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Louis Rafti of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles is featured in an exciting, exclusive, in-depth and inside interview, discussing Headline Legal News Series. Louis Rafti is known in certain legal circles of L.A. as a tireless advocate for the poor and disabled. What's less known is that up until six years ago, Rafti was a homeless cocaine addict. He contracted HIV from dirty needles. He lived in skid row shelters. He was, in short, a lost soul. Actually, Rafti said he was just another suburban kid from the San Fernando Valley who "liked to party." When Rafti graduated from Southwestern University School of Law School in 2004, the state bar told him it was concerned about his moral character. He responded with an impassioned letter. "About the time I became too old for comic books I discovered drugs and alcohol," he wrote in an essay arguing for admission to the State Bar of California despite his guilty plea in a misdemeanor drug case in 1998. "My life illustrates both the despair caused by addiction, but the possibilities of redemption as well," he wrote. "As part of my commitment to sobriety, I have chosen to dedicate the rest of my days to helping those who face some of the same situations." He was admitted to the state bar in June 2006. Since that time, Louis has been a literal savior for people who need legal assistance. His philosophy is that public interest lawyers should help as many people as they can. As he put it: "You see a person who is drowning, are you going to not throw them a life preserver because you're late to dinner?" His passion for his job has only grown with time. You can contact Louis at (800)-399-4529, or www.lafla.org |
