We headed over to the law firm of Jones Walker in the Central Business District this evening for an orientation with about 200 other law students from around the country. It's the largest firm in Louisiana, with several hundred attorneys. Picture a southern law firm out of a John Grisham novel, that's where we were. Morgan Williams', the SHN co-founder pointed out to the twinkling city lights out the huge windows of the 52nd floor. Despite the lights we saw, we were looking out on uninhabited NOLA. Eighty percent of the city's housing is destroyed. We heard an excerpt of a play written by a Tulane law student about the experiences of students, staff, and faculty at Tulane. Then we heard from a few local attorneys, two partners from Jones Walker and an inspiring civil rights attorney named Tracie Washington. Born and raised in New Orleans, she weathered the storm with her family and returned recently. She's now a full-time civil rights attorney working for free and represents, among others, New Orleans' residents whose homes were in danger of being bulldozed in their absence. She spoke of the civil rights challenges that each generation faces and that ours is no different. She said something like, "Sure, black people have the vote now, but we have to get our hands on a ballot." Tomorrow we report for duty.