Helping victims of Hurricane Katrina   

The American Bar Association has undertaken a nationwide recruiting effort to mobilize a cadre of lawyers who will perform pro bono legal services for individuals and small businesses affected by the hurricane. Interested lawyers or law students may sign up on the ABA’s Hurricane Disaster Recovery Web site at abanet.org/katrina.

ABA president Michael S. Greco appointed a task force to oversee efforts by the association’s practice sections that will offer legal services to hurricane victims, including assistance with ongoing legal matters, insurance claims, taxes and restoration of important legal documents such as wills, deeds and birth certificates.

The ABA also has initiated efforts to help members of the legal profession affected by the hurricane. Lawyers who have office space available for Gulf Coast lawyers whose practices have been shut down may volunteer on the Web site listed above.

Both the Louisiana and Mississippi bar associations have established relief funds to assist lawyers who have lost their offices and homes in the storm. The Mississippi Bar Foundation is coordinating donations in that state. Checks should be made payable to the Mississippi Bar Foundation and mailed to Hurricane Katrina Lawyer Relief Fund, c/o Mississippi Bar Foundation, P.O. Box 2168, Jackson, MS 39225-2168.

The Hurricane Katrina Legal Community Relief Fund in Louisiana is being administered by the Baton Rouge Bar Foundation. Donations should be sent to Hurricane Katrina Legal Community Relief Fund, c/o Baton Rouge Bar Foundation, 544 Main St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802.