LAAB was created by a group of law students in Spring 2006 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. In continuing it’s commitment to the providing legal services to vulnerable communities, the group provides legal aid during spring break in the wake of the devastation in the Gulf region.

The legal, historical, and cultural education that New Orleans today has to offer aspiring lawyers is one experience that will remain with and stand as an aspiration ideal for those students throughout their legal careers. Students will journey to the Gulf Coast in order to not only provide needed legal services, but also to bear witness to the destruction and response to the communities in our nation that need it most.

LAAB works with the Student Hurricane Network (studenthurricanenetwork.org) to place its students in organizations throughout the New Orleans area and Biloxi, Mississippi. In addition to the 31 students arriving from USC, over 1,000 students from 65 law schools will be performing various legal and physical service to the still devastated area.

In addition, LAAB is independently researching and pursuing other efforts in new areas. This January, for the first time, 28 students will travel to Tijuana, Mexico to observe at a worker’s social justice (cittac.org) and an environmental (ehc.org) organization. The purpose of this trip will be primarily observation. However, when the students return to Los Angeles they will research for the benefit of these organizations.

Informing the local community in Los Angeles is an integral part of LAAB’s work. The group plans to host several follow up events that University of Southern California both upon our return from Mexico as well as from the Gulf Coast.