Vandenweghe Honored for Pro Bono Service with SLLS Equal Justice Award

Southeastern Louisiana Legal Services honored Adams & Reese Partner Roland Vandenweghe with a 2025 Equal Justice Award, recognizing him for his pro bono service to the legal organization. For the past 20 years, Vandenweghe has conducted monthly pro bono screenings for the elderly, meeting with close to 100 seniors annually to assess their legal needs.

Vandenweghe’s pro bono work with the elderly began 20 years ago at the Harahan Senior Center, working with seniors through a monthly program administered by the New Orleans Pro Bono Project. Three years ago, SLLS took over the program, and Vandenweghe continued his pro bono service, assisting at the Jefferson Senior Center. The pro bono work has held a special meaning to Vandenweghe as he grew up in River Ridge and Harahan and has now had an opportunity to give back to those communities. 

At Adams & Reese, Vandenweghe has enjoyed a close to a 30-year legal career as a Litigation Partner in the law firm’s New Orleans office. He represents corporate clients on a wide array of litigation issues in the energy, offshore, maritime, manufacturing, and health care sectors. 

Vandenweghe received the Equal Justice Award at the 2025 SLLS Volunteer & Partner Appreciation Reception held on Oct. 28th at the Adams & Reese New Orleans office. Adams & Reese sponsored the event which recognized New Orleans area pro bono volunteers, law students, and partners. SLLS provides free, civil legal aid to low-income people throughout southeast Louisiana and has seven offices located across 22 parishes in Baton Rouge, Covington, Gretna, Hahnville, Hammond, Houma, and New Orleans.

At this year’s annual event, Vandenweghe was one of four SLLS Equal Justice Award recipients. Fellow Equal Justice Award honorees included Christine Shea – a Certified Financial Planner and Attorney with Henderson Hutter Group; Virgie Riley – Attorney with The Law Office of Vergie L. Riley, LLC; and Jeffrey Meyers – Managing Director of Asher-Meyers, LLC.

SLLS also awarded two Distinguished Jurist Awards to the Hon. Rhonda Goode Douglas (Orleans Criminal District Court, Section E) and the Hon. Desiree C. Calvin (Orleans Parish Juvenile Court). Louisiana Appleseed received a Community Partner Award; the Cancer Association of Louisiana earned a Special Projects Award; and J. Alex Watkins was a recipient of a Circle of Justice Award.