Judicial & District Attorney Elections

October 2014 | Volume 35 | Issue 5

The Official Newsletter of the Lafayette Bar Association

Judicial & District Attorney Elections 2014 PAGE 2 the President’s Message “Ladder Down” The 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (July 2, 2014) has allowed the country some self-reflection. While the acts and sacrifices of many have allowed minority groups to advance in this country, the movement to guarantee certain liberties continues. The perception of certain rights as personal rights has historically been intertwined with the 2013-2014 LBA President concept of legal rights. The legal profession has been on both sides of various Tricia R. Pierre, Attorney at Law issues, and ongoing challenges to what a person is entitled represent a new era of movement. This will affect each of us in some way or another and is the commencement of the oral history project, so I wish to thank the prompts me to reflect on what the lessons of the past should teach me about committee members involved in that effort. LBA’s goal is to memorialize inclusion of others in the legal profession and in my personal dealing with the accomplishments of past presidents and giants in the legal profession. I others, even throughout my volunteer bar service. The idea of extending a want to also thank the Promulgator Editorial Board for bringing you great ladder down to lift others up, as pioneers of the civil rights movement did, editions of the Promulgator. All LBA programming could not be made seems fitting as a professional and personal goal. possible if not for the LBA staff. I thank each of the staff for their hard work As this is my last article as LBA President and as I conclude my term, and dedication. I encourage each of you to also “ladder down” professionally and in your Love LBA. Live Service. Je vous remercie de l’opportunité! Trish volunteer service -- since this is crucial to who we are as attorneys. Strive to be activists in including and uplifting each other in all aspects of your professional and personal life. Have you extended the ladder and reached down to someone who needs to be pulled up? Have you mentored a young attorney, extended advice, assisted an inexperienced attorney in court, spoke up or acted on behalf of someone when you recognized an injustice, or went out of your way to make sure someone who is different from you feels included? Have you reflected on what inclusion really means? I hope that this article ignites the “ladder down” spark in you. Much of what we do in this profession is about seeking justice for others. However, we must not forget to uplift each other in our own profession. For those of you who attended the LBA Hall of Fame event, I thank you, and I truly felt privileged to be among attorneys who spent their careers not only seeking justice for others, but also spent their careers assisting others in their profession, through bar service and in the community. Each person who spoke about an honoree, stressed how each honoree inspired them and uplifted others throughout their careers. It is wonderful to know that these individuals represent this legal community. The path that they have carved inspires me to continue to strive to reach down and pull the next person up. I would like to thank the LBA Board of Directors for their tireless work in providing LBA members with programming that adds value to what we do as attorneys. I wish to extend a special thank you to each LBA Committee chair, co-chair, and member for the countless hours of their volunteer time that they poured into each program. One of my final goals as president

PAGE 3 the Executive Director’s Message

to Tiger Stadium, and the day I proudly handed over my i.d. to prove that I was indeed old enough to buy that bottle of (terribly cheap) wine. With it being election season, that day at the Acadia Parish courthouse has come to mind so much more often lately but was never more poignant than when I LBA Executive DIrector had the honor of attending the ceremony at the Federal Josette Abshire Courthouse commemorating the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Voting Rights Act. There are those Growing up, I was the quirky kid who watched the more eloquent, esteemed, and influential than I who news every night and would go school the next day have written volumes regarding the sacrosanct nature talking about things like what would happen to the Soviet of exercising one’s right to vote, but I believe it can be Union now that Yuri Andropov was dead. I watched with simply summed up as this: friends don’t let friends stay rapt fascination when Geraldine Ferraro was selected as home on Election Day. See you at the polls! the first female candidate to represent a major political party on a presidential ticket, and I can probably rattle “To vote is like the payment off the winner and loser of every Louisiana gubernatorial of a debt, a duty never to be election since Treen defeated Lambert in 1979. As such, neglected if its performance is it should come as no great surprise that I remember the p o s s i bl e .” day I registered to vote with as much clarity as many of -Rutherford B. Hayes, 19th President of the United States the other milestone moments of my youth: my first day of high school, getting my driver’s license, my first trip

Committee & Section Chairs Officers Tricia Pierre Danielle Cromwell Acadiana Legal Service Corporation Louis A. Martinet Society Candace Breaux Karen King President Secretary/Treasurer Kyle Gideon Blake David Bench Bar Maritime CLE President-Elect Immediate Past President Missy Theriot Chuck Mouton & Doug Truxillo Board of Directors CLE By-the-Hour Membership Candace Breaux Karen King Steven Ramos Steven Ramos Donnie O’Pry Bianca Chretien Cliff LaCour Maggie Simar Family Law Section Miscellaneous CLE Jeff Coreil Steve Lanza Cynthia Simon Maggie Simar Cynthia Simon Jean-Paul Coussan John Mouton, III William Stagg Paul Gibson Donovan O’Pry, II Melissa Theriot Lafayette Young Lawyers Promulgator Trey Hightower Jill Wade & Bianca Chretien LBA Staff Josette Abshire, Tammy Derouen, Lafayette Volunteers Lawyers Real Estate Section Executive Director LVL Program Director Jeff Coreil Jean Paul Coussan Shaneal Jones Claire Prejean Marketing Coordinator Member Services Coordinator

PAGE 4 Table of Contents

President’s Message...... 3 2014 Elections...... 12-16 Executive Director’s Message...... 4 ABC Social...... 18 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Solo/Small Firm CLE...... 19 Civil Rights Act & Criminal Justice Legal Lagniappe...... 19 Act...... 5 Lawyers in Libraries...... 21 LVL Bowling Tournament ...... 8-9 Search Engine Optimization: What LYLA President’s Message...... 8 Really Works for Law Firms?...... 22 LYLA Installation Banquet...... 9 Classified...... 23 Bryson Law Firm Offers Pro Bono Grapevine...... 23 Tax Advice...... 10 Upcoming Events...... 23 Hall of Fame Banquet...... 11

50th Anniversary Celebration of the Civil Rights Act & Criminal Justice Act The Civil Rights Act and Criminal Justice Northside High School Mock Trial Team Act forever changed America. It transformed our reenacted portions of the Brown v. Board of Education understanding of justice, equality, and democracy. trial of 1954. They took on roles of witnesses and On September 3rd, at the Western District of Louisiana Courthouse, the Lafayette-Acadiana Chapter of the Federal Bar Association held a seminar to commemorate the Civil Rights Act and Criminal Justice Act. Speakers: Freddie Pitcher, Jr., Chancellor of Southern University Law Center and retired 19th Judicial District Court and First Circuit Court of Appeal Judge, Stephanie A. Finley, United States Attorney, and G. Paul Marx, District Public Defender- Supervisor of the 15th Judicial District Court of Louisiana, Lafayette Parish, recounted the events that transpired during the passage of the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act and their importance to changing history.

