Talk Justice: Episode 112
August 26, 2025
Katrina’s Lasting Impact on Legal Aid 20 Years Later
Twenty years after the disaster, a Louisiana lawyer tells how Hurricane Katrina changed civil legal services forever on Talk Justice. Southeast Louisiana Legal Services is the largest nonprofit civil legal aid provider in the state, serving 22 parishes from seven offices, with the largest office in New Orleans. In 2005, before tragedy struck, Laura Tuggle had been a staff attorney in SLLS’ housing law unit. At the time, legal services related to natural disasters were not a part of the conversation at all. Now, she is Executive Director at SLLS and disaster legal services have come a long way.
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Featured Guest
Laura Tuggle
Laura has been the Executive Director of Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS) since May 2014 after beginning her career there in 1993. Under her leadership, SLLS has grown from 85 to 170 staff including innovative programs such as its Right to Counsel Eviction Program, medical-legal partnerships, domestic violence collaboratives, and its Homeless One Stop Legal Clinic. She managed SLLS’ Housing Law Unit during from 2005-2010 following Hurricane Katrina and is an award-winning advocate.
Host
Ronald S. Flagg
Ronald S. Flagg was appointed President of the Legal Services Corporation effective February 20, 2020, and previously served as Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel since 2013. He previously practiced commercial and administrative litigation at Sidley Austin LLP for 31 years, 27 years as a partner. He chaired the firm’s Committee on Pro Bono and Public Interest Law for more than a decade...