State Bar of Wisconsin

Help for lawyers displaced by Katrina

• Statement from State Bar President
• Resources for lawyers providing legal services to evacuees
• How Wisconsin lawyers can help

Many law offices and records have been damaged or destroyed by the wind damage and flooding associated with Hurricane Katrina. Displaced lawyers from the affected areas need not only temporary office space but even living accommodations to be able to assist others in the recovery efforts. Wisconsin lawyers can assist their colleagues in the following ways:

• American Bar Association. Visit the ABA Hurricane Katrina Web site for comprehensive information on volunteering your professional services to the victims of hurricane Katrina.
  
  
• Louisiana State Bar Association. The Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) has established the Hurricane Katrina Legal Community Relief Fund to help assist lawyers who lost their homes and offices in the storm.
  
  "The Red Cross and FEMA are poised to help citizens cope with their personal losses but I am confident members of the legal community will come together to help their colleagues whose law practices and families have been displaced by this unprecedented disaster," LSBA President Frank X. Neuner Jr. of Lafayette said of the fund. "Lawyers from across the state and country have contacted me in the past few days to determine what they can do to assist other members of the profession," Neuner added. "We created the fund to provide a mechanism for these caring members of the legal community to assist their colleagues in this time of need." The Relief Fund is being administered by the Baton Rouge Bar Foundation. Donations should be sent to: Hurricane Katrina Legal Community Relief Fund, c/o Baton Rouge Bar Foundation, 544 Main Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802. Questions should be directed to Baton Rouge Bar Association Executive Director Ann G. Scarle at (225) 344-4803.
  
  
• Mississippi Bar and Bar Foundation Relief Fund. The Mississippi Bar and Mississippi Bar Foundation have established the Hurricane Katrina Lawyer Relief Fund to assist lawyers who have lost their offices in the storm. Funds collected will be used to assist lawyers with re-establishing their law offices. Donations should be made payable to Mississippi Bar Foundation and mailed to Hurricane Katrina Lawyer Relief Fund, c/o Mississippi Bar Foundation, P O Box 2168, Jackson, MS 39225-2168.
  
  While relief agencies and FEMA are currently addressing the basic needs of the victims of Hurricane Katrina, the Bar is looking down the road to help lawyers re-open, re-establish their law offices on the coast. Many law offices have been completely destroyed. Others have suffered severe damage. All will need help becoming operational again. The Bar is establishing a "Law Office Resource Clearinghouse" to assist lawyers on the coast. Offers of assistance have poured in from bar associations, law firms, and lawyers across the nation. While the list of resources needed is open-ended at this time, specific needs include temporary office space, used office equipment, used office furniture, etc. Needs may change in the future as communication with lawyers on the Coast becomes available. However, at this time the Bar is soliciting any resources that will assist lawyers in re-opening and operating their law offices. Those who would like to help should contact Larry Houchins. Please include contact information and what resources you have available and are willing to donate.
  
  
• Technology and practice restoration assistance. Wisconsin attorney Ross Kodner has established helpkatrinalawyers.org to provide practice restoration, recovery, and reconstruction services to Katrina-affected lawyers and legal professionals. Kodner, president and founder of the Milwaukee-based MicroLaw, says volunteer technology experts stand ready to assist Katrina-affected lawyers so they can provide the public with access to legal services as soon as possible.