The Equal Justice Works Katrina Initiative has been established to address the many legal needs in areas hardest hit by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This program is placing lawyers and law students at nonprofit organizations located in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Alabama in order to help the hundreds of thousands of people left without homes, jobs, access to health care and social services due to the damage from the hurricanes.

Equal Justice Works has obtained a $1 million matching grant from the JEHT Foundation to sponsor public interest attorneys to work in the Gulf Coast region for up to two years, providing direct legal services to Gulf Coast residents in need and generating pro bono opportunities for lawyers and law students.

Since our last progress report on February 27, Equal Justice Works has successfully recruited six Katrina Legal Fellows and three AmeriCorps Attorneys.

Katrina Legal Fellows

Megan Kraatz began her fellowship with Texas Appleseed in Austin, Texas, on April 3. Ms. Kraatz is working with governmental entities to help hurricane survivors who face foreclosure, eviction, labor abuses, insurance disputes, inadequate access to health care and disruption of public benefits. To help hurricane survivors address legal conflicts, she will initiate or participate in litigation against lenders, government agencies and landlords. She will also create a mediation program to help hurricane survivors address conflicts without litigation. Previously, Ms. Kraatz served as an associate attorney for Andrews Kurth LLP in Austin, Texas. She served as a judicial clerk for Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson of the Supreme Court of Texas as well. Ms. Kraatz earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri - Columbia and a law degree from Northwestern University School of Law.

Jessica Lawson began her fellowship with Mississippi Center for Legal Services Corporation in its Gulfport and Pascagoula, Mississippi offices on March 27. Ms. Lawson is advocating for Mississippi hurricane survivors who face foreclosure and eviction and is developing a comprehensive strategic plan to improve regional housing codes. She is also promoting public awareness of housing rights and developing a coordinated disaster response system with community leaders. Ms. Lawson previously served as an associate attorney for Forman Perry Watkins Krutz & Tardy LLP in Jackson, Mississippi. Ms. Lawson served as a judicial clerk for Chief Judge Roger H. McMillin of the Mississippi Court of Appeals as well. She earned bachelor's and law degrees from Mississippi College.

Maria Luisa Mercado will begin working at Lone Star Legal Aid in its Beaumont, Texas, office on May 1. She will give legal advice and brief service to the large number of clients affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and will represent individuals and families on cases that require extended service, particularly in the areas of housing, consumer rights and income maintenance. She authored a chapter in A Voice of Our Own, a book by the League of Women Voters with distinguished contributors including Rosalynn Carter, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Betty Ford and Condoleeza Rice. In addition, Ms. Mercado has served on the Boards of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation and Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and on the Texas Advisory Board of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. She earned a bachelor's degree from West Texas State University and a law degree from Antioch School of Law.

Reilly Morse began his fellowship with Mississippi Center for Justice in Biloxi, Mississippi on March 1. He is providing legal support, training and pro bono representation for individual low-income homeowners to help them keep their homes and make necessary repairs. Mr. Morse is also advocating for affordable housing before local planning and regulatory authorities. He is a third-generation Gulf Coast lawyer with more than 20 years of experience in civil, criminal and public interest law. Previously, Mr. Morse spent six years working for the City of Gulfport, Mississippi, as an Assistant Municipal Judge and Assistant Municipal Prosecutor. He earned a bachelor's degree from Millsaps College and a law degree from The University of Mississippi School of Law.

Candice Sirmon will begin her fellowship with the Advocacy Center in New Orleans, Louisiana on May 11. She will work across the State of Louisiana to ensure that displaced individuals with disabilities are resettled in appropriate housing that supports their right to live independently. Ms. Sirmon will establish trusts for those with special needs to help them qualify for Medicaid benefits as well as handle Medicaid appeals and guardianships. Previously, Ms. Sirmon served as legal advisor to the International Rescue Committee's Anti-Human Trafficking Initiative in New York City. She earned bachelor's and master's degrees in Criminal Justice Administration from Troy University and a law degree from Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans.

Ranie Thompson will begin her fellowship with Southeast Louisiana Legal Services in New Orleans, Louisiana, on April 10. She will address the legal needs of hurricane survivors by obtaining FEMA and other public benefits, helping ensure access to health care and working with advocacy groups to develop a community response to the loss of government-provided health care in the disaster area. Previously, Ms. Thompson was a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi in Jackson and managing attorney at Acadiana Legal Service Corporation in Lake Charles, Louisiana. She earned a bachelor's degree from Jackson State University and a law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law.

Katrina Pro Bono Legal Corps

Stephanie Blackburn began serving as an AmeriCorps Attorney with Legal Services Alabama in its Tuscaloosa office on April 3. She will design pro bono opportunities for law students and lawyers to provide disaster-related legal services to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Specifically, Ms. Blackburn will help evacuees in temporary housing overcome legal barriers to secure permanent housing. Previously, she served as an extern for the Tuscaloosa County Public Defender's Office and for The Honorable Karon O. Bowdre of the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama. Ms. Blackburn earned bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Alabama.

Almon Ellis began serving as an AmeriCorps Attorney with North Mississippi Rural Legal Services in its Oxford office on April 3. He will coordinate pro bono efforts for law students and lawyers across the state to provide disaster-related legal services to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Previously, Mr. Ellis interned at Upshaw, Williams, Biggers, Beckham & Riddick, LLP in Greenwood, Mississippi and at Meador & Crump in Cleveland, Mississippi. He earned a bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University and a law degree from The University of Mississippi School of Law.

Hilary Funk began serving as an AmeriCorps Attorney with Legal Services Alabama in its Montgomery office on April 3. She will design pro bono opportunities for law students and lawyers to provide disaster-related legal services to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Specifically, she will direct statewide disaster hotline initiatives and provide community outreach and educational programs. Previously, Ms. Funk served as a judicial clerk for The Honorable Truman McGill Hobbs, Jr. of Alabama's 15th Judicial Circuit Court. She earned bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Alabama.

To date, Equal Justice Works has raised more than $900,000, which will be matched dollar for dollar by the JEHT Foundation. Equal Justice Works thanks the following donors for their contributions to fund the Equal Justice Works Katrina Initiative:

• Association of Corporate Counsel
  
• Corporation for National and Community Service
  
• Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
  
• Greenberg Traurig, LLP
  
• Latham & Watkins LLP
  
• Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo P.C.
  
• Nixon Peabody LLP
  
• Pfizer Inc
  
• Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
  

Thanks to the generosity of ALM, public service advertisements recognizing the contributions from law firms and corporations have appeared in various ALM publications over the past several weeks. These public service advertisements will continue during the next several months.