AVLF
Executive Director of the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation Michael Lucas discusses the legal services we provide to underserved communities in Atlanta and how individuals can contribute to our mission.
Arnall Golden Gregory LLP (AGG), a nationally recognized law firm with offices in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., has deepened its commitment to justice and community-based legal services with a $50,000 contribution to Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) in 2025 — on top of its existing $15,000 annual support. This gift puts AGG among AVLF’s top corporate supporters and reinforces the firm’s dedication to ensuring equal access to justice.
AGG’s leadership comes at a pivotal time, as housing insecurity, intimate partner abuse, and access to justice challenges continue to rise. AVLF’s innovative, community-based approach prevents evictions, protects survivors, and stabilizes families — work that is more essential than ever.
“At AGG, we believe that every person deserves access to justice, regardless of income,” said Sean P. Fogarty, Managing Partner at AGG. “AVLF’s legal representation and wraparound support services are crucial to protecting families, keeping communities intact, and ensuring people have the support they need to move forward. We are proud to stand with them in this mission.”
Through preventative legal advocacy, AVLF intervenes before legal crises escalate, ensuring that tenants facing wrongful evictions and survivors seeking safety have the legal representation they need. The organization’s deeply embedded, community-driven model allows it to address systemic injustices on the ground and at the source — a strategy that has made AVLF a national leader in legal services innovation.
“AGG’s generosity is more than financial support, it’s a call to action,” said Michael Lucas, Executive Director of AVLF. “When law firms invest in access to justice, they help build stronger communities. AGG is setting the standard for how the legal industry can make a lasting impact.”
AGG’s support goes beyond funding. The firm’s attorneys have long been involved in AVLF’s pro bono programs, providing eviction defense, standing up for tenants in unsafe housing conditions, and helping survivors navigate the legal system. This latest commitment strengthens AGG’s role as a champion for access to justice.
As law firms, businesses, and philanthropic leaders consider how they can make a meaningful impact, AGG’s leadership sets a powerful example. By investing in community-based legal services, they are not only helping individuals — they are strengthening the legal system as a whole.
Michael Lucas, executive director of Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, said landlords do not have the power to abruptly force anyone out without a formal eviction.
Since its launch as a pilot in 2022, Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation’s eviction defense advocacy program has helped about 800 households understand their rights and available legal resources during the eviction process, AVLF executive director Michael Lucas told Axios.
Read the full story on Axios.
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
ATLANTA — Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $25,000 grant from Bank of America. This investment will support AVLF’s ongoing efforts to provide free legal services to low-income residents in the Atlanta area.
The grant will enable AVLF to expand its programs, ensuring more individuals and families receive the legal assistance they need to overcome critical issues such as landlord-tenant abuse, intimate partner abuse, and access to economic opportunity. By bolstering AVLF’s resources, Bank of America is making a significant impact in fostering justice and equity within the community.
“We are incredibly grateful to Bank of America for their continued support,” said Michael Lucas, Executive Director of AVLF. “This grant will allow us to further our mission of providing free legal help to those who need it most, ensuring that every person in Atlanta has access to the justice they deserve.”
Bank of America’s commitment to supporting local communities aligns with AVLF’s dedication to creating a more just and equitable society. This partnership highlights the importance of corporate philanthropy in driving social change and empowering individuals through access to legal resources.
“Partnering with AVLF is part of our commitment to creating sustainable change in Atlanta,” said Al McRae, president, Bank of America Atlanta. “Investing in Atlanta nonprofits demonstrates how Bank of America is taking action to provide the resources and support needed to help build thriving communities long-term.
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About Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
Serving Atlanta and Fulton County since 1979, AVLF is the largest provider of free legal services to two groups: low-income tenants and survivors of intimate partner abuse. Our mission is to create safe and stable homes and families by inspiring the fight for equal justice. We believe no one standing up for their rights should have to do it alone. Whatever our clients are up against, we’re here for them. At AVLF, ‘here’ means many things. It means beside them in court; at our downtown legal clinics nearly every Saturday of the year; in our two offices in the Fulton County Courthouse; in our communities’ schools; and in our clients’ homes. For more information, visit www.avlf.org.
ATLANTA — Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) is proud to announce that it has been awarded $10,000 in grant funding by Norfolk Southern Corporation. This generous grant will support AVLF’s mission to create safe and stable homes by championing equal justice for all. The funds will be allocated to the organization’s innovative Standing with Survivors (SwS) Mobile Advocacy Program, which provides place-based legal support to victims of intimate partner abuse in Atlanta.
“This grant from Norfolk Southern Corporation is a significant boost to our efforts to support survivors of intimate partner abuse,” said Michael Lucas, Executive Director of AVLF. “With this funding, we can extend our reach and provide essential legal services to even more individuals in need, helping them achieve safety and stability. We are deeply grateful for Norfolk Southern’s commitment to our community and their partnership in our mission to fight for equal justice.”
