Emily Loubiere Social Work Fellowship

Start Date: September 2026
Application Deadline July 31, 2026

Emily Loubiere

The family of Emily Loubiere and Innocence & Justice Louisiana are proud to announce the creation of the Emily Loubiere Social Work Fellowship. The fellowship honors the life, values, and legacy of Emily Michelle Loubiere and will focus on expanding long-term, trauma-informed support for individuals before and after their release from prison.

Emily was born on October 21, 1992, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and died on December 11, 2025, at the age of 33. She was raised by her parents, Max Loubiere and Victoria Johnston Loubiere, alongside her twin sister, Savannah, and older sister, Molly. From an early age, Emily demonstrated a deep curiosity, empathy, and a lasting belief in people, particularly those navigating hardship.

Guided by those values, Emily earned a psychology degree from the University of New Orleans in 2024 and completed a Master of Social Work degree at Tulane University in 2025, intending to focus her efforts on restorative justice and trauma-informed care. Before her death, Emily completed an internship with the Orleans Public Defenders Office and volunteered for many years with Trystereo, New Orleans’ harm reduction network. 

Emily understood that freedom is not a single moment, but a process. She believed that returning home after incarceration requires patience, trust, and sustained support. 

The Emily Loubiere Social Work Fellowship carries forward the work Emily was preparing to do. Through this Fellowship, IJLA will provide long-term, client-centered support to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals and their families, ensuring that no one navigates the transition home alone. 

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About the Fellowship

The Emily Loubiere Social Work Fellowship will fund the work of a recent graduate with an LMSW or an LCSW beginning September 2026

The Fellow, embedded in our Client Services Division, will work directly with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated clients and their families, providing individualized support before release and throughout the complex transition home. The Fellow will be supervised by the Client Services Division Supervisor, an experienced social worker, and work closely with IJLA’s Client Advocate and Peer Mentor.

IJLA does not operate a time-limited or curriculum-based reentry program. Instead, we provide long-term, client-centered support that adapts to each person’s evolving needs as long as that support is needed.

Primary Responsibilities of the Fellow
  • Meet with incarcerated clients pre-release to begin building a relationship, evaluate needs (mental health, substance use, medical, etc.), and develop a plan for support both pre- and post-release. This may include trauma assessments and bio-psycho-social evaluations. Gather and evaluate information relating to employment history and barriers to employment, housing, physical functioning, mental and behavioral well-being, and capacity for independent living.
  • Prepare for release: Depending on individual circumstances, work on securing housing, clothing, documentation, benefits, medical care, and other needs; depending on the posture of the case, prepare sentencing/release advocacy memoranda, and testify in court or before the parole board as needed.
  • Make referrals to agencies and other providers of medical/dental, mental health, counseling, behavioral health, educational, and employment services.
  • Upon a client’s release, schedule appointments, arrange transportation to appointments, and advocate at all stages to successfully obtain needed services.
  • Develop on-going service treatment plans and monitor client progress toward delineated objectives.
  • Identify and provide effective, trauma-informed, acute crisis responses for our clients and their impacted family members. This may include referring clients to community resources and providers once crises have been temporarily stabilized.
  • Work closely with families, friends, and advocates in clients support networks.

IJLA is a small nonprofit so, in addition to their primary duties, the Fellow will be expected to assist as necessary with other aspects of IJLA’s work, such as fundraising, public education and advocacy, special events, policy efforts, and office administration. IJLA is a client-focused office where teamwork and collaboration to ensure IJLA’s overall effectiveness and success are expected and valued.

Requirements for the Fellowship 

  • Must be a LMSW, LCSW, or equivalent.
  • Computer literacy, including experience using common office software, e.g. Microsoft Office Suite. Database management experience.
  • The ability to communicate and work cooperatively with a wide range of people, including government personnel and officials, law enforcement, attorneys, records custodians, students, incarcerated individuals and their families, and community members.
  • Excellent writing skills.
  • Strong oral advocacy skills.
  • Creative problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills.
  • Ability to work in a team and receive and provide constructive feedback.
  • Valid driver’s license.
  • Willingness to travel and to work on weekends and evenings as necessary.
Preferences for the Fellowship 
  • Existing ties to Louisiana.
  • Knowledge/experience concerning:
    • Louisiana’s criminal legal system.
    • Impact of race in the criminal legal system.
    • Mass incarceration
Salary and Benefits

This is a 2-year Fellowship, and the salary will be commensurate with applicant’s experience. IJLA offers a competitive benefits package that includes medical/dental coverage, 30 days of paid vacation, and 401k match. We observe federal holidays and the office is closed the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day

Application

Applications will be accepted until July 31, 2026. Please e-mail a cover letter, resume, 3 references, and a writing sample (no longer than 3 pages) to openings@justicelouisiana.org. Please include the job title in the e-mail subject line. Do not call. IJLA is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse work force reflective of the diverse communities we serve and support, with regard to race, culture, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, and caregiver status. IJLA works to advance racial justice and equity. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and legal system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.
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