Adams and Reese’s “Partnering for Pro Bono” project, designed to fill a void in legal services for low-income and hurricane-distressed families in Louisiana, got a priority nod from the Your Honor judges who ranked the program first of all submissions in the Community Relations category.

To maximize its impact on the inhabitants of the area, the law firm partnered with client ConocoPhillips and National Appleseed, hub of the 18 non-partisan and non-profit public interest law centers offering pro-bono work. Adams and Reese partner Christy Kane took on the full-time assignment of executive director of Louisiana Appleseed, a local branch of the national organization. For her efforts, Ms. Kane was named one of the 2007 Women of the Year by New Orleans City Business.

A major communications campaign spelled out the work being undertaken by some three dozen volunteer attorneys: Access to Financial Services, Teacher Recruitment and Retention, Mental Health Handbooks, Access to Community Colleges, Title-clearing, ‘Road Home’ Project, Heir Property Project. The impact rippled through the state with the help of broad media coverage, and the program laid the foundation for long-term outreach to solve continuing legal problems, provide services and address key issues going forward. Further, three other law firms in the area followed Adams and Reese’s lead of requiring each attorney to give 10 hours or more of pro bono work in 2007. Adam and Reese has increased the requirement to 20 hours in 2008.

Beyond the impressive results directly affecting the people of New Orleans, the firm has received $500,000+ in media coverage to date, much of it TV footage. Commented the judges, “‘Partnering for Pro Bono’ received publicity and thereby was able to show results. It’s important to attract press attention so that other firms will be active in community relations.”