Class of 2026 Logs 21,000 of Pro Bono Service

Tulane Law Communications lawcommunications@tulane.edu

As they approach the last few milestones of their law school careers, members of the Class of 2026 were honored at the annual Pro Bono All-Stars Luncheon. The event celebrates those who have gone above and beyond the pro bono graduation requirements.

Tulane Law was the first law school to implement a pro bono service requirement in 1987. Since then, Tulane Law students have contributed 397,389 hours of pro bono legal assistance. The Class of 2026 contributed 21,700 hours of that throughout their years at Tulane Law.

Various students were celebrated at the luncheon. Among them were the Jackson-Ryan Pro Bono Advocate Awardees as well as the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Pro Bono Honor Roll Honorees, and the Pro Bono Krewe.

Jackson-Ryan Pro Bono Advocate Award

Six graduating students were recognized with the Jackson-Ryan Award, named after former assistant Deans Julie Jackson and Eileen Ryan, honoring their commitment to community service and public interest law. This year’s recipients are:

  • Kalyna Blevins, who logged 546.5 hours with Innocence & Justice Louisiana, Orleans Public Defenders, and the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights.
  • Jupiter Contreras, who devoted 409.42 hours of pro bono service to the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs and Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS).
  • Leielani Ealey, who completed 442.78 hours with TULAP, CourtWatch Nola, Entertainment Law Legal Assistance Project (ELLA) and SLLS.
  • Jillian Jackson, who logged 318.4 hours with Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Orleans Parish Juvenile Court- Teen Court, and NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
  • Hope Melton, who completed 748 hours with the Tulane Immigrant Rights Clinic, Teen Court, Home is Here NOLA, ELLA, and the Clark County Public Defender’s Office, the National Immigrant Justice Center, and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
  • Ruchi Wankhede, who logged 376.2 hours with TULAP, the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, and Judge Bernadette D’Souza (L’92).

AALS Pro Bono Honor Roll Honoree

The Pro Bono Honor Roll acknowledges and highlights the pro bono work of individuals engaging in, expanding, and supporting their law school community in providing pro bono legal services.  This year’s recipient is Allison Wolters, who completed 692 hours of service with the New Jersey Office of Public Integrity & Accountability, the New Jersey Attorney General's Department of Law and Public Safety, and the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender.

Pro Bono Krewe

The Pro Bono Krewe consists of the members of the class of 2026 who logged at least 150 hours of pro bono service, three times the graduation requirement. This year, the Pro Bono Krewe completed 11,351 hours of service, accounting for about 52% of the overall class total. Members of the Krewe include:

  • Blake W. Ainsworth
  • Tiffany Anderson
  • Hannah D. Ankerson
  • Anna C. Arrigo
  • Tyler A. Barth
  • John C. Berner
  • Kalyna Blevins
  • Spencer E. Bober
  • Thomas J. Celles
  • Mary Elizabeth Chelovitz
  • Ulas Cini
  • Jupiter Contreras
  • Jaxon R. Cummings
  • Sally S. Driscoll
  • Haley E. Dykstra
  • Leielani Ealey
  • Makay Hansen
  • Colton N. Herr
  • Caroline L. Hicks
  • Varun M. Hukeri
  • Jillian M. Jackson
  • Micah E. Jones
  • Finley G. Kincaid
  • Ella C. Kohlman
  • Eve E. Kurutz
  • Natalie C. Lanier
  • Kiley G. Maher
  • Elizabeth H. Melton
  • Sarah L. Metzel
  • Nicole E. Peer
  • Morgan C. Pollock
  • Kate L. Reissig
  • Nicole T. Roca
  • Elana Shoss
  • Andrew H. Sieber
  • Jeremy M. Spears
  • Ruchi M. Wankhede
  • Sally Wilkerson

 

Through their work with legal aid organizations, governmental entities, public interest partners, clinics and more, the Class of 2026 has proven their dedication to the highest ideals of the profession: service, responsibility and a commitment to justice.