Our Team
Our team of attorneys and administrators at Legacy Estate & Elder Law of Louisiana provides expert legal guidance in estate planning matters, elder law, special needs planning, successions, trusts, Medicaid, and VA planning services. Read more about our team below, or click here for our services.
Linda S. Melancon, the founder of Legacy Estate & Elder Law of Louisiana is an attorney practicing in the areas of Estate Planning, Elder Law, Medicaid and VA benefit’s planning, Special Needs Planning and Estate Administration (Successions and Trust Administration).
Linda graduated magna cum laude from Mercer University with a double major in business administration and history and then attended Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center where she graduated with her law degree in 1997.
She is recognized by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in estate planning and estate administration. She is also accredited by the VA to give advice regarding veterans’ benefits.
While in law school, Linda received the Order of the Coif award for graduating in the top 10% of her class and was a member of the Louisiana Law Review.
Also active in the community, Linda has served as a board member for the Ascension Parish Council on Aging and the ARC of East Ascension. She is also a member of the Baton Rouge Association of Women Attorneys and the Baton Rouge Aging Network. Linda also regularly presents educational seminars for the public, as well as professional groups, on the importance of proper planning.
Betty A. Raglin
Attorney
Betty A. Raglin is an attorney practicing in the areas of Taxation, Estate Planning, Elder Law, Estate Administration, Trust Law, Business Planning, and Civil Litigation. Betty is Board Certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization in the areas of Tax Law and Estate Planning and Administration.
Betty graduated from Lamar University with a Bachelor in Business Administration and then attended Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center where she graduated with her law degree in 2001. In 2002, Betty received her Master of Laws in Taxation from Southern Methodist University.
She is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, and a co-author, beginning with 2010-2011 Supplement, of “Estate Planning in Louisiana” (Thomson West, 1991).
A natural speaker, Betty has presented on behalf of the law schools of Louisiana State University, Loyola University New Orleans, Southern University, and Tulane University. In addition, she is a former member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Chair of the Estate Planning Advisory Committee of the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, and former President of the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association.
Hailey E. Manint
Attorney
Hailey Manint is an attorney practicing in the areas of Estate Planning and Estate Administration. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from Louisiana State University in 2018 before pursuing her law degree from Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center. She graduated in the top 5% of her class and received her license to practice law in October of 2021.
Throughout her law school journey, Hailey demonstrated exceptional dedication and leadership as an active member of the Public Interest Law Society. In her third year, she served as the President of the organization, showcasing her commitment to serving her community.
Driven by her passion for assisting others, she chose to focus her legal practice in an area of the law that that affects people in all stages of life. Hailey recognizes the significance of these areas of law, from estate planning to navigating the complexities of loss and bereavement.
Inspired by her grandfather, an esteemed attorney with his own practice in Baton Rouge, Hailey witnessed firsthand the transformative relationships he cultivated with his clients. This experience solidified her determination to pursue a legal career centered on making a positive difference in people’s lives.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Hailey finds joy in exploring new destinations through travel, discovering hidden treasures through thrifting and estate sale hunting, and nurturing her green thumb in the garden. Her diverse interests reflect her vibrant personality and commitment to embracing life’s adventures both inside and outside of the office.
Jennifer L. Hebert
Senior Paralegal
Jennifer joined the Legacy team in 2015, bringing with her a wealth of experience from her previous role as a paralegal in creditors’ rights. She assists the attorneys in all areas of estate planning and administration, with a particular expertise in long-term care Medicaid application matters. Jennifer is known for ensuring a positive client experience, often being the go-to person for answering questions and guiding clients through the process.
On a typical day, Jennifer can be found managing everything from communication with clients to overseeing file management for the attorneys. No matter the task, she plays a key role in maintaining the firm’s smooth operations.
Jennifer’s dedication and skill are evident in her daily work. Outside of the office, she enjoys pending time with her husband, Dave, and her two sons, Brandon and Gabe. She also enjoys reading, going to the beach, attending festivals, and simply relaxing when she can.
Looking ahead, Jennifer’s main goal is to retire early and embrace the role of being a mawmaw, a dream that she holds close to her heart.
Sara M. Bingham
Business Manager
As Business Manager, Sara enjoys keeping the firm running behind the scenes, a skill she honed during her time as an office manager at a small rural NPR station. Before that, she gained her first office experience alongside her mother, Linda, at this very law firm, answering phones and filing papers. Sara received her B.A. in Communications from LSU in 2013.
