The Louisiana State Bar Association presented six LSU Law alumni and one student with 2022 Pro Bono Publico & Children’s Law Awards on May 26 in recognition of their outstanding commitments to providing the community with pro bono legal services.
The honorees were presented with their awards at the 37th annual Pro Bono Publico & Children’s Law Awards Ceremony, which was held at the Louisiana Supreme Court in New Orleans. It was the first time in three years that the ceremony was held in person, and the first time in history that all seven of the Louisiana Supreme Court justices were able to preside over the ceremony from the bench in an official court session to demonstrate their fervent support for pro bono.
The LSU Law graduates and student who were honored with awards are:
- Lauren M. Barletta (’14) — Pro Bono Publico Award
- George D. Ernest III (’85) — Friend of Pro Bono Award
- William J. Faustermann, Jr. (’79) — Pro Bono Publico Award
- Scott P. Gaspard (’92) — Pro Bono Publico Award
- Adreaynne N. Hutchison — Law Student Pro Bono Award
- Paulette Porter LaBostrie (’92) — Pro Bono Publico Award
- Gregory J. Reda (’16) — Century Club Award
Pro bono service is essential to ensuring that all people can access justice in Louisiana, where the number of people eligible for free legal services outnumbers legal aid attorneys by a whopping 11,250 to one. This means that while legal aid providers serve thousands of people each year, they cannot serve everyone who cannot afford an attorney. The LSBA Pro Bono Publico & Children’s Law Awards recognize members of the legal profession who are leading the charge in closing the gap between needed legal services and available legal help through their pro bono service.
Current LSBA President H. Minor Pipes III (’96) and Louisiana Bar Foundation President Alan G. Brackett opened the May 26 ceremony with welcoming remarks, and Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer (’80) recognized recipients’ for going above and beyond their professional duties, calling them “shining stars in the galaxy of the legal profession.”
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- Friend of Pro Bono Award recipient George “Dave” D. Ernest, III (Lafayette) poses with Justice James T. Genovese and LSBA President H. Minor Pipes III.
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- Pro Bono Publico Award recipient Paulette Porter LaBostrie (Baton Rouge) poses with LSBA President H. Minor Pipes III and Justice Jefferson D. Hughes III.
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- Pro Bono Publico Award recipient Scott P. Gaspard (Baton Rouge) poses with LSBA President H. Minor Pipes III and Justice Jefferson D. Hughes III.
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- Law Student Pro Bono Award recipient Adreaynne N. Hutchison (Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center) poses with LSBA President H. Minor Pipes III and Justice Jay B. McCallum.