PAGE 5 LVL Bowling Tournament Once Upon A Time

The Lafayette Parish Bar Foundation hosted its annual LVL Bowling Tournament at Lafayette Lanes on Friday, August 1st. The night was filled with laughter and drink as participants from local Signature firms and businesses arrived decked out in costumes portraying their favorite fairytale characters in celebration of the bowling tournament’s Sponsors theme “Once Upon a Time.” Participants could be spotted dressed as everything from the Three Little Pigs to Disney princesses, all joining NeunerPate to support a good cause. Proceeds from the event benefit Lafayette Bar Foundation’s Lafayette Volunteer Lawyers section, a program in which local attorneys are given the chance to give back to their community by Barczyk Chiropractic Group offering pro-bono legal services for the underprivileged.

HomeBank

Committee to Re-Elect Judge Susan Theall

Committee to Elect Charlie Fitzgerald

PAGE 6 LVL Bowling Tournament

Door Prize Sponsors

Marcellos Lafayette Junior League Chris Rainey & Associates The Glenn Armentor Law Corporation Rebekah Huggins Kaigler Consulting Service, Inc. Andrus, Boudreaux, Landry & Coussan Marianna Broussard

PAGE 7 LYLA President’s Message

heard many compliments about the event. We would like to thank Steven Ramos for once again putting everything together and coordinating the event. Coming up on October 23, we will be hosting Lawyers in Libraries, which is a Louisiana State Bar Association initiative similar to our Counsel on Call program. Once a location is decided upon, we will LAFAYETTE YOUNG be soliciting volunteers for the program and invite all LAWYER’S PRESIDENT LBA members to assist in providing this service to the TREY HIGHTOWER community. Other events are also on the horizon, including This upcoming year marks the 25th Anniversary of our annual Holiday giving campaign and our Wills for the Lafayette Young Lawyers Association. To kickoff the year, Heroes program, as well as another (award winning) CLE we held our annual installation banquet in August at La Fonda. program aimed at younger lawyers. Anyone interested in As always, the banquet was a great success, and I want to thank participating in these events can contact me for additional Jacob Hargett, Jessie Haggerty, and Roya Boustany, who did an details. We look forward to seeing many of you at our excellent job planning the event. We also, of course, want to socials and other events in the coming months. thank our sponsors – Iberia Bank, Thomas R. Hightower, Jr., APLC, and GoDepo. Before going any further, I would like to thank last year’s board for volunteering their time to LYLA last year. Special thanks are due Cliff Lacour, our immediate past president, for his leadership and service this past year. Congratulations to SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY LAW IS ALL WE DO. Cliff for a job well done. Over the past two and a half decades, LYLA has grown to become one of the most active and innovative young lawyers organizations in the state, and this year’s LYLA board hopes to continue that tradition of excellence. With plenty of seasoned 1956-2010 LLC veterans and many fresh new faces, this year’s board certainly seems to be up to the task. On this year’s slate are the highly successful Mock Trial, CLE, Wills for Heroes, Counsel on Call, and Law Week programs, as well as, of course, the annual golf • Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits tournament. We will also focus on developing the some of the ideas discussed last year at the ABA retreat, particularly the • Supplemental Security Income young lawyer mentoring program. • Federal Court Appeals Also, in honor of LYLA’s 25th Anniversary, we will be hosting a Spring social to commemorate the many years of success. The social committee, led by Jaclyn Bridges, is already 556 Jefferson Street, Box 11 in the planning stages of the event. As part of this project, we Lafayette, LA 70501 are asking that all former LYLA board members, presidents, (337) 289-5352 | (800) 451-0300 etc. share with us their memories of the association as it evolved through the years. This past month, we again hosted a joint social with the Risk Management Association and the Acadiana Chapter of the Society of Certified Public Accountants at French Press. www.ZieglerLane.com Matthew Lane We enjoyed excellent attendance by all three groups, and I

PAGE 8 L YLA Installation Ceremony Honoring Trey Hightower

LYLA 2014-2015 Officers and Committee Chairs President Trey Hightower President-Elect Dwazendra Smith Secretary/Treasurer Travis Broussard Immediate Past President On August 28th, members of the LBA and Cliff LaCour prominent leaders of both the legal and corporate Awards & Grant Committee Fundraising Committee community joined together at La Fonda to install Hallie Coreil & Rob Felder, Jason Matt, Chair and celebrate the newly installed LYLA President, Co-Chairs Philip Boudreaux, Jr., Taylor Community Service Committee Fontenot, Tad Hightower, Will Trey Hightower, and LYLA Board. We’ d like Montz, Jr., & to thank our sponsors for this wonderful event: Laura Pryor, Chair Lindsay Meador, Andrew Mims, & Keith Saltzman Thomas R. Hightower, Jr. APLC, IberiaBank, and Katie Penny Membership/Mentor Committee GoDepo. Kevin Blanchard, Stuart Breaux, Chair Trey graduated from Louisiana State Wills for Heroes Chair Roya Boustany, Margo Dugas, University with a B.A. in Political Science. He later Law Week Committee Jonathan Jarrett, & Jerome received his J.D. from Paul M. Hebert Law Center Jessica Allain, Chair Moroux and was admitted to the Louisiana State Bar in 2008. Mandi Borne, Steve Bucher & Social Committee Britney Hebert Jaclyn Bacon, Chair He is currently an associate attorney at Thomas Mock Trial Committee Jessica Cantave & Hightower, Jr. APLC in Lafayette. Carolyn Cole, Chair William Kaufman He is a active member of the Louisiana Bar Derek Aswell, Daniel Philips, & Jacob Hargett, Annual Meeting Association, Lafayette Bar Association, Lafayette Natalie Tarnosky Chair. Young Lawyers Association, and John M. Duhe Inn CLE Committee of Court. Jeff Coreil, Chair Lauren Camel & G.W. Rudick

PAGE 9 Hall of Fame Banquet Bryson Law Firm To Offer Pro-Bono Tax Advice to Acadiana Community

March 27, 2015 will be here before you know it! We at Bryson Law Firm, LLC and Bryson Accounting & Tax Services, LLC want to again reach out to the Lafayette community by offering a FREE Tax Clinic to assist our neighbors during Tax Season by answering any questions they may have about their taxes.

We’ll be bringing attorneys from Bryson Law Firm, CPAs, and accountants from Bryson Accounting & Tax Services to the Lafayette Bar Association to give free tax preparation advice and tax law advice. Please note that this does not include any tax return preparation. Participants will be assisted on a first come first served basis and will be limited to a 15-minute conference with the volunteer attorneys and accountants.

