The Koch Legal Pro Bono Initiative, in partnership with Baker Botts and the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, hosted a two-day driver’s license reinstatement and renewal clinic to help community members regain a critical document needed to fully participate in society.
Nearly 300 people showed up to a driver’s license reinstatement and renewal clinic at the Koch Methanol St. James facility in St. James Parish, Louisiana. The event was put on by the Koch Legal Pro Bono Initiative in partnership with Baker Botts and the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles.
Having a valid, up-to-date license is critical. Not only does it allow someone to legally drive where they need to go and participate in their community, but it also allows them to access vital services in health care, education, housing and banking.
“Many Americans lose driving privileges for minor infractions, such as timing on auto insurance or mix-ups with returning license plates,” says David LeCerte, an attorney with Baker Botts. “This event changed the lives of so many people who walked out in tears with a driver’s license that same day. As a Louisiana native, it made me proud that Koch and Baker Botts would initiate such a transformational program.”
The event at the Koch Methanol St. James facility connected residents of St. James and the surrounding parishes with free, on-site legal support in navigating the OMV processes for restoring, reinstating or renewing a license.
People attending the event were able to receive initial guidance from Koch, Baker Botts, Kean Miller and Liskow & Lewis attorneys. More than half of them were then able to meet with OMV representatives, and 59 people had their licenses restored or reinstated and were issued a new, valid license on-site before leaving.
“At Koch, we are always looking for ways we can use our skills and comparative advantages to help improve people’s lives, and that is really what our pro bono initiative is all about,” says Matt Ellis from the Koch Legal Pro Bono Initiative. “The driver’s license clinic in St. James was a great way for our team and attorneys from three of our partner law firms to use legal skills to truly make a difference for people who needed support in navigating the OMV process.”
Koch attorney Matt Ellis and Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles commissioner Dan Casey meet with an attendee.
The clinic also provided information to those who weren’t able to leave with a new license. They left having a clearer understanding of the path toward license reinstatement.
While this was the first time the Koch Pro Bono Initiative held a driver’s license clinic in St. James, the group has held many other pro bono events this year across the country, including in Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Illinois and Georgia.
The large turnout and grateful reception from the communities surrounding the St. James facility show how great a need there is for this kind of work. Officials from Koch, Baker Botts and the Louisiana OMV say they plan to make the clinic an annual recurring community event.
“One of our top priorities is being a good community partner beyond our fence line,” says Josh Wiggins, Koch Methanol St. James plant manager. “Seeing the immediate impact the clinic had on our neighbors was extremely rewarding for all of us at Koch Methanol St. James, and we look forward to continuing this event in the future.”
