Legal Services

The Center in partnership with the Northwest Louisiana Pro Bono Project is able to provide legal services for those Deaf or hard of hearing who have been served to appear in Caddo (1st District Court) or Bossier (26th District Court). For the appointment with a lawyer an initial interview form must be completed. If there is a need a referral for representation a NW LA Pro Bono Project application form  (3 pages) will need to be completed.  The Project handles civil legal issues only  (no criminal) and also no fee generating cases (suing for damages).  However, if a person wants to know "can I sue so-and-so for damages in this situation?" then they can come for an interview to find out and get advice.  After that they would have to find their own lawyer to do the work.

The person will let you all know at DAC what they need (case type, basic information on what, if anything, they have done so far to resolve it) and you ask them to fill out the preliminary intake form, then you fax the form to us.  Let us know if there are dates/times the client or the interpreter cannot meet at DAC.  We will try to schedule an appropriate attorney for the client to meet with and will fax the sheet back with an appointment time & date.  Please let the client know that if they cannot make the appointment to let you or us know ASAP.  We want to avoid scheduling an attorney for a "no show" client.   At least until this method gets going smoothly, either Nellie Walton or I will come to the DAC at the appointment times.  If it seems to work smoothly and if we can see that at least several attorneys are comfortable with DAC appointments then we can schedule and only the attorney needs to come.  He or she can fax the intake sheet & notes to us if there is further legal work to be done. If nothing further needs to be done you can fax the intake sheet to us from the DAC.

For more information contact DAC.