PAGE 10 Hall of Fame Banquet

The Lafayette Bar Association hosted their first Hall of Fame Banquet at the Petroleum Club of Lafayette on September 4th. Inclusion in the LBA Hall of Fame is intended to recognize an exemplary career as an attorney, dedicated service to the community, and participation in the Bar. Attendees enjoyed a delicious 4-course meal while listening to tributes to accomplishments of this year’s honorees. After receiving several remarks of praise for the quality and atmosphere of the Hall of Fame, the LBA is looking forward to making this an annual event. Five of Lafayette’s most outstanding men in the legal community were chosen as the first inaugural class of the Hall of Fame: Honorable Kaliste J. Saloom, Jr. James E. Diaz, Sr. Robert R. McBride Harmon F. Roy Bob Wright THERESA DE BÊCHE THERESA DE BÊCHE In addition to the Hall of Fame inductees, & ASSOCIATES & ASSOCIATES the following awards were also presented: President’s Award to Frank X. Neuner, Jr. and Gary McGoffin, and Theresa de Bêche, RN, MN, CLNC Theresa de Bêche, RN, MN, CLNC Legal Nurse Consultant Legal Nurse Consultant Outstanding Young Lawyer Award to Kevin Blanchard. Phone: 850-934-0296 Phone: 850-934-0296 1390 Players Club Court Cell: 337-781-0335 1390 Players Club Court Cell: 337-781-0335 Gulf Breeze, FL 32563 [email protected] Gulf Breeze, FL 32563 [email protected]

PAGE 11

THERESA DE BÊCHE THERESA DE BÊCHE & ASSOCIATES & ASSOCIATES

Theresa de Bêche, RN, MN, CLNC Theresa de Bêche, RN, MN, CLNC Legal Nurse Consultant Legal Nurse Consultant Phone: 850-934-0296 Phone: 850-934-0296 1390 Players Club Court Cell: 337-781-0335 1390 Players Club Court Cell: 337-781-0335 Gulf Breeze, FL 32563 [email protected] Gulf Breeze, FL 32563 [email protected] 2014 Elections 15th Judicial District Judge, Division E Mark Allen Babineaux Michelle Meaux Breaux Hometown: Lafayette, Louisiana Hometown: Lafayette, Louisiana Family: Mark is married 33 years to Cindi Mouton Babineaux and they have Family: Married to Brian J. Breaux (22 Years), Two children: Brennan J. three children and two grandsons; Andre Paul Babineaux, Claire Babineaux, Breaux and Avery and Jeanne Babineaux Bourque, and her husband, Taylor Bourque and Parents: Jerry & Betty Meaux Siblings: Four Brothers grandsons Boston Bourque and Tanner Bourque. Mark is also the son of the Educational Background: 1982 Graduate of Acadiana High School, 1986 late Judge Allen M. Babineaux and Florence Leger Babineaux. Graduate of USL, 1987 ABA Accredited Paralegal Degree from Atlanta Education: St. Leo Elementary; Teurlings High; Leysin American School, Georgia, 1990 Law Degree Southern University Switzerland; Northside High; Carencro High, graduated 1971; University of Legal & Professional Memberships: Lafayette Parish Bar Association, Inns of Southwestern Louisiana, Political Science, B.A., 1975; Loyola School of Law, Court, Louisiana Drug Court Professionals, De Bon Couer, Teen Court Board J.D., 1978; California University, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Ph.D., 2007 Member, Juvenile Justice Council. Legal and Professional Memberships: Mark is a member of the Louisiana Year admitted to practice law in Louisiana: 1990 Bar Association of which he is also a member of the Francophone, the How long have you been practicing law in the Acadiana area? I have been Alternative Dispute Resolution and the Family Law sections; a member practicing law in the Acadiana Area for 24 years. of the Lafayette Bar Association of which he is also a member of the Family Law section. He is also a member and past president of the Describe your practical legal experience. My practical experience as a lawyer Louisiana Hypnotherapy Organization, a member and Life Diplomate in began immediately upon graduation from Law School when I began a Hypnotherapy of the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy clerkship with Judge Bradford Ware. My law career has spanned 24 years and Association, a member of the International Association of Counselors and in those 24 years I have spent on an average of 3-4 days a week inside of a Therapists and the International Hypnosis Federation. courtroom. I am well versed in the workings and responsibilities of the Court System. Also, I am the only candidate in this race with Judicial Experience, Year admitted to practice law in Louisiana: 1978 having served as Magistrate for the City of Scott for 19 years. I have listened How long have you been practicing law in the Acadiana area? 36 years and treated everyone who came before me with dignity and respect. I will continue to maintain Judicial Integrity. Describe your practical legal experience: “My practical legal experience is diverse and includes that in the administrative law, civil law and criminal Describe your qualifications for this judicial seat. My law career has spanned 24 law areas, jury trials as both plaintiff and defendant, and, appeals as both years. For the past 19 years I have served as a Prosecutor in both City Court appellant and appellee. This experience includes yet is not limited to and District Court and as an Attorney representing parties in Civil Litigation. debtor and creditor representation in bankruptcy; business formation and I have tried more than 500 criminal cases ranging from misdemeanors to First dissolution, sale of business; restriction and zoning representation; oil Degree Murders and also handled over 200 civil cases with a concentration and gas unitization and mineral board issues; adoptions; commitments, in the Domestic Arena. I’ve had the opportunity to see and practice from continuing tutorships and interdictions; credit and collection matters; family the perspective of a solo practitioner, both plaintiff and defense, prosecutor, law issues including collaborated divorce; employer/employee contract public defender and magistrate. I’ve served as a Judicial Law Clerk, and FINS and wage dispute; lessor/lessee issues and evictions; medical and dental Coordinator (Families In Need of Services) utilizing mediation skills. I also malpractice, workmen’s compensation; property damage, boundary and served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Louisiana - Lafayette and trespass; real estate and construction issues including actions in redhibition served as an attorney assisting college students with legal matters. I have and partition by licitation; real estate transactions, mortgages, loans and presented oral arguments at the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal title examination; succession, probate and ancillary proceedings; adult and and the Louisiana Supreme Court. I am truly committed to utilizing my juvenile criminal defense from traffic/DUI to matters as serious as sexual experience, fairness and wisdom while serving as your District Judge. abuse and attempted aggravated arson, expungements; wills, trusts and all notarial transactions; and, counsel in forensic and investigative hypnosis Why did you choose to run for this particular seat? It is with a deep sense of situations in both civil and criminal cases.” pride and admiration for retiring Judge Herman Clause that I seek the District Judge, Division E seat on the Court. I have been fortunate to practice before Describe you qualifications for this judicial seat: “The only thing a judge a number of Judges from 1990 till present who have exemplified judicial can promise to do is to be fair and impartial in carrying out his solemn wisdom, fairness and equality. I intend to bring to the bench these same duties. My years of service to the public has allowed me to demonstrate qualities but with the unique attribute of already having Judicial Experience both an ability and a commitment to making the type of informed, open- as well as experience as a plaintiff’s lawyer, defense lawyer, prosecutor and minded, levelheaded and evenhanded decisions required of a District Judge. mediator. The Judge of Division E will hear both civil and criminal cases, Extensive training in mediation and collaborative issue resolution has with another year of presiding in the Juvenile Section. As one of the founders given me insight as to how we individually work through issues in making of the Juvenile Drug Court, in 2002, I have also worked with the Lafayette a decision and deal with the emotional attachments that come with them. Parish School System for the past 15 years establishing Truancy Court, My years of service as an administrative hearing officer and as a judicial law helping to develop a Discipline Matrix for our School System, developing a clerk, which is somewhat like a lawyer with a judge for a client, has given me program for Drug and Alcohol Prevention, and was instrumental in opening a deeper understanding of the balanced point-of-view required of someone a Juvenile Assessment Center in 2013. All of these programs were the result sitting on the other side of the bench.” of many years of hard work and dedication which I would like to continue now from the position as District Judge. Our children should be the focus. Why have you chosen to run for this particular seat? “I sought this particular Judicial Integrity and Judicial temperament are important to me and I accept seat 18 years ago with the same work ethic and commitment to public a personal responsibility to assure that the law is applied properly and fairly to service. The opportunity of an open seat presented itself again with Judge ALL individuals that come before the Court. Clause’s announced retirement. Valerie Gotch Garrett Hometown: Lafayette, Louisiana. Family: I’m married to Kenneth Chaisson. I’m the mother of five children, namely Charles C. Garrett, Adam W. Garrett, Ravene Garrett, Langston and Grant Garrett (twins) and the grandmother of four. Educational Background: I graduated from Holy Rosary Institute in 1978. My undergraduate degrees from USL are Bachelor of Arts (1989) and a minor area of concentration in Public Relations and Interpersonal Communications (1989). In 1989, while working on certification to teach, I left to pursue my law degree.I earned my law degree from the Southern University Law Center in 1992. Legal and Professional Memberships: Barrister American Inns of Court, Member, LA State Bar Diversity Committee, Past Member, LA State Bar Children Committee, Past Member, American Bar Association, Past Member, Lafayette Airport Commission, Commissioner, CJA District Panel Representative for the Western District of Louisiana, Louisiana Criminal Defense Association, Member, National Association in Criminal Defense Lawyers, Past Member, Louisiana State Bar , Member, Lafayette Parish Bar Association, Member, Lafayette Parish Bar Association, Board of Directors, Past Member, Needs of Women, Mayor’s Commission, Past Member, Family Law Section of Lafayette Parish Bar, Member, National Business Women Association, Past Member, Louisiana Trial Lawyer Association, Athletic City League Sponsor, Diversity Committee for UL of Lafayette, Past Member, Louis A Martinet, Past President, Lafayette Housing Authority, Past Chairperson Year admitted to practice law in Louisiana: 1993 How long have you been practicing law in the Acadiana area? I have practiced law in Acadiana since being admitted to the Louisiana bar.

