered approximately $626,500.