Her daily responsibilities include managing the firm’s finances, speaking with clients, and overseeing all processes and procedures to ensure everything runs smoothly. Sara prides herself on her ability to break down the big picture into manageable details, ensuring efficiency and organization. Her experience managing a radio station taught her how to wrangle large projects and many details and turn it into order, a skill she brings to her current role. One of her proudest achievements is helping the firm transition into the digital age, enhancing their ability to service clients far and wide.
Outside of work, Sara enjoys experimenting with new recipes she finds online, attending her book club and craft club, and spending quality time with her husband, Brad, and their three dogs: Pringle, Lincoln, and Christmas. She loves browsing local antique stores and binge-watching medical dramas on Netflix.
Looking to the future, Sara hopes to grow the firm’s reach across Louisiana, sharing the knowledge and expertise of their exceptional staff. She also dreams of one day owning a small hotel in the mountains, where her dogs can run free.
Jesse L. Robert
Law Clerk
Jesse L. Robert is currently a law clerk at Legacy Estate & Elder Law as he awaits the results of his bar exam. Jesse grew up in Sorrento, Louisiana, and earned his Bachelor’s degree in political science from LSU before receiving his Juris Doctorate from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. During law school, he gained valuable experience interning at the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office, where he reviewed felony criminal complaints and worked closely with investigators, victims, and law enforcement. That experience taught him the importance of collaboration and problem-solving when addressing complex legal matters.
Community service has always been important to Jesse. As a volunteer with the Sorrento Lions Club, he helped organize events for his hometown and was proud to play a role in bringing back the beloved Boucherie Festival, an event deeply tied to the town’s history.
Outside of work, Jesse enjoys collecting vinyl records, reading, fishing, biking, and spending time with friends. He also loves time at home with his two dogs, Roni and Peanut Butter. With a passion for learning and serving others, Jesse is excited to grow his career at Legacy Estate & Elder Law while continuing to give back to the community that shaped him, and is eager to begin practicing as an attorney once he becomes licensed in the Fall.
Danyell Davis
Client Services Coordinator
Danyell is the first voice many callers hear, and walks people through the necessary steps to start working with the firm, taking joy in speaking with people in all walks of life. They bring a unique and diverse background to their work at Legacy Estate & Elder Law. Before entering the legal field, they worked as a baker, preschool teacher, French Quarter bartender, and special needs nanny. Just before joining the Legacy team, they worked as a litigation manager focused on mass torts against pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, where they gained valuable experience on the plaintiff’s side of the law. Their career has been marked by recognition at every step—whether through promotions, grateful parents of the children they taught, or even votes for Best King Cake.
Beyond their professional roles, Danyell has led projects addressing race, poverty, and migration in the Gulf South, coordinated city efforts for a national organization focused on sex worker safety, and contributed to the opening teams of acclaimed bakeries and restaurants. Deeply committed to their community, Danyell has volunteered with Women with a Vision, the New Orleans Abortion Fund, NOLA to Angola, Voice of the Experienced, Trystereo, and the Trans Income Project, among others.
Outside of work, Danyell enjoys baking elaborate cakes, hosting dinner parties, crafting, thrifting for trinkets, and traveling. They also love concerts, dancing, dressing up, and spending time with their beloved pets—Prissy, Benny, and Oliver. Their future dreams include opening a bakery/bookstore by day and event space by night, creating a community hub for shows, fundraisers, dance parties, and seminars. Above all, Danyell aspires to grow older surrounded by animals and loved ones, living a life rooted in joy and service.
Lauren D. Arceneaux
Law Clerk
Lauren Arceneaux joined Legacy Estate & Elder Law as a Law Clerk during the summer of 2025, before her final year of law school. Previously, she worked as a law clerk in the Litigation Division of the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, where she gained valuable insight into the legal profession.
At Legacy, Lauren assists with drafting succession and estate planning documents, researching legal questions, and attending meetings with clients. Her attention to detail and commitment to learning make her an asset to her team, and earned her a reputation as someone who can always be relied on.
Outside of work, Lauren is dedicated to giving back to the community. She volunteers with St. Vincent de Paul and the Baton Rouge Food Bank. In the spring of her 2nd year of law school, she organized a food drive at the LSU Law Center that collected approximately 600 pounds of canned food donations for the community. She plans to coordinate two more food drives before she graduates.
In her free time, Lauren enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, reading, and attending LSU sporting events and tailgates. She plans to graduate from law school in May 2026, pass the bar exam, and become a licensed attorney in Louisiana.
Darla D. Capello
Bookkeeper/Notary
Darla comes to Legacy with over 40 years bookkeeping experience under her belt in addition to holding her Notary Public license. She was a middle school math teacher for six years, and for a short time was a disc jockey at a local radio station. Outside of work, she enjoys crocheting, doing paint by number, and watching forensic shows and documentaries.
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