New Orleans, New Law:
Community Revival with Technology
 

Why are we doing this? Because it is time to "..give back some of the love and human beauty that New Orleans has given to the world for so long."

"Why New Orleans Matters", Tom Piazza, (Regan Books 2005)

The current situation in New Orleans for all residents is dire. 75% of the city is still uninhabitable due to flooding, pollution or both as only a third of the population of a half a million before Hurricane Katrina have returned. (Less than 100,000 in the city proper and roughly an equal amount in suburbs). No schools or hospitals are open in the city and more than half of all businesses remain closed.

The situation for professionals is similar. Only 1 out of 4 doctors have returned to the city. Of the roughly 17,000 attorneys in Louisiana, half lived in suburban New Orleans and were displaced. Of those, less than half have registered a new address with the Louisiana Bar Assoc.

Just last month, NBC news anchor Brian Williams said “Tonight, one of the great American cities is partially in ruins, and many of our fellow citizens are hurting and have nothing left. In some places, nothing’s been done yet.” Even Aaron Neville, usually a very optimistic spokesman for the city, just before his Super Bowl appearance, said of the city's rebuilding process "It's not happening. They're still sitting there waiting for something to happen."

I just got back to Seattle from a week long visit to the city. While there, I took the time to drive into the devastated areas and could not believe my eyes. In my worst nightmare, I could not have possibly imagined what I saw. Community after community, neighborhood after neighborhood, mile after mile of complete and utter destruction. Words alone cannot express the sadness. Keep in mind that the pictures on this page represent what it is like now, 6 months after Katrina. Imagine if one of these houses was yours.

Given this situation, what can we do? During my week in New Orleans, I met with members of the La Bar Technology Committee as well as local attorneys and business owners and they all reiterated the need for an ongoing presence to assist in technology usage.

Ernie Svenson, Chair of the Tech Committee, suggested a two fold approach: a technology training event for immediate advice followed by the establishment of a centrally based technology center which will provide ongoing advice and support. Ernie said that the biggest need is to “show people technology”. He stated that most small firms and solos are rebuilding their practice and need information on what technology to purchase and implement.

LPM stalwart Jim Calloway, who along with JR Phelps of the Florida Bar, made a joint presentation to both the Miss and La bar in October of 2005, made the same point. “We need to show people technology not just talk about it” said Jim. “ Be sure to get vendors down there showing how to actually use their programs.”

To that end, we have begun planning a 2 day technology “super session” to be held the May 22nd and 23rd in New Orleans. This event, which will have both seminars on technology implementation and hands on sessions with software providers, will be supported by vendor donations and will be free to all members of the Louisiana Bar.

The first day will have sessions on purchasing hardware and software and a panel by local members of large firms about their activities. The second day will feature sessions on mobile technology such as wifi and PDA usage which proved essential to those attorneys who survived Katrina as well as a session on using Web based technology to revive and maintain your practice. They will be followed by a panel of local judges speaking on the state of the courts.

Simultaneously on both days we will have participating vendors set up at tables in order to answer questions and load software. It is our hope that vendors will either give away their software or provide a deep discount for all attendees. To that end, I have already spoken with several vendors who have pledged their support and we expect to arrange similar endorsements with a number of key vendors in the next several weeks.

This vendor area will also provide the basis for the establishment of a technology resource center for Louisiana attorneys, an idea I have previously discussed with Carl Roberts. The La Bar Tech Committee envisions a location central to the courts in downtown New Orleans (both the local and federal courts are in the same general area) which would provide high speed printers, scanners, internet access and most important meeting rooms where attorneys who are currently working out of their homes can have access to these all important resources. Once again we expect vendor support to be critical to the establishment of this center and I will also be pursuing all possible avenues of grants and emergency aid to set up this center as soon as possible.  

During my most recent visit to New Orleans, Ernie Svenson said to me that “a community is shared expectations.” Right now the shared expectation of the legal community in New Orleans is that our group will provide them with the assistance they need to make the right choices in getting back on their feet. As one New Orleans native told me when I was there “it will be a while to get back on our feet … it’s just going to be new feet.” My hope is we can help provide the shoes for those feet.

Sorry, pre-registration is closed, however, we will welcome all walk-ins!

To learn more about becoming a vendor sponsor, click here.