As one of its initiatives in the legal community, the AWA has committed to award $500 annually to an outstanding law clinic student from each of the two local law schools, whose work has focused on issues important to the AWA.
At Tulane, the $500 award is given to the most outstanding student in the Domestic Violence Law Clinic(as chosen by the Director of the Clinic).
At Loyola, the $500 award is given to the most outstanding student in the family law section of the Loyola Law Clinic (to be selected by the family law attorney/advisor at the Clinic).
Our 2013 award recipient from the Tulane Domestic Violence Clinic is Rebecca Ann Cobbs. Rebecca is from Massachusetts and received her BA in Political Science from Middlebury College in Vermont. She has previously worked as a Paralegal at Sloane & Walsh LLP in Boston, and was also a research intern with EMILY’s List. In addition she served as an intern for the Honorable Peter Welch in Vermont and with the Americans for Democratic Action. Rebecca was an outstanding student in the Domestic Violence Clinic receiving one of the highest grades in the clinic. Rebecca successfully defended one of her clients in a contempt proceeding filed by the abuser, which could have resulted in fines or jail time. Rebecca and co-counsel also represented a victim in a complicated case that involved opposing protective order actions. At the time the clinic accepted the case, the client had lost temporary custody of her child to her abuser, had no protection against abuse, and had been evicted from her home. Rebecca handled the case, including a contentious deposition and extended trial preparation during exams. As a result of the hearing, the client was awarded primary custody of her child, an order prohibiting the abuser from coming near her or contacting her, and an order restoring the home to her. Rebecca will graduate with honors and plans to take the bar in Massachusetts.
Our 2013 AWA Recipient from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, Family Law Section of the Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic and Center for Social Justice is Betty Maury. Betty is a married mother of two sons and a night student at Loyola College of Law. Betty logged over 576 hours while representing clients in custody, divorce, property, and abuse cases for two semesters during 2012 and 2013. She also drafted and assisted in executing a last will and testament, living will, durable power of attorney, and power of attorney for medical decisions for an elderly client in her 90’s. In Betty’s biggest case, she was first chair attorney in a non-parent child custody and competency case with a total of seven attorneys that went to trial. Ultimately, Betty and her co-counsel obtained sole legal custody of the minor child for their non-parent clients.
Rebecca and Betty will receive their awards at the AWA June luncheon.