LJWorld.com

Nearly two years after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, the situation has improved, but some residents of New Orleans are still trying to stabilize their lives.

Kansas University law students Charles Glauberman, Jason Krejci, James Jordan and Graham Winch have spent part of their summer as interns at the Loyola University New Orleans Law Clinic to help clients who are having trouble making mortgage and rent payments and navigating the Federal Emergency Management Agency's disaster relief system.

Winch, a second-year law student from Atlanta, assisted a longtime New Orleans resident in getting a loan to make two months' worth of payments and to keep a bank from foreclosing on her home.

That happened June 13, the same day a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction that FEMA must give residents a chance to appeal before it pulls housing assistance funding from them - a huge victory for the clinic that relies heavily on law school volunteers.

"That was just really special. It made it all worth it," Winch said. "I went down there hoping I'd have a moment like that but thinking realistically it's not going to happen. I couldn't have wished for anything better."

Winch and Krejci, a second-year law student from Olathe, left for New Orleans the day after finals in May and spent four weeks there. Glauberman, a third-year student from Overland Park, and Jordan, a second-year student from Salina, are still there.

"It's a very real-world experience and a great way for them to get in touch with doing real advocacy," said Davida Finger, a staff attorney at the clinic.

The students learned about the course-credit internship through KU law professor David Gottlieb. They have spent their summer days gaining rare experience for law students: meeting clients and advocating for them with federal and state agencies and other companies.

"It's like nothing I've ever done before. I didn't have any experience in the legal profession before I came here," Jordan said.

Conditions are difficult for most of their clients, who have little money to seek legal help. Challenges include contractor fraud, insurance fraud and issues involving financial assistance from FEMA or The Road Home, a federally funded housing recovery program created by the state.

"A lot of people are just real frustrated with the whole system and how slow-moving it is," Glauberman said. "When we are down here, we just give them hope - hopefully that something can get done."

The four KU students helped contribute to researching the lawsuit against FEMA. A FEMA spokeswoman said this week the agency does not comment on pending lawsuits.

As for the rebuilding process, the KU law students have seen the eerie high-water marks on buildings in New Orleans. Winch said he worried that nearly two years after Katrina hit, the rest of the country is starting to forget about New Orleans.

But they also saw the progress in many areas and heard the hope and enthusiasm from several residents.

One woman broke down in tears in a public market when she learned the law students came from Kansas just to volunteer to help.

Winch said the woman had a powerful message for the law students: "The future of New Orleans is dependent on the volunteers that come down and help. It takes manpower and people caring to really bring back the city."