Tulane Law student logs 1000+ pro bono service hours, earns 2025 LSBA Award
Laura Derbonne, who devoted an impressive 1,035 pro bono service hours during her time at Tulane Law, has been awarded the 2025 Louisiana State Bar Association Pro Bono Award.
Derbonne (L’25) worked tirelessly with five local and international organizations, including Orleans Public Defenders, The Space Court Foundation and Disability Rights Louisiana. Her 1,000+ hours are more than 20 times the amount required for graduation.
The LSBA Law Student Pro Bono Award is presented annually to students who demonstrate an exceptional dedication to legal services for the poor. A native of Shreveport, Derbonne says her commitment to service started at home.
“When I was younger, I helped take care of my great aunt—she was like a grandmother to me,” she said. “Taking care of her, and later my parents when they were sick, instilled in me a sense of responsibility to serve others.”
That commitment to family is what drove her to explore public interest law early in her Tulane experience. But it is also what motivated her to explore other legal interests—and to look to the sky.
“My interest in space law came first with my dad being a pilot. I grew up with him always pointing out different planes and looking to the sky in the backyard,” Derbonne remembered. “Anytime the ISS (International Space Station) would fly over, we would go outside and find it.”
That fascination with air and space stayed with her. During her 2L fall, she took a space law mini-course taught by adjunct Professor Jeanne Amy (L’16), who is with the Aviation, Space & Admiralty Litigation of the U.S. Department of Justice. After class one day, Derbonne asked Amy how she could follow in her footsteps. The answer? Maritime law.
“She told me maritime is the bridge,” Derbonne recalled. “Maritime to aviation, aviation to space.”
Derbonne joined the Tulane Maritime Law Journal and soon found herself immersed in maritime legal issues—not just as a stepping stone, but as an interest in its own right. She wrote her case note on how maritime law applied to the 737 Max 8 airline crashes—and the potential for its application in future space litigation.
“I wasn’t just viewing maritime as this avenue to aviation, as an avenue to space anymore. I was actually enjoying it," she said.
Despite her shift toward maritime and space law, Derbonne is still deeply committed to public service—and to the values that led her to Tulane in the first place.
“I want to continue being able to provide this kind of work. The mindset that motivated me to take care of my relatives through their health battles is the same that motivates me to do pro bono work,” she said.” So as long as that’s within me, I want to be able to continue to do it.”
Receiving the LSBA award brought it all full circle. She immediately told her parents they were coming with her to the Louisiana State Supreme Court to see her honored.
“It’s a testament to the way they raised me, how much they cared for me, that I could go and show that care for others. So, I am honored, but I share it with more people than just myself,” she said.
Her story is just one example of the extraordinary public service carried out by the Tulane Law Class of 2025. In addition to Derbonne, eight graduating students were recognized with the Jackson-Ryan Award, honoring their commitment to community service and public interest law. This year’s recipients are:
Lily Barnett, who logged 322.50 hours with Orleans Public Defenders and Louisiana Center for Children's Rights.
Briley Chambers, who devoted 328.50 hours to Tulane NCAA and The Ella Project.
Jenna Clayborn, who completed 379 hours with the Texas Defenders Service and Travis County Public Defenders.
Daryus Dorabshaw, who contributed 355 hours to Immigration Services & Legal Advocacy, the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs, the Tulane Law School Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana under Judge Morgan.
Wilson Grant, who completed 803 hours with Orleans Public Defenders.
Lea Kapur, who contributed 433.40 hours with the American Civil Liberties Union, the Harvard Law School Crimmigation Clinic, and the New York City Administration for Children’s Services.
Victor Miranda, who logged 374.40 hours with Orleans Public Defenders, Federal Public Defenders of San Diego, and the Orleans Parish Civil District Court.
Emma Sackheim, who completed 609 hours with the Public Integrity and Environmental Crimes Divisions of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.
