Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (formerly NOLAC)
New Orleans Legal Assistance (NOLAC) is a non-profit free legal aid program for low-income people. NOLAC has served the Greater New Orleans community for 40 years.
NOLAC can use volunteers in several ways, including:
- Security Deposit Workshops: NOLAC receives approximately 30 calls a week from tenants who are having trouble getting their security deposits returned by landlords. We hold a 3-part workshop which helps tenants defend their rights in this area. Each part of the workshop lasts 2-3 hours, and they are typically held on consecutive Fridays or Saturdays. Volunteers can help tenants draft demand letters to landlords (a requirement for successful small claims suits), review supporting documents, and practice courtroom ettiquette.
- Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP): NOLAC operates a free legal clinic on the West Bank on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 am - 12 pm to help local residents who have legal issues related to FEMA and HUD. Volunteers can help with the intake process, which typically involves learning the details of the client's story and recording the details of the case.
- Client Outreach: NOLAC advocates for residents in several public housing developments, particularly Christopher Park Homes. Frequently, NOLAC's clients need to be called and updated on the status of their cases. Volunteers can help by speaking directly to clients about new developments in cases.
- Road Home Assistance: NOLAC advocates for many clients who are having trouble resolving their Road Home claims (federal money provided for post-Katrina home repair). Volunteers can help with the intake process, which typically involves learning the details of the client's story and recording the details of the case.
- Medical Legal Partnership (MLP): The MLP, a new initiative at NOLAC, helps our clients see connection between their legal issues and their health status, and it teaches doctors to screen patients for legal issues. Undergraduate volunteers would aid in designing training materials or presentations for medical staff and professionals, brochures, forms, posters, etc. They could also interact with clients by doing intakes at MLP sites.
Location: 1010 Common Street, Annex Building, Suite 1400A (14th floor)
Transportation: Provide your own, rideshare, bikeable, or take the St. Charles Streetcar to Common St, then walk 3 blocks
Days and Times: Varies
Contact: Amanda Golob, agolob@slls.org, 504-529-1000 x260 or Amanda Furst, afurst@slls.org, 504-529-1000 x240