Describe your practical legal experience: I began my legal career at Acadiana Legal Services in 1992 as a part of a team designed to give emergency relief to victims of Hurricane Andrew in the 16th Judicial District. I tried my first case in federal court, a civil rights case in 1994. I began as a public defender in the 15th Judicial Court handling juvenile cases. Today I am still a defender capital certified to handle death penalty cases, and I have handle most of the heinous crimes. I am now a solo practitioner; however I was previously a partner in a law firm. As a result of over 20 years actively practicing law, I have developed a broad range of legal experience in both civil law and criminal law. My primary areas of practice are family law, criminal law, personal injury, administrative law and juvenile law. I have also handled a large number of complex federal criminal and civil cases.

Describe your qualifications for this judicial seat: I am the only candidate in this race with a variety of trial experience. Both privately and as a public defender, I have handled large volume cases wherein a defendant is facing the death penalty and or life imprisonment and the rules of evidence are crucial. That experience has enabled me to develop a thorough knowledge and understanding of those rules, as well as an appreciation for the importance of the fair application of those rules. Through my work with juveniles and adults I have developed a keen awareness of the components, such as mental health, education and family issues, as forces in in criminal, civil, and juvenile cases. I have handled civil litigation not limited to family law, successions, offshore injury, medical malpractice, civil rights litigation, real estate transaction, and collections. My legal experience, life experience and work in the community combine to give me a profound insight into the issues that I would handle as Judge. I humbly submit that these experiences collectively make me the best qualified candidate for the Division E seat.

