AUDREY BERGESON | May 7, 2021
Our Family Law Program has been hosting free virtual Lunch & Learns for our volunteers.
In 2019, AVLF underwent a rigorous strategic planning process. One of the primary goals for the Family Law Program was to create new ways to support its volunteers and thank them for their dedication to the program. One plan for attaining this goal was to host a series of Lunch & Learn events exclusively for volunteers. The idea was to provide community, education, and, of course, lunch.
Of course, we all know what came next.
Of course, we all know what came next. It wasn’t long into 2020 before we knew that our plans for providing an opportunity to gather would not be taking shape any time soon. By April of 2020, we decided it was time to find a new way. We decided to take it virtual.
We hosted our first Lunch & Learn via zoom with guest speaker, Mandi Fridkin, sharing tips for determining income of self-employed opposing parties. Since then our topics and speakers have included:
- Tips for Making the Most of Fulton ADR with Megan Miller
- Working with the Guardian ad Litem on a Budget with Kristen Files and Brandy Alexander
- Tips for Effectively Working with Law Enforcement with Cynthia Padilla Pearson and Kenya Gould
- How to Set (and Keep!) Healthy Boundaries with Family Law Clients with Regina Edwards and Annie Mulligan
At each Lunch & Learn, our volunteers have engaged, shared their own practice tips, and connected with colleagues. And for the first few to sign up, we have provided free lunch as well.
While these events haven’t involved gathering around our conference room table like we imagined, they have been an incredible opportunity to connect with our colleagues in a disconnected time.
While these events haven’t involved gathering around our conference room table like we imagined, they have been an incredible opportunity to connect with our colleagues in a disconnected time. We are so grateful to all of our volunteers for their dedication to our programs and grateful to have this opportunity to provide a free opportunity to gather and learn as a small token of our thanks.
Our next Lunch & Learn, Mediation Mindset: How to Successfully Represent Your Client’s Interests at Mediation, is coming up on May 26, 2021 with Rebecca Hoelting. Can’t wait to see our Family Law Program Volunteers there!
Want to attend the next Lunch & Learn? Sign up here.
Audrey Bergeson
Managing Staff Attorney, Family Law Program
Audrey Bergeson is the Managing Staff Attorney for the Family Law Program. The Family Law Program serves survivors of domestic violence, who have been assisted by the Safe Families Office, with their long-term family law legal needs. As the Family Law Program Staff Attorney, Audrey manages the program, provides direct client representation, and pairs clients with experienced family law attorney volunteers.
Prior to joining AVLF, Audrey practiced family law as an associate with Smith & Lake, LLC. Before practicing with Smith & Lake, Audrey was the 2013-2015 Hunton & Williams (now Hunton, Andrews, Kurth) Pro Bono Fellow, where she provided pro bono legal services to clients and served on the pro bono committee. Audrey is an honors graduate of Emory University School of Law, where she received the Custer Tuggle Award of Excellence in Family Law, and she received her B.A. with honors from the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
Audrey is a member of the Atlanta Bar Association, DeKalb Bar Association, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and Stonewall Bar Association. Audrey is the Co-Editor of the YLD Review, a publication of the State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division (YLD). She is a member of the YLD Executive Committee, the 2018 recipient of the YLD Service to the Profession Award, and the 2017 recipient of the YLD Service to the Community Award. Audrey was recently appointed by the State Bar President to the State Bar’s Committee on Children and the Courts.