another student's experience...

Volunteering at Southern Louisiana Legal Services has introduced me to areas of law I had never thought to work in. I have learned a great deal - not only about local laws and procedure but federal practice areas as well. Sitting on client intake interviews ranging in topic from contractor fraud to bankruptcy issues has shown me the long lasting legal effects of Hurricane Katrina. Nearly half a decade after the storm passed through the city, residents are still dealing with the repercussions. Some are trying to rebuild their homes but facing difficulties with contractors who have reneged on agreements, taken resident’s money, and left homes haphazardly uncompleted. Others are trying to climb out of debt accrued during the time following the storm. Most are looking to return normalcy to their lives.

The storm is not the only source of legal troubles – as with any other region, problems arise from everyday transactions that most give little thought to. I worked on a client’s case that entered into a residential lease only to come home from work and find her bedroom window shattered and her home burglarized with over $5,000 worth of property taken. Two weeks later a stray bullet was shot into her son’s bed, but luckily no one was injured. A single mother with two young boys, she felt her family was not safe in the area, notified her landlord of her intent to move out the next month and vacated the premises. The landlord proceeded to bring an action to collect two months of rent plus late fees for the remainder of the term.

While both landlord and tenant had legitimate legal arguments that could be made in their favor, I learned that the ability of the parties to compromise can be much more beneficial than a judgment issued in court which may leave both feeling unfulfilled. However, the legal system provides a forum for parties who may not be able to amicably reach such an agreement. A problem arises when parties may not know enough legal background to effectively assert their rights in court, or seek adequate legal counsel, which is where organizations like SLLS come in.

The past week has had students interacting with clients – doing intake, interviews, and counseling, as well as researching and writing – honing other legal skills that will help students for the rest of our careers.

Mitesh