Why have you chosen to run for this particular seat? I want to be a Judge in the 15th Judicial District. The Division E has one of the most diverse and politically astute constituents. I am connected to the district by family and life experience. I have the skills, temperament, wisdom and passion to serve. I have practiced law in this area and across Louisiana. I have observed, listened and learned from each Judge I have encountered. I have learned valuable lessons from all my colleagues. I thought often what if I suddenly became one of those parents, what if it was my children and the what ifs… that become reality for many of our constituents, and they deserve a Judge who has a passion to serve our community and is well-versed in the rules. Judge Clause had a passion for those who were less fortunate. The court serves as a level playing field where cases can be presented, arguments heard, and decisions rendered. Too often in our courts, the voices of parents and children have been muted. We have done a wonderful job in our bar facilitating access to justice. The rule of law is the pillar of our judicial and economic systems. Laws must apply to everyone in order for there to be confidence in the fundamental fairness of our system. 2014 Elections 15th Judicial District Judge, Division M Hon. Susan Theall Charlie Fitzgerald Hometown: Born in Jennings, LA, but my family has lived in Lafayette for 47 Hometown: Lafayette, Louisiana years Family: I have been married to Jeanne Fuselier Fitzgerald for ten years. We are Family: Mother, Doris; Father, Francis (deceased); brothers, Michael and Joel; the parents of three children: Patrick (age 8); John Henry (age 6); and Annalise sister, Jennifer (deceased); 6 nieces and nephews. (age 5). My mother is Ann Glasscock Dupree; my stepfather is Dr. Gene Dupree. Educational background: USL 1980; Loyola University, JD 1985 My father is D.S. “Terry” Fitzgerald, Jr.; my stepmother is Ann Lang Fitzgerald. Legal and professional memberships: Louisiana Bar Association; past Chair, My mother-in-law is Brenda Fuselier; my father-in-law is Dr. John Fuselier. I Vice Chair and Treasurer of the Family Law Council of the LBA, member on have an older brother, David Fitzgerald, and a younger sister, Ainsley Babin. the Council from 1998-2011; Lafayette Bar Association and past President, Educational Background: Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center Vice President, and Treasurer of the Family Law Section; Louisiana Bar J.D., 2001, Louisiana Law Review Foundation, Director, 2011-2014, Domestic Violence Grants Committee; Order of the Coif, Louisiana State University B.S. Microbiology, 1997, Alpha Director, Governing Board, Lafayette Volunteer Lawyers, 1994, 1995, and Epsilon Delta, The Premedical Honor Society, Beta Beta Beta, College of Basic 1996, Chairperson of the Board 1997. Member, Acadiana Community Sciences Honor Society, Episcopal School of Acadiana Class of 1992 Partnership Panel of the Louisiana Bar Foundation, 2008-2011, Fellow of National Honor Society Legal and professional memberships: Collaborative Family Law Attorney, Louisiana Bar Foundation since 2007. Louisiana Judicial Leadership Institute, Federal Appellate Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Class of 2012. Current Member: National Association of Women Judges, Association, Lafayette Bar Association (LBA), LBA Paula K. Woodruff Family Louisiana District Judges Association, Lafayette and Youngsville Chambers of Law Section, American Inn of Court of Acadiana , Admitted in the U.S. 5th Cir. Commerce. Appeal Ct., 2001, Admitted in the U.S. Dist. Ct.–MD La., 2001, Admitted in Year admitted to practice law in Louisiana: 1985 the U.S. Dist. Ct.–ED La., 2001, Admitted in the U.S. Dist. Ct.–WD La., 2001, How long have you been practicing law in the Acadiana area? Since 1986 Admitted in the U.S. Dist. Ct.–Bankr. La., 2010 Year admitted to practice law in Louisiana: 2001 Describe your practical legal experience. The first case I tried as an attorney How long have you been practicing in the Acadiana area? in 1986 was a custody case, and I saw the positive impact I could have on 11 years families’ lives in this area of law. In 1995, I became certified as a family law specialist by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, a specialization I Describe your practical legal experience? My law firm is Cox Fitzgerald, LLC. My still maintain. As a lawyer, I practiced in the area of family law for 26 years partner is Judge Ronnie Cox. Since Cox Fitzgerald was founded in January 2003, and had trial experience in complex custody, child support and community I have handled hundreds of family-law cases, mentored five associates in family property cases. On December 2, 2011, I was sworn in as a Judge and have law, and litigated everything from international abductions under the HAGUE served as family court judge since that day. Convention to the most complex custody and child support proceedings. I am trained in Collaborative Law, and have given presentations on various family law Describe your qualifications for this judicial seat. I was sworn in as Judge, issues to the Society of Louisiana CPAs, the National Business Institute, and the Division M, on December 2, 2011, and have served as Family Court Judge Lafayette Bar Association. Prior to joining Cox Fitzgerald, I was an associate at since that date. I have efficiently handled my rule and merits dockets and the largest law firm in Louisiana, namely, Jones Walker. am the first judge in the state to create a self represented docket. I am also responsible for creating a drug and alcohol evaluation and treatment program, Describe your qualifications for this judicial seat?I received my JD degree in 2001 A Family Court Intervention - Kids First. I have devoted my professional from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, graduating in the career to family law and have been a Board Certified Family Law Specialist top 5% of my class. Since that time, I have been admitted to practice before the since the specialization was started in 1995. Louisiana Bar, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Why have you chosen to run for this particular seat? I want to continue to Court for the Western District of Louisiana. I am a member of the Federal Bar serve our community as Family Court Judge, Division M. I have devoted Association, Federal Appellate Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, my professional career to family law by helping parents and focusing them and Lafayette Bar Association, including its Paula K. Woodruff Family Law on their children=s needs. I have the proven experience, compassion and Section. I am also a member of the American Inn of Court of Acadiana. Since January 2003, I have been a partner in the Lafayette law firm of Cox Fitzgerald, temperament to continue to serve as judge. My vision for family court is LLC. Most importantly, however, I am a devoted husband to my wife, Jeanne, the same as set forth in 2011 when I was first elected: family court is where and a tireless father to our three young children. litigants should be treated fairly with dignity and respect, where the cases should be judged soley on the facts and testimony presented in court, and Why have you chosen to run for this particular seat? I am a candidate for the where parents can be focused on their children’s best interest and not on their office of District Judge, 15th Judicial District Court, Division M. Within the anger towards each other. 15th J.D.C., there are two divisions — including Division “M” — that comprise the family court. These are, at least in my opinion, the two most important judicial seats. Why? Because every case involves minor children, e.g., divorces with custody disputes. I have dedicated my entire legal career to the families of our community. As law partner to Judge Ronnie Cox, co-founder of our family court, I know firsthand that family law is about protecting children. As a husband and father, I also understand the complexities that families face everyday. For example, my wife and I fully understand that we have to work together, as a team, to ensure that our children receive proper supervision, guidance, love, and discipline. A family court judge must understand these things and be first and foremost a willing problem solver. 2014 Elections Lafayette City Court Judge Hon. Francie Bouillion Joseph H. Riley Hometown: I was born in New York and have lived in several states. My Hometown: Lafayette, Louisiana husband, Ken, is a New Iberia native and attended USL. We have lived in Family: Mother, Sandra H. Riley, Father, Joseph H. Riley Lafayette for 38 years, and it truly has become our hometown. Sister, Cynthia Riley Roussel Family: Dr. Ken Bouillion, husband of 47 years, sons Tony and Ben, Ben’s Educational Background: Archbishop Shaw H.S.-Salutatorian (1987-Marrero, wife, Allison and their children, David, Brooks, and Remi. LA) College of the Holy Cross-B.A. (1992-Worcester, MA) Universite de Education Background: B.S. in Biology, St. Mary College, Leavenworth, KS; Aix-Marseille, France / LSU Exchange Scholar (1995) Universite Catholique J. D., LSU School of Law, 1987. I graduated second in my class and was de Louvain, Belgium / LSU Exchange Scholar (1996) Louisiana State named to the LSU Law Center Hall of Fame. University-J.D. (1997-Baton Rouge, LA) University of Edinburgh-L.L.M. Legal and Professional Memberships: Louisiana State Bar Association, (1999-Edinburgh, Scotland) Lafayette Parish Bar Association, Acadiana Inn of Court (past president), Legal and professional memberships: Lafayette Bar Association, Louisiana National Association of Women Judges, National Council of Juvenile and State Bar Association, Louisiana Department of State-Commissioned Notary Family Court Judges, Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Louisiana, Department of Insurance-Producer Licensee, University of Judges, Louisiana Association of City Court Judges (past president), Edinburgh Alumni Association Association of Judges of the Third Circuit. Year Admitted to practice law in Louisiana: 2000 Year admitted to practice law in Louisiana: 1987 How Long have you been practicing law in the Acadiana area? 10 years How long have you been practicing law in the Acadiana area? All of my practice has been in Lafayette. I have been on the City Court bench since Describe your practical legal experience. I bring the experience of 15 years 1994. of active and diverse legal practice to the bench. As an Assistant District Attorney under Harry Connick, I managed, supervised, and maintained all Describe your practical legal experience. After serving as a law clerk to then aspects of trial prosecutions for hundreds of criminal cases. As an Assistant U. S. District Judge, John M. Duhe for one year, I practiced with the firm of City Attorney, I worked with the City of New Orleans to create a program to Gordon, Arata, McCollam, Duplantis and Eagan until I was elected in 1994. restore and remove thousands of abandoned and blighted properties from My private practice consisted primarily of white collar criminal defense, the delinquent tax roles. As a Real Estate Attorney, I perform and oversee all and banking litigation. As Judge, my jurisdiction is concurrent with the legal and administrative duties incidental to transactions involving hundreds District Court in criminal misdemeanors, including OUI first and second of commercial and residential properties. I also practice estate planning, offense and domestic violence cases; civil matters with an amount in dispute business transactions and formations, oil and gas, tax, and family law. of $20,000.00 or less; juvenile matters and traffic cases. I have presided over numerous cases in each of these areas and have real life experience in Describe your qualifications for this judicial seat. I’m not a politician. I dealing with the full range of issues and problems faced daily by those who don’t change party affiliations for political gain. Instead I am a long-time come before our court. I have been Chief Judge since 1996. I taught Law Republican and I am the hard-working, impartial, and dedicated jurist we Office Practice at the LSU Law Center for fifteen years. need as Lafayette City Court Judge. My education, trial experience, legal training, and overall quality of life experiences have uniquely prepared me for Describe your qualifications for this judicial seat. I have a record of proven this judicial seat. I have an extensive legal background, applicable and relevant accomplishments. I have held the seat for 20 