…apartment, terrified of her abuser. Jessie managed to sneak a call to the Safe Families Office, the courthouse-based walk-in clinic that we co-run with Partnership Against Domestic Violence. She told us everything: how she was barricading herself in different rooms of her apartment, terrified of her abuser. One day in early May, Jessie locked herself in the bathroom and connected to a video call. Our staff helped Jessie meet virtually with a Fult…
…iling faces, even though they might not have food in the refrigerator or a safe place to sleep at night. Their home may be filled with leaks and mold, or maybe their parent just received an eviction notice. This is what we experience most days as we work in Forest Cove, a large apartment complex in the Southeast Atlanta neighborhood of Thomasville Heights. Children are resilient – their smiles and laughter are a testament to that. But these childr…
…d hostage by her child’s father for hours, Ms. Malone came directly to the Safe Families Office to file for legal protection against him. The SFO team sprang to action and wasted no time placing her case. Audrey Bergeson from Smith & Lake (and AVLF’s Junior Board) volunteered to represent Ms. Malone. Audrey didn’t take any shortcuts: she expertly presented over 20 exhibits to the judge, including photos and voicemails that left no question about w…
…nteer Lawyers Foundation. We hired new staff to increase the impact of the Safe Families Office and the Saturday Lawyer program, AVLF’s flagship program. We expanded to six new schools for the second year of Standing with Our Neighbors – and needed a few people to help out with that. It’s easy to feel like our staff has doubled in the last six months. But what you haven’t read about is how our development team has been working around the clock to…
…ef to those dealing with intimate partner abuse who haven’t made it to the Safe Families Office. Cynthia identifies and creates new outreach and training opportunities with law enforcement, landlords, schools and other partners in the community. Cynthia graduated with a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University in 2008. She also received an M.S. in Conflict Management from Kennesaw State University in 2011. Cynthia has a strong backgr…
…ogram 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, Audre…
…er, based in part on the addition of a Staff Attorney and Navigator to the Safe Families Office, and a contemplated expansion of the SWON Program. Achieving these outcomes required the AVLF staff to create meaningful pro bono opportunities for Atlanta’s lawyers, to recruit and when necessary to train those attorneys in the relevant substantive area, to respond to thousands of phone calls from would-be clients hoping to secure the services of the p…
…9:00 p.m. General admission tickets: $75 each Visit purshoeingjustice.org for details and to purchase tickets….
…Members of the Family Law Committee of the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia are hosting the 10th Annual “Supreme Cork” wine tasting and silent auction. Again this year, the Supreme Cork fundraiser will be held at 5 Seasons Westside and will benefit AVLF’s Guardian ad Litem Program and the Safe Families Office. Learn more here….
…& Bird LLP Kenneth Franklin, Duane Morris LLP Kristen Rajagopal, Kristen Rajagopal LLC Anastasios Manettas, Manettas Law Courtney Dixon, Atlanta Legal Aid Society Yvonne Williams-Wass, Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP David Cheng, Dickason Law Group Gabriella Medina Nunez, AVLF Safe Families Office Intern, Georgia State University School of Law Taylor Lyn Williams, Smith & Lake LLC Intern, Georgia State University School of Law Guardian Ad Litem Nath…
…ior volunteer experience during his time in law school, including with the Safe Families Office, the Georgia Law Center for the Homeless, AVLF’s Saturday Lawyer Program, and as a volunteer with Gideon’s Promise. John is described by his peers and colleagues as a fierce litigator who provides passionate advocacy, exemplifying honesty and empathy, in a tireless pursuit of justice for those he represents. John has long been called to the service of t…
…ur community. Through its critical programs, like Saturday Lawyers and the Safe Families Office, AVLF links local attorneys with clients facing urgent challenges to give these clients essential access to the justice system, which they might not otherwise have. What are you proudest of professionally? As a native Atlantan, I grew up flying Delta and have always seen it as a pillar of the Atlanta community and economy. I’m thrilled and humbled to no…
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