The SwS Mobile Advocacy Program offers free, high-quality legal advocacy to low-income survivors of intimate partner abuse. With the support of this grant, the program will provide critical legal services to survivors and their children, including obtaining protective orders, divorces, child and spousal support, custody agreements, and other holistic services. This comprehensive approach ensures that survivors receive the necessary legal protections and support to achieve safety and stability in their lives.
The grant from Norfolk Southern Corporation will enable AVLF to fill a crucial gap in the provision of affordable, accessible, and culturally responsive legal services for victims of intimate partner abuse. By empowering survivors with the legal resources they need, AVLF is working to build a stronger, safer community for all.
The grant is part of two community programs launched by Norfolk Southern in 2023: the Safety First Grant Program, which seeks to advance safety organizations and initiatives, and the Thriving Communities Grant Program, which aims to promote economic opportunity, support vibrant community life, and provide equal access to basic necessities. Award recipients are selected annually from across the railroad’s 22-state network.
“With a history spanning more than 200 years across thousands of communities, Norfolk Southern is proud to be a part of the towns, cities, and states we serve,” said Kristin Wong, Director Corporate Giving at Norfolk Southern. “Norfolk Southern employees live, work, and play in every community across our network, and we are committed to seeing those communities thrive.”
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About Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
Serving Atlanta and Fulton County since 1979, AVLF is the largest provider of free legal services to two groups: low-income tenants and survivors of intimate partner abuse. Our mission is to create safe and stable homes and families by inspiring the fight for equal justice. We believe no one standing up for their rights should have to do it alone. Whatever our clients are up against, we’re here for them. At AVLF, ‘here’ means many things. It means beside them in court; at our downtown legal clinics nearly every Saturday of the year; in our two offices in the Fulton County Courthouse; in our communities’ schools; and in our clients’ homes. For more information, visit www.avlf.org.
About Norfolk Southern
Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and is the largest rail shipper of auto products and metals in North America. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S., serving a majority of the country’s population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com.
Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) has re-issued the RFP for website design and development project today: June 25, 2024. We are extending the submission deadline to July 16, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST, to allow for more submissions to review and assess.
If you have previously submitted your proposal, you do not have to re-submit your proposal. However, those who have already submitted may use this opportunity to make any changes if needed. If no changes are necessary, please let us know, and we will review your proposal as originally submitted.
We are seeking a dynamic website design/development agency to help us reimagine our current website (www.avlf.org). We would like to promote our array of legal and social work programs as well as the resources that AVLF provides with content that inspires and ignites support. This includes uplifting our impact stories as well as the volunteers and partners who make our work possible.
Please find the new timeline for the selection process below:
Interested parties can view/download our RFP: AVLF Website Design/Launch HERE.
Please access the FAQs for the Website Design and Development Project RFP HERE.
Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) is excited to announce the addition of three distinguished leaders in the local legal community to the organization’s Board of Directors. Each new member brings substantial expertise and a strong commitment to AVLF’s mission of advocating for safe and stable homes and families by inspiring the fight for equal justice.
The new AVLF at-large directors are:
“We are delighted to have such a talented and esteemed group of legal professionals join our Board of Directors,” said Michael Lucas, Executive Director of AVLF. “Their varied backgrounds and professional insights will significantly bolster our mission to provide equitable access to justice for all members of the Atlanta community.”
From advocating for tenant rights to protecting the well-being and security of survivors of intimate partner abuse, the AVLF team remains steadfast in their commitment to standing with their neighbors as they stand up for their own rights and dignity. The dedication and leadership offered by these new board members, who generously contribute their time and expertise, play a crucial role in AVLF’s ongoing efforts to ensure that everyone has the support they need to uphold their rights.
About Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
Serving Atlanta and Fulton County since 1979, AVLF is the largest provider of free legal services to two groups in Fulton County: low-income tenants and survivors of intimate partner abuse. Our mission is to create safe and stable homes and families by inspiring the fight for equal justice. We believe no one standing up for their rights should have to do it alone. Whatever our clients are up against, we’re here for them. At AVLF, ‘here’ means many things. It means beside them in court; at our downtown legal clinics nearly every Saturday of the year; in our two offices in the Fulton County Courthouse; in our communities’ schools; and in our clients’ homes. For more information, visit www.avlf.org.
It is the mission of the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF): “To create safe and stable homes and families by inspiring the fight for equal justice.”
We are seeking a dynamic website design/development agency to help us reimagine our current website (www.avlf.org). We would like to promote our array of legal and social work programs as well as the resources that AVLF provides with content that inspires and ignites support. This includes uplifting our impact stories as well as the volunteers and partners who make our work possible.