years, and I have been work experience, and a history of serving my community. And in light of Chief Judge for 18 of those years. As Chief Judge, I am responsible for the recent events unfolding in the city courthouse, it is now more important the administrative duties of the court, as well as a staff of over thirty than ever that the City Court operate with as much fairness, transparency, and employees. During my tenure, our caseload has increased from 18,000 efficiency as possible. Restoring integrity to City Court will be my top priority. cases each year, to more than 40,000 cases. We have done this with the This means efficient management of the court Docket, fair and impartial application of the law, and protection against improper influences in cases. same two judges and only one additional employee. Our processing times My knowledge, experience, and dedication will serve to protect and restore the have actually decreased during this time. We have added state-of-the-art integrity of City Court and the judicial system in general. case management software that is as good as any in the nation. During my tenure we more than doubled the size of our courthouse. It will meet the Why have you chosen to run for this particular seat? I offer another choice to needs of Lafayette for many years in the future. Our website will be up and Lafayette voters. This judicial seat represents the best synthesis of both my running within the next few months. It will enable people to track their capabilities and my aspirations. I distinguish myself from my opponent in that cases and pay fines online. There will be special portals for attorneys and I offer 15 years of active legal practice in multiple areas of law. I am well versed law enforcement personnel. in the relevant case law, the revised statutes and legal codes applicable to the court’s jurisdiction. I am skilled in courtroom procedures and understand the Why did you choose to run for this particular seat? Twenty years ago, I was importance of teamwork. I believe the justice system, on any level, is a team honored to be chosen by the citizens of Lafayette to succeed Retired Judge effort. If any one part of that system is broken, or doesn’t work together, there Kaliste J. Saloom, Jr.. I promised them that I would work every day to treat is a major problem. I am not running to criticize the incumbent; however I those who come before me with dignity and respect, and to apply the law do believe that 20 years in office is plenty. But this election is not about one fairly and firmly when necessary. I have done just that, and hope to continue person or party. It’s about restoring the integrity of City Court and ensuring to do so. I have been instrumental in improving our court. Our court its fair and impartial application of the law. celebrated its 100 year anniversary in 2010. We are recognized nationally as a beacon of excellence. I have served the court with dignity, integrity and independence. I am not aligned with any political philosophy or party. If I am re-elected, I promise to continue the rich history of excellence in the Lafayette City Court. 2014 Elections District Attorney Mike Harson Keith Stutes Hometown: Lafayette, Louisiana Hometown: I was born April 11, 1952, in the City of Lafayette, but grew up in rural Family: Married to Manda C. Harson, 43 Years, 3 Children, 5 Grandchildren, Lafayette Parish between Scott and Lafayette. I attended elementary, middle, and high Parishioner, Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church school in Scott, and consider Scott as my hometown. Educational Background: Teurlings High School, 1967 Family: My father and mother were and are, respectively, Aaron Stutes and Doris Lormand Stutes. My paternal grandparents were Sidney Stutes and Arthemise Bernard University of Louisiana, Lafayette, 1973, Louisiana State University Law School Stutes. My maternal grandparents were Henry Lormand and Anna Marie Hollier 1974 Lormand. I have been married to Carolyn Prejean Stutes for 41 years. We have two Legal and Professional Membership: District Attorney, 15th JDC, 19 Years, daughters, Aimee Stutes Olivier, married to Brad, and Erin Stutes Soignier, married to Assistant District Attorney, 14 Years Kyle. We have three granddaughters with a fourth very special granddaughter on the Private Practice, 18 years, Member, Louisiana State Bar Association, Member way. & Former President, Lafayette Parish Bar Association Education Background: I attended elementary, middle, and high school in Scott, LA, Year Admitted to Practice Law: 1974 graduating from Acadiana High School in 1970. I attended and graduated from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1973, with majors and minors in Political How long have you been practicing law in Acadiana area? About 40 years Science and English. I attended and graduated from Louisiana State University Law School in 1976, with a juris doctorate degree. I was admitted to the Louisiana Bar by the Describe your practical legal experience? Forty years of legal experience in Louisiana Supreme Court in October of 1976. private practice, as a Assistant District Attorney and as District Attorney. Legal and Professional Memberships: Past and present, I belong to or have been a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Lafayette Bar Association, the Louisiana Describe your qualifications for the District Attorney seat? For the past nineteen District Attorneys Association, and the bare of the Supreme Court of the United States, years, my office has been dedicated to serving the people of Acadia, Lafayette, the United States Court of Appeal 5th Circuit, and the United States Western District of and Vermilion parishes. During that time, my charitable foundation raised Louisiana, and the state courts of the State of Louisiana. Year admitted to practice law in Louisiana: 1976 nearly $1.5 million for children, domestic abuse victims, and veterans. I also How long have you been practicing law in the Acadiana area? 37 years developed an open door policy with accessibility for everyone, established regular office hours in Acadia and Vermilion parish for the first time, and Describe your practical legal experience: From 1976 to 1984, I was engaged in the general remained committed to the pursuit of safety and justice for our families and practice of law, handling a multitude of legal matters which included real estate titles our community. Through an intergovernmental agreement, I provided the examinations and closings, representation of public bodies, domestic matters, personal funds, through my budget, necessary to build out Stuller Place (now Hearts of injury plaintiff and defense, the preparation of wills and the handling of succession Hope, http://www.theheartsofhope.org), which provides assistance to victims matters, criminal defense retained and appointed, the preparation of corporation of sexual abuse and children. I continue to provide funding, through my documentation. These efforts involved appearance in many different courts in and outside the Acadiana area. In 1984, I began part time work as an assistant district budget, for three of Hearts of Hope staff positions. attorney consisting primarily of work in the courtroom for a total of 28 years. I also was a leader in employing a victim’s assistance coordinator for victims of violent crime and later expanded it to victims of all crimes. We Describe your qualifications for the District Attorney seat: In 1976 (as an attorney) an in were also one of the first to establish a pretrial diversion program to deal with 1984 (more specifically as an assistant district attorney), I swore to an oath to defend and first-time offenders. Justice requires that a punishment suit, not only the uphold the law. I have always taken that oath to heart. I began handling misdemeanors crime, but also the character of the offender. Often we are confronted with and quickly advanced to felonies, then drug prosecutions specifically, and then to major first-time offenders who are not inherently bad people, so their offense does felonies, all of which required first hand interaction with law enforcement, witnesses, victims, and the judiciary. Integrity, fairness, firmness, compassion, and attention to not warrant the sort of conviction that would prevent them from becoming detail were paramount to that oath. I cannot begin to count the number of times I productive citizens later in their life. The diversion program allows us to appeared in criminal matters honoring that oath. Working hands-on with the many obtain an appropriate punishment, but also insure the individual receives participants in the criminal justice process for so long has given me the necessary appropriate rehabilitative services necessary to reduce the chances of future background to be a good District Attorney. My work ethic, my integrity, my reputation conflicts with the law. for firmness and fairness, my conviction to do the right thing every day makes me the best choice for District Attorney. Please identify the biggest challenge the District Attorney’s office faces and describe how you plan to address it. The biggest challenges faced by this District Please identify the biggest challenge the District Attorney’s office faces and describe how you plan to address it. The District Attorney is the leader of an office sworn to protect Attorney’s office are social and budgetary pressures both locally and from “the people” from those who violate the law. The DA is the representative of “the the state. Since Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the nation, people” when one is charged with violating the law. The DA does not represent those budgetary constraints at the state level force the criminal justice system to seek who have violated the law. The DA must do justice. When the Da fails to recognize ways to hold people accountable in new and innovative ways, reserving long- these simple rules mandated by the oath, “the people” lose confidence in the DA, the term incarceration for the most dangerous offenders. My office has taken the office, and the criminal justice system. Secret programs that allow wrong doers to avoid lead on many innovative programs to do just that. Examples include, a victims accountability and the lack of attention to detail that allows dangerous wrong doers assistance program, which has expanded over the years and seeks to work in to escape appropriate punishment or detention can and do lead to heart breaking and partnership with victims to determine what reasonable punishment should be unforgiveable damage. The image of a DA’s office must be one of leading the investigation not the object of an investigation. The challenge face by the DA’s office is the loss of sought for offenders. confidence and respect of “the people” of the DA as their protector. The biggest challenge On the local level, obtaining adequate courtroom time in order is hot to regain it. It cannot be regained by constant excuses, denials, and apologies. to timely move the volume of cases presented for prosecution in the three It is time for change. It is not only time to make those who violate the law parishes. In addition, identifying the sufficient resources to keep technology accountable to the people but it is also time for the DA to be accountable to the people as current as possible to improve productively and gain additional efficiency in himself. Secret programs that benefit no one but the wrong doer are wrong. It is time to the use of public dollars. In 2012, my office, in partnership with the Louisiana institute a system of tracking so that the people have accountability from the DA on the District Attorneys Association, and DA’s offices statewide, implemented timely handling of cases. Justice delayed is justice denied. Lives are at stake without it. CRIMES; a sophisticated case tracking system. The system, for the first time, It is time for a DA to be hands on and to take a greater interest in the important work of the office to be accountable to the DA because the DA must be accountable to the linked the data processing technology in our three offices in Acadia, Lafayette people for all that goes in the office, no excuses, no explanations, no denials, no blame on and Vermilion so cases and offenders could be tracked. others. For the first time in 20 years, I can bring the change necessary to bring integrity, fairness, confidence, and respect back to the office. FORMER SOCIAL SECURITY JUDGE PETER J. LEMOINE Social Security Disability Law Offices in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Cottonport, Lafayette

