Member Spotlight

November Member of the Month:
Will Snowden

Tell us about yourself?
Will Snowden is the proud son of Billy Ray and Kay Snowden who were not only public schoolteachers, but also taught Will why speaking up and speaking out is important. Will plays the
cello, really enjoys dancing but isn’t that good at it, and before his current work as the director of the Vera Institute of Justice in New Orleans, he was a public defender in New Orleans for five years.

Why did you choose to become an attorney?
Whenever my sisters or I experienced racism or discrimination as kids, my parents stood up forus and called it out. Those early lessons taught me the value of calling out injustices when you
see them. I chose to become an attorney to be able to do just that. What are the benefits of being a member of the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society?
The benefits include the network that not only connects you with other attorneys throughout Louisiana, but also the events put on allows you to stay involved in acts of service.

What is your favorite Martinet event and why?
The Pathways and Pipelines to Success event is my favorite because it allows me to support law students in their journey to becoming attorneys. Almost every year I've been able to participate, I’ve been able to hire law clerks and interns from the event.

Tell us about other organizations you are involved in and other causes you support, and why?
I’m involved with the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) because a lot of the issues being addressed by the criminal legal system are actually public health issues not issues of crime. My support of LPHI helps reframe the ways we address these issues.

I also support Daughters Beyond Incarceration who serve kids with an incarcerated parent and ALAS who serves students involved in the immigration and criminal legal systems because our
young people can never receive enough support.