Interested parties can view/download our RFP: AVLF Website Design/Launch HERE.
Please access the FAQs for the Website Design and Development Project RFP HERE.
POST DATE: May 24, 2024 | SUBMISSION DEADLINE: June 14, 2024 11:59 PM
On Friday, May 17, 2024, Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) and CHRIS 180 proudly opened their new joint office, dedicated to providing comprehensive support services to the Westside community. The event marked a significant milestone in the partnership between AVLF and CHRIS 180, uniting their expertise in pro bono legal representation, mental health and other wraparound services to better serve local residents.
The opening ceremony, held from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the new office located at 283 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30314, brought together the AVLF and CHRIS 180 teams with community members and local business, philanthropic, and civic leaders. Discussions focused on the positive impact the new office will have on the community. Leadership from AVLF and CHRIS 180, along with City of Atlanta Councilmembers Jason Dozier and Byron Amos, delivered inspiring remarks. During the event, a CHRIS 180 client and an AVLF Standing with Our Neighbors client shared their success stories, serving as heartwarming examples of the benefits this new office will provide to the local Westside community. Attendees received a first-hand look at the community support facility, which integrates legal and wraparound services under one roof. The event concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a viewing of AVLF’s innovative Standing with Survivors Mobile Advocacy van that serves survivors of intimate partner abuse in the community.
The new office is set to provide essential services, including legal assistance for eviction defense and landlord-tenant disputes, as well as mental health counseling, support navigating the healthcare system and other essential services. With this local presence, AVLF and CHRIS 180 aim to address the unique needs of the Westside community, overcoming barriers such as safety concerns, transportation limitations, mental health stigma and time constraints.
“This opening is a testament to our commitment to delivering innovative solutions that directly impact the lives of those we serve,” said Michael Lucas, Executive Director of AVLF. “Our collaboration with CHRIS 180 is our latest step in a very intentional journey to becoming a completely community-based organization, and one that does everything we can think of to knock down the barriers that exist for so many to receive services.”
The partnership between AVLF and CHRIS 180 represents a significant advancement in fostering a stronger, more resilient Westside community. Both organizations are dedicated to making a lasting impact by providing accessible, integrated support services tailored to the neighborhood’s specific needs.
“We are proud to continue our work on the Westside with the opening of this new shared space that will allow us to more effectively serve our community,” said Katy Colbenson, LMFT, President and CEO of CHRIS 180. “Together with AVLF, we have created a safe and supportive environment where residents of all ages can easily access the help they need to heal from their trauma and thrive.”
For more information about the services provided by the new office and other questions, please contact John Casey at AVLF at jcasey@avlf.org, and Chaundra Luckett at CHRIS 180 at Chaundra.Luckett@chris180.org.
About Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
Serving Atlanta and Fulton County since 1979, AVLF is the largest provider of free legal services to two groups: low-income tenants and survivors of intimate partner abuse. Our mission is to create safe and stable homes and families by inspiring the fight for equal justice. We believe no one standing up for their rights should have to do it alone. Whatever our clients are up against, we’re here for them. At AVLF, ‘here’ means many things. It means beside them in court; at our downtown legal clinics nearly every Saturday of the year; in our two offices in the Fulton County Courthouse; in our communities’ schools; and in our clients’ homes. For more information, visit www.avlf.org.
About CHRIS 180
Atlanta-based nonprofit CHRIS 180 was founded in 1981 and provides life-changing trauma-informed behavioral health services and wraparound support to children, adults, families, and communities that empowers them to change the direction of their lives. Over the past 40 years, the organization has worked with more than 200,000 clients to build resilience and heal from trauma, while becoming a well-respected leader in child welfare and a thought leader in supporting underserved and traumatized communities across Metro Atlanta. For more information, visit CHRIS180.org.
Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) is proud to announce a $200,000 grant from Truist Foundation, aimed at fortifying its mission to provide essential pro bono legal resources to low-income tenants. This vital support will provide supportive funding for AVLF’s Standing with Our Neighbors (SWON) program – which is based on the understanding that families cannot thrive without affordable housing that is safe, stable, and allows for a healthy environment; schools cannot thrive with a student body forced to live in unstable housing and deplorable conditions.
“We believe that access to stable housing is not just a basic need, but a fundamental right,” said Michael Lucas, Executive Director, AVLF. “This grant from Truist Foundation allows us to deepen our commitment to ensuring that every member of our community, regardless of income, has a safe and dignified place to call home.”