Adjunct Professor (1994-1997), Northwestern State University

MEMBER: American Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, Baton Rouge Bar Association, Avoyelles Parish Bar Association, National Organization of Social Security Claimant Representatives, Legal Services for Purposes of Disability Committee (Louisiana State Bar Association)

PUBLISHED ARTICLES: “The Worn-Out Worker Rule Revisited,” “Significant Work-Related Limitations of Function Under §12.05C,” “Questionable Retirement and the Small Business Owner,” “Crisis of Confidence: The Inadequacies of Vocational Evidence Presented at Social Security Disability Hearings.”

337-534-4049

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Lafayette: 337.232.3353 / New Iberia: 337.367.7463 / www.clark-chiro.com

PAGE 17 Attorneys, Bankers, and CPAs Social

Local attorneys, bankers, and CPAs came together for a night of networking over great food and drinks for the ABC Social held at French Press. The Lafayette Young Lawyers Association, Risk Management Association, and Acadiana Chapter of the Louisiana Society of CPAs hosted the event. Over 100 attendees came out to represent their respective professions making the event a huge success and now will be scheduled as an annual event. The ABC Social provides local professionals in each field the opportunity to network and socialize, helping them build meaningful and powerful connections in their chosen career field. Thank you to our sponsors for helping to make this event a success.

PAGE 18 Solo/Small Firm CLE Sponsored by the Louisiana State Bar Association

The Lousiana State Bar Association sponsored a free Solo and Small Firm CLE on August 15th at the Lafayette Bar Association. Attendees and speakers covered a broad range of topics from helpful technology tips to ethical issues facing solo prationers and small firms. Speakers, Steven G. “Buzz” Durio, Kevin P. Tauzin, George A. “Andy” Veazey, Brad Hamman, and Julie Brown White each delivered phenomenal speeches to their audience. A big thank you to the Louisiana State Bar Association, Dona Renagar, Cynthia Simon, and all speakers for their time and dedication to making this CLE an awesome educational experience for our members.

Legal Laginappe

Gordon Arata Lafayette attorneys Bob Duplantis, Liskow & Lewis is pleased to announce seven Sam Masur, Greg Duplantis, and Gerald Schiff have been attorneys have been recognized as “Lawyers of the Year” selected for inclusion in “The Best Lawyers in America in the 2015 edition of “The Best Lawyers in America”. In 2015.” Four Gordon Arata lawyers, Donna Phillips addition to other practices area-specific listings in the 2015 Currault, Tim Eagan, Gerald Schiff, and Marion Weinstock edition of Best Lawyers, the following attorneys were named have been named Lawyers of the Year. “Lawyer of the Year” for their respective cities: Margurite L. Adams (New Orleans), S. Gene Fendler (New Orleans), Warren A. Perrin, David Marcantel, and Ed Joseph C. Giglio, Jr. (Baton Rouge area and Lafayette), Cheryl Fleishman represented the Louisiana State Bar Association Mollere Knornick (New Orleans), James N. Mansfield, III at the Allen M. Babineaux International Law Symposium (Baton Rouge area and Lafayette), Everard A. Marseglia, “A Gumbo of French and Common Law” held during the Jr.(Houston), and Richard W. Revels, Jr. (Baton Rouge area Congres Mondial Acadien 2014 in Edmundston, New and Lafayette). Brunswick. There were lawyers attending from Montreal, During the Downriver Festival II in New Orleans, Quebec City, Ottawa, Maine, California, Louisiana, Nova a copy of the book Acadie Then and Now: A People’s History Scotia, and New Brunswick—thus making it a truly was donated by author, Warren A. Perrin to the library of the international law symposium. Loyola University School of Law. Acadie Then and Now: A David Way of Oliver and Way, LLC was installed People’s History is an international collection of articles from as President of the Kiwanis Club of Lafayette. Kiwanis is 50 authors, which chronicles the historical and contemporary a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing realities of the Acadian and Cajun people worldwide. the world by providing community service and financial support.

