Loyola Law’s incubator program serves the poor

A new cohort of attorneys have begun a two-year, incubator program through the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law that will help provide legal services to the underserved.

The program is an intensive mentorship and skills program for recent College of Law graduates who are engaged in solo law practice. The program provides free office space to program at- torneys in the Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic and Center for Social Justice at the College of Law, along with free skills and continuing legal education courses, including training on law practice management.

Program attorneys also receive access to mentorship, peer feedback, and case referrals.

A recent major gift from the Womac law firm expanded the pilot program and supported the hiring of four new program attorneys. Joining
the two-year program, which began this month, are Loyola law alumni Angela Davis ’13, Nicole Oddo ’15, Emily Posner ’13 and Rachel Silvers ’13.

Three returning program attorneys, Jonah A. Freedman ’13, Nadia G. Madary ’13, and Lori Noto Alphonso ’12 already have completed a year in the program.

‘Pro bono’ agreement
The incubator program includes a pro bono requirement where program attorneys spend a quarter of their time on pro bono legal services to help low- and moderate-income residents of the metropolitan area access legal services. That pro bono requirement has helped provide critical legal services to those who cannot otherwise afford attorneys.

“One year in, the incubator program has already had a significant impact in the New Orleans community, expanding access to legal services and helping young Loyola law alumni to launch solo practice careers in social justice,” said Davida Finger, incubator program director and clinic professor at the College of Law. “Program attorneys are able to address the ‘justice gap,’ by helping those who are at or below two hundred percent of the poverty line.”

The Pro Bono Project recently awarded Jonah Freedman the Distinguished Service award and honored Nadia Madary with a certificate of service. Freedman completed more than 550 hours of pro bono service to the community in 2015.

For more information about the Loyola Incubator Program including bios of all program attorneys,visit www.loyno.edu/lawclinic/incubator-program.