Automatic stay, default judgement, tort, pro se, adverse party, TPO’s, ex parte, standing order, judgment proof, and whatever this symbol is: §. My years of watching The Practice, Scandal, and The Good Wife did not prepare me for this. In my first few weeks at AVLF I was bombarded by these phrases and more. On top of learning new legal terms, I tried to memorize names of countless law firms while trying to remember which lawyer worked at which firm. For a person who had no prior legal experience, this was quite a task. In my five years of property management, I was accustomed to talking about closing costs, repair escrows, and FHA loans. The legal field was unfamiliar territory, but I was excited and eager to take in all that AVLF had to offer.

Quick snapshot: I attended Georgia Southern University beginning in 2007. I have been working with TrustPoint International for 2 years, specializing in litigation support for law firms and corporations. I joined AVLF’s Junior Board of Directors in early 2015.

How did you get involved with AVLF? It was through my involvement with TrustPoint that I learned about AVLF and its purpose. From the first moment I met Marty Ellin, I knew I had to be involved. His passion was infectious. Through the gracious time and recommendations of Jennifer Jackson, Liz Whipple and Michael Lucas, that involvement became a reality.

As my husband and I were packing for North Carolina, he asked me if I was going to miss being one of the cool kids. When I looked at him for clarification, he simply said, “AVLF.” My time at AVLF has been one of the most incredible opportunities of my life, and, while I am excited for the future, I recognize that I likely will never work in such a supportive, positive, and enthusiastic environment again. My coworkers’ passion for their work is genuine and contagious. They are also just fun people. I honestly liked staff meetings.

How did you get involved with AVLF? I first learned about AVLF about 8 years ago via the Domestic Violence Project and was hooked. When I met Marty Ellin, I knew I had to do whatever I could to further the efforts of AVLF and I have been joyfully involved since that time.

Good morning.  My name is Jamie Perez and I oversee AVLF’s Safe and Stable Families Project. It is my pleasure to represent AVLF today to recognize our foundation’s award recipients.  

I only recently joined AVLF and in just a few months with this organization, I cannot adequately express how overwhelmed I have been by the generosity of the Atlanta legal community. I was previously in private practice so I know what it means to balance billable hour requirements, caring for children and family, and being a leader in legal and community organizations.  

Over the past few years, I have thoroughly enjoyed my involvement with AVLF’s Safe Families Office. Safe Families pairs volunteer attorneys with clients to represent the clients at hearings for 12-month protective orders. The objective of Safe Families is to safeguard clients from future domestic violence. Not only does the Safe Families Office give me a great opportunity to get out of my office and into the courtroom, but it also allows me to use my legal education to make a genuine difference in someone else’s life.

CAREY KERSTEN | September 23, 2015 The mission of Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation is to create safe and stable homes and families by inspiring attorneys to fight for equal justice. It is clear that an important extension of this work is to promote a clear understanding of the lives of the families and individuals served through […]

AVLF does amazing work with the people most often taken advantage of in Atlanta: the low-income. In this group, Spanish-speakers are often disproportionately affected by slumlords and unscrupulous employers. I came into this job last year having spoken a little Spanish, but not nearly enough to properly assist these vulnerable clients. I had the opportunity last month to spend two weeks intensively studying Spanish in Monterrico, Guatemala, to help me better support the Spanish-speakers who call our office.

Who, what, where? Jane Warring; Graduate of Emory University Law School; Started career at Holland & Knight, moved to Robins Kaplan Miller and Ciresi (now Robins Kaplan) in 2008. Left in 2013 with three other colleagues to start the Atlanta office of Clyde & Co US LLP. The Clyde & Co Atlanta office now has 10 attorneys and 6 staff members. I am the current President of the Junior Board of AVLF.

Who, what, & where? Dena Hong, J.D. with honors from Emory in 1999; undergrad at Indiana University. I’ve been with UPS since 2004 and am currently Labor & Employment Counsel for the Corporate office. Before joining UPS, I was a Labor & Employment associate at Kilpatrick Stockton and a Litigation associate at Smith, Gambrell, & Russell. I’m the current Vice President of the AVLF Board of Directors and will the President in 2016.

CAREY KERSTEN | June 30, 2015 Quick snapshot (name, education, job history, any other boards you sit on, etc.): James M. (“Jimmy”) Rusert, University of Georgia, A.B.J., summa cum laude in Broadcast News with a minor in Theatre (2006), University of Georgia, School of Law, J.D., cum laude (2010). I have practiced law with DLA […]

LIZ WHIPPLE | June 25, 2015 Working at AVLF is, at its heart, about making friends. The incredible people at the Fulton County Courthouse who have taken me in, thank you. To the smart and eager interns who have gone above and beyond and turned into friends, I can’t wait to see the wonderful things you […]