PAGE 19 PAGE 20 On October 23, 2014 the Louisiana State Bar Association will be coordinating “Lawyers in Libraries” events across the state. With the help of public libraries, volunteer attorneys will provide “Ask-a-Lawyer” sessions or legal workshops. The “Ask-a-Lawyer” sessions allow library patrons one-on-one time with an attorney to ask questions about their legal issue, and the legal workshops will address specific issues (i.e. divorce, wills, etc...) in a classroom setting. The type of service provided at each location varies depending on local need, and volunteering attorneys’ practice area and preference. In coordination with this event, The Lafayette Young Lawyers Association along with Lafayette Volunteer Lawyers will be participating in this event. The Lafayette Bar Association is currently requesting participation of our members to making this event a great success!

For more information please contact Shaneal Jones, Marketing Coordinator [email protected] or Claire Prejean, Member Services Coordinator [email protected] at 337-237-4700.

PAGE 21 Search Engine Optimization: What Really Works for Law Firms?

Boy oh boy, is this a hotly debated topic - and rates, the study determined the percentage breakdown we happened to attend a very illuminating presentation of contacts generated by non-branded queries types. The by Mark Jacobsen, the Senior Director of Strategic percentages were: Research 26%, Long-tail with intent Development and Thought Leadership for FindLaw (long 71% and head-term with intent 3%. position title!). While I am normally somewhat skeptical Clearly, the lesson is this. For non-branded of FindLaw (after all, they are in the business of selling queries, research queries are high in volume but it is websites/SEO), Mark did a great job of presenting a study less likely that they will result in contacting the firm. done by FindLaw in a “teaching” rather than a “selling” Long-tailed queries with lawyer intent deliver the most way. contacts to the firm. Head-term queries with lawyer His presentation was entitled “The Futility of intent result in the least contact to the firm. Chasing Silver Bullets: An Analysis of Aggregate Search So for those of you who have been trying to Performance for Law Firm Websites.” They apparently deliver first page results for “geography plus area of like long titles at FindLaw. You can download the 2013 practice” queries, you are probably spending too much study here so long as you don’t mind giving up contact money chasing too few results. Good SEO experts have known for years that the best results for unbranded ﰀ.information. You will probably be contacted – we were searches come from long- tail searches. So rethink how Here are some of the highlights: you spend your SEO monies!

Branded searches account for 38% of all searches The authors are the President and Vice President of Sensei for law firm websites. In other words, they already know Enterprises, Inc., an information technology, information your firm, someone in it or some other aspect of its brand. security and digital forensics firm based in Fairfax, VA. Any competent SEO provider should be able to get you 703-359-0700 www.senseient.com traffic for branded search. But 62% of searches are non-branded. This is where the fight for results gets bloody. Most lawyers suffer from the misconception that “head-term phrases” (such as divorce attorney Los Angeles) is key to success and they waste a lot of money trying to get those phrases to come up on the search engine results (SERPs). People also search for research reasons and for what are called “long tail searches with lawyer intent.” An example might be “lawyer in Virginia who specializes in appealing school decisions about student discipline.” Because of the sheer volume of those doing research, even though the click rate is very low, they will result in 66.9% of non-branded visits to your site. Long-tail searches will end up visiting your site 31.8% of the time and head-term searches will visit just 1.3% of the time. The contact rates (what you care about most) are 0.8% for research queries, 4.6% for head- term/intent to find a lawyer queries, and 4.6% for long-tails searches with intent to find a lawyer. By combining website traffic level and contact

PAGE 22 Classified Grapvevine

Busy practice seeks full time legal assistant and Iberia Bank named Marie Manuel to the position of senior vice president part time legal assistant. Must have excellent and human resources regional director for Louisiana and Texas. Manuel computer capability and knowledge, and joins the company with and extensive background in human resource communication skills. Send resumes to mrj@ management and is certified as a senior professional of human resources. judice-adley.com, or Office Manager P.O. Box She most recently served as a labor and employment attorney for the past 18 51769, Lafayette, LA 70505-1769. years with the Onebane Law Firm.

Gordon Arata is pleased to announce that David J. Rogers has joined the firm. Mr. Rogers joins the Lafayette office as an Associate. He will focus his practice in the area of oil and gas title examination as well as oil, gas, and energy litigation.

Theresa de Beche, RN, of Theresa de Beche & Associates, Legal Nurse Consulting, has relocated to Gulf Breeze, FL. She remains licensed in Louisiana and will continue providing consulting services to attorneys in Louisiana. She can be reach at [email protected] or 337-781-0335.

Travis Broussard of Durio, McGoffin, Stagg & Ackerman helps lead LSBA 2014-2015 leadership class. The Leadership LSBA Class is a leadership development project created by the Louisiana State Bar Association in 2002. The program provides exposure to how the LSBA functions as well as information on the responsibilities of volunteer leaders.

Upcoming Events

Candidate Forum-District Attorney & City Court Judge 25th Annual National Bar Association Wiley A. Branton Award When: October 10, 2014 @ 11:30 am and Issues Symposium Featuring an Opening Address by the Where: Petroleum Club American Bar Association President-Elect, Paulette Brown When: October 29-31, 2014 Candidate Forum-State Court Judicial Races Where: Southern Law Center When: October 15, 2014 @ 11:30 am Where: Petroleum Club LBA President Installation Banquet When: October 30, 2014 @ 6:00 pm Business After Hours-Broussard & David Where: Century Club, 116 E. Vermilion St. When: October 15, 2014 @ 5:00 pm Where: Broussard & David newest location in Downtown CLE By the Hour Lafayette When: Nov. 25 Dec. 19 557 Jefferson St. Lafayette, LA Dec. 5 Dec. 22 Dec. 10 Dec. 29 LVL Champions of Justice Dec. 11 Dec. 30 When: October 22, 2014 @ 7:30 am Dec. 18 Dec. 31 Where: Petroleum Club Where: LBA Headquarters PAGE 23