Who
We Are:
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Through Pro Bono Service
The NELA Bar Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was created to bring pro bono legal assistance to communities across 14 parishes in Northeast Louisiana.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Louisiana Bar Foundation, we are able to offer support in civil law matters to those who need it most.
Our mission is clear: to open the doors of justice to individuals and families living at or below twice the federal poverty level—neighbors who might otherwise face their legal challenges alone.
What
We Do:
Bringing Free Legal Help to
Northeast Louisiana
From monthly Ask-A-Lawyer clinics in Monroe to our Pro Bono Project serving 14 surrounding parishes, we connect volunteer attorneys with people who can’t afford legal help.
These efforts address Louisiana’s vast justice gap—where thousands qualify for aid but too few lawyers are available—by ensuring that more individuals and families can receive the advice and advocacy they need.
ASK-A-LAWYER CLINICS
Each month, we host free Ask-A
Lawyer Clinics at community centers
in and around Monroe. Volunteer
attorneys meet one-on-one with
clients, offering practical legal advice
on the spot.
In just two hours, these clinics help
20–30 people who might otherwise
have no access to a lawyer.
closing the justice gap
In Louisiana, the demand for free legal
help far outpaces the supply. For every
one legal aid attorney, more than
11,000 residents qualify for services.
Legal aid providers serve thousands
each year, but it’s not enough. Pro
bono service is essential to ensure that
no one faces their legal issues alone.
THE PRO BONO PROJECT
Through our Pro Bono Project, we
extend legal help across 14 parishes in
Northeast Louisiana. Local attorneys
volunteer their time to represent low-
income and indigent residents in civil
matters, providing guidance,
advocacy, and hope.
Together, we work to make access to
justice a reality for all.
Join Us in
Closing the
Justice Gap.
Your time and support can
change lives.
Whether you’re an attorney ready to volunteer, a community partner looking to collaborate, or a supporter who believes in equal access to justice, you can make a difference.
Together, we can ensure that no one in Northeast Louisiana has to face their legal challenges alone.