Child Law Conference

The Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic recently hosted its annual Child Law Conference in partnership with the Louisiana Bar Foundation and the Pro Bono Project. The recordings are available here.

Youth Defense Win

Jefferson Parish Public Schools has agreed to change its policy for homebound and hospitalized students after the Youth Defense 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, 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.

Spring 2025 Justice Journal

Click below to see the full Spring 2025 Justice Journal, the newsletter for the Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic. 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.

Landlord Responsibilities

Professor Davida Finger was featured in a recent WWL article about a woman whose apartment in New Orleans East is infested with rodents. Professor Finger offers insight on landlords' responsibilities for maintaining their properties.

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.