Third-year LSU Law student Peach Hadley, Professor Jack Harrison, and Director of Career Services Gwen Ferrell have been selected by the Association of American Law Schools for its 2023 Pro Bono Honor Roll.
Now in its third year, the annual honor roll “celebrates the exceptional work of individuals engaging in, expanding, and/or supporting their law school community in providing pro bono legal services.” Only about 200 law school faculty, staff, and students are included on this year’s list.
“My drive to study law has always been anchored in a commitment to wield it as a tool for realizing egalitarianism,” said Hadley, who serves as Pro Bono Chair for the LSU Law Public Interest Law Society. “To be acknowledged for my contributions to that vision is deeply humbling.”
Hadley’s past pro bono work includes spearheading the “Name Change Project” with the LSU Law OUTLaw student organization and Louisiana Trans Advocates, which offered pro bono assistance to trans and non-conforming individuals, guiding them through the legal intricacies of the name change process. She also collaborated with OUTLaw and the Real Name Campaign NOLA to rally against anti-queer-youth legislation in Louisiana.
Hadley is currently collaborating with PILS on humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza, and she’s also working alongside the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and YMCA to institute an “Expungement Day” initiative that will offer free legal advice to clients in warrant resolution. Additionally, she maintains a partnership between PILS and Innocence Project New Orleans, and just launched the “Know Your Rights!” brochure project, which involves designing and distributing easily understandable brochures elucidating key rights for the general project.
Along with her pro bono work and involvement with the OUTLaw and PILS student organizations, Hadley has been recognized for her academic achievement as a recipient of the CALI Excellence for the Future Award, and for her advocacy achievement as a nominee for the esteemed Wex Malone Inn of Court. Following graduation next spring, she plans to serve as a public defender, advocating for those who are marginalized and underserved by the legal system.
Harrison has dedicated his career to advocating for and working on behalf of juveniles in the justice system. After graduating from LSU Law in 2004, he spent 14 years as a juvenile defender for the East Baton Rouge Office of the Public Defender. Prior to being appointed a full-time faculty member at the Paul M. Hebert Law Center in the clinical legal education program in 2021, Harrison had served as an adjunct professor at LSU Law since 2009.
In January, Harrison was honored with the prestigious Lucy McGough Juvenile Justice Award from the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyer, and in August 2021 he was named the “Fearless Children’s Lawyer of the Month” by the American Bar Association.
Ferrell has been with the LSU Law Office of Career Services since 1999, was named interim director in September 2019, and has served as director since February 2021. Last year, she was elected to serve as the 2022-24 Vice President of Member Services and Education for the National Association for Law Placement (NALP).
See the full AALS 2023 Pro Bono Honor Roll.
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- Third-year LSU Law student Peach Hadley
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- LSU Law Professor Jack Harrison
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- LSU Law Director of Career Services Gwen Ferrell
