What is AVLF?
The Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, Inc. was created through the joint efforts of the Atlanta Council of Younger Lawyers, the Gate City Bar Association, and the Atlanta Legal Aid Society in 1979 to offer lawyers an opportunity to provide civil legal representation for the poor. Since then, AVLF has provided representation for indigent clients through the efforts of volunteer private attorneys, its student clinical program and various outreach programs.
Why was AVLF Created?
Prominent members of the Atlanta legal community recognized two very important things. First, no matter how many excellent lawyers Atlanta Legal Aid, and other service organizations, added to their staff, it would never be enough to meet the need for legal assistance to low-income citizens of Fulton County. Equally important, lawyers in private practice recognized that every attorney has an obligation to support the notion of equal access to justice, and that participation in pro bono work not only gives necessary help to clients in need but also promotes the highest goals of the legal profession.
Who are AVLF's Clients?
Clients are Fulton County residents or people who have cases pending in Fulton County and who meet the financial standards of eligibility.
How Does AVLF Work?
- Clients are screened by AVLF to ensure financial and geographical eligibility.
- Case review is conducted prior to referral to ensure that the client has an appropriate legal problem.
- Referrals are made using procedures to suit the needs of the individual lawyer.
- Back-up attorneys and paralegals are available to provide assistance to volunteer lawyers.
- Litigation services such as court reporting or expert witness may be obtained pro bono, or will be reimbursed if the volunteer has obtained prior approval.
- Primary malpractice insurance is in place to the volunteer lawyer for each case referred through Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers.
AVLF's 25th Anniversary
The Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation celebrated 25 years of the program's representation of low-income Fulton County residents through private volunteer attorneys.
In honor of the Foundation's 25th anniversary, on Thursday, May 12, 2005 the Coca Cola Company hosted a cocktail reception and dinner for 200 of the Foundation's strongest supporters and friends at the company's headquarters. The event featured guest speaker Mike Luckovich.
AVLF celebrated with memories of 25 years of volunteer legal service, including an acknowledgment of all who have won distinguished service awards, and with recognition of those who have served on the Foundation's Board of Directors and Advisory Board. Special note was made of AVLF’s Founders, Hon. Charles Carnes, John Chandler, Robbie Dokson and Jim Martin, as well as former Executive Directors Brian Stone and Debbie Segal.
The Atlanta legal community has been extremely supportive of the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation through AVLF’s history, and this gala celebration was no exception. As to the future, Foundation Executive Director Marty Ellin noted that evening:
We reach 25 optimistic about the level of support for pro bono legal services in the Atlanta legal community and yet very, very aware that most of the civil legal needs of the poor remain unmet.
We know that you and your partners and associates volunteer in numbers never seen before: yet we also know that even if 2,000 lawyers volunteer this year, it means that we have not reached the other 15,000 lawyers in the Atlanta metropolitan area with our pro bono message.
We therefore dedicate ourselves, in the next 25 years, to strengthen our relationships with our clients, and with every entity with which we partner, to advance the mission of our Foundation. We understand that we, and all lawyers, are responsible for the system of justice that we create, and that we must be fully engaged in our cause, which, simply put, is this:
To do everything that can be done to promote real and equal access to justice!