By strategically embedding attorneys and community advocates within local schools, SWON delivers timely and impactful assistance to families facing housing crises. This innovative approach not only addresses immediate legal needs but also fosters long-term stability and empowerment within under-resourced communities. This transformative grant will enable AVLF to expand the reach and efficacy of the program, fortifying its commitment to serving low-income tenants. AVLF’s collaboration with schools and community partners underscores its holistic approach to combating the root causes of housing insecurity. By focusing on the intersection of housing conditions, children’s health, and educational outcomes, AVLF aims to break the cycle of poverty and inequity that plagues many low-income neighborhoods.
“Our purpose at Truist is to inspire and build better lives and communities,” said Katie Saez, Georgia regional president for Truist. “Access to attainable, quality, affordable housing is critical to the health of neighborhoods, and we are proud to collaborate with organizations such as AVLF. It is a priority for Truist.”
About Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
Serving Atlanta and Fulton County since 1979, AVLF is the largest provider of free legal services to two groups: low-income tenants and survivors of intimate partner abuse. Our mission is to create safe and stable homes and families by inspiring the fight for equal justice. We believe no one standing up for their rights should have to do it alone. Whatever our clients are up against, we’re here for them. At AVLF, ‘here’ means many things. It means beside them in court; at our downtown legal clinics nearly every Saturday of the year; in our two offices in the Fulton County Courthouse; in our communities’ schools; and in our clients’ homes. For more information, visit www.avlf.org.
About Truist Foundation
Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation’s (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. The Foundation, an endowed private foundation established in 2020 whose operating budget is independent of Truist Financial Corporation, makes strategic investments in a wide variety of nonprofit organizations centered around two focus areas: building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses to ensure all communities have an equal opportunity to thrive. Embodying these focus areas are the Foundation’s leading initiatives – the Inspire Awards and Where It Starts. Learn more at Truist.com/Foundation.
Award Winners Recognized for Providing Legal Advice, Representation and Support Services for Thousands of Tenants Facing Wrongful Evictions as well as Survivors of Intimate Partner Abuse
On April 24, 2024, Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) held its 4th Annual AVLF All Star Awards to celebrate the many dedicated volunteer attorneys, law firms and partners who provide legal services and critical resources to tenants facing wrongful evictions as well as survivors of intimate partner abuse throughout Fulton County.
Mayor Andre Dickens kicked off the awards ceremony with a video address to the more than 170 supporters in attendance – applauding AVLF and its volunteers for being a great partner to the City of Atlanta by providing access to justice and care to individuals and families who need it most.
“It’s AVLF’s 45th anniversary and our driving theme for the year is to inspire, innovate and invest,” said Michael Lucas, Executive Director, AVLF. “And our AVLF All Star Award winners help us manifest this with clients in impactful ways.
“We are committed to reaching more individuals through community-focused, place-based work. So, partners like Mercedes Benz of Buckhead and Live More Campervans helped us do just that – by graciously donating a Sprinter that we transformed into an innovative mobile advocacy van. Now, when clients face threats of abuse and stalking, we can meet them in remote places — like grocery parking lots — to connect to the courts and social workers in a safe space.
“And our highly-skilled volunteer attorneys and firms invest their time and talent to ensure our clients receive first-rate pro bono services with the same dignity and care as do paying clients. So, when we show up in communities, residents know that they have a trusted partner in AVLF.”
The All-Star Awards was launched four years ago to recognize the outstanding volunteers, partners and law firms who make it possible for AVLF to deliver pro bono services to communities throughout Fulton County. Annually, AVLF volunteers and team members assist more than 5,000 residents seeking assistance with wrongful evictions and threats of abuse and stalking. All-Star Award recipients are determined by the AVLF team members who work directly with volunteers and partners to serve tenants and survivors.
Recipients of the 4th Annual AVLF All Star Awards include:
AVLF Programs – Partners of the Year
AVLF Programs – Volunteers of the Year
AVLF Programs – Firms of the Year
AVLF Super Stars
AVLF Partners of the Year
AVLF Firm of the Year
Martin Louis Ellin Achievement Award
The 4th Annual AVLF All Star Awards was made possible thanks to the generous support of partners, including: Alston & Bird, Kilpatrick, Troutman Pepper, Warner Bates, Hunton Andrews Kurth and Benjamin Hunter.
Click HERE to view additional pictures from the event.
About the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF)
Serving Atlanta and Fulton County since 1979, AVLF is the largest provider of free legal services to two groups: low-income tenants and survivors of intimate partner abuse. Our mission is to create safe and stable homes and families by inspiring the fight for equal justice. We believe no one standing up for their rights should have to do it alone. Whatever our clients are up against, we’re here for them. At AVLF, ‘here’ means many things. It means beside them in court; at our downtown legal clinics nearly every Saturday of the year; in our two offices in the Fulton County Courthouse; in our communities’ schools; and in our clients’ homes. For more information, visit www.avlf.org.