The law firm of Adams and Reese recently hosted a reception for 55 law students from Howard University School of Law as they were visiting New Orleans for their annual "Alternative Spring Break" trip in which the students assist on a variety of legal cases and causes to further assist in the rebuilding of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. The reception was held March 16th at the law firm's One Shell Square office in New Orleans as Adams and Reese attorneys greeted the law students who are helping to make a difference in the city.
"We held this reception to show our firm's gratitude for the students' continued willingness to come to New Orleans during their spring break to help rebuild our city and to unselfishly donate their time to people in legal need," said Debbie Rouen, Chair of the Adams and Reese Diversity Committee and a Partner in the firm's New Orleans office.
This year, the law students worked in a variety of legal venues, including the Orleans Parish Public Defenders Office, RocNola, The Innocence Project, and the Juvenile Justice Center, and on a variety of legal cases and causes including housing successions, criminal justice, environmental justice, immigrants’ employment needs and voting rights. In previous years, law students had worked with the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, Louisiana Justice Institute, New Orleans Redevelopment Authority, Juvenile Justice Project, Loyola Clinic and Safestreets.
The Adams and Reese reception for Howard University School of Law was planned by Adams and Reese Partner Michelle Craig, who attended last year’s reception held by the Urban League of Greater New Orleans for Howard University. Craig wanted the firm to host the New Orleans reception this year during the law students' stay in the city and worked with Jo Ann Fax, Assistant Dean for Administration and Operations at Howard University School of Law, to make the reception happen.
"At Adams and Reese, our attorneys are not only encouraged but also required through the firm’s mandatory pro bono program to give back to their communities. That these young law students have already begun to live this message is a tremendous credit to the ‘Alternative Spring Break’ program they have created at Howard University," Craig said.
The students were also greeted by Adams and Reese Managing Partner Chuck Adams, Adams and Reese Executive Committee Chairman Gee Ogletree, Executive Committee Member Craig Townsend, New Orleans Partner-in-Charge Paige Sensenbrenner and Recruiting Committee Chairman Johnny Domiano as well as numerous other attorneys from the firm’s offices.
Every year, Howard University law students tour various cities to aid in rebuilding efforts, including New Orleans, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, Washington, DC, and this year, Howard also sent a group of students to Haiti, which is still reeling from the January 2010 earthquake that left widespread devastation.
