SECTION UPDATES
50 January / February 2024
Public Interest Law Section
While I ’ m writing this on the 73rd day of January , my mind is already thinking ahead to March . Since the extinction of the woolly mammoth , probably , but at least in the 19 years since I took the attorney ’ s oath , every March brings a couple of benchmarks to the world of Atlanta lawyers . First , the complete and utter panic of realizing you are two CLEs short of keeping your license another year . Second , the delight and relief of learning that an abundance of CLE is coming your way just in time ! The best news , of course , about the “ madness ” of March CLE in the Atlanta Bar , is that it is the very best kind of CLE – the kind that enables you – yes , YOU ! – to take on pro bono work to help marginalized , low-income , and needy people in Atlanta and across Georgia .
As you ( hopefully ) know by now , the Public Interest Law Section exists to support public interest lawyers and promote the practice of law in the public interest in Atlanta . If we have no other job as a section , it is to support lawyers who are providing critical legal services to those most in need . And if there ’ s anything I took away from ten years working at Atlanta Legal Aid , it ’ s that the number of people who needed the help FAR exceeded our capacity . We needed pro bono volunteer lawyers to try to close that gap . That need persists .
So what does this have to do with CLE ? Or March ? Or woolly mammoths , for that matter ?
March Pro Bono Frenzy is more than just an opportunity to get those last few CLEs or to stock up for next year – although that ’ s a definite plus . In March , you have the chance to be a lawyer who knows how to fix critical problems for low-income folks . You may , at this very moment , be thinking that the law you know how to practice couldn ’ t possibly help low-income folks . One of the very cool things about the Atlanta Bar is our rich resources in talented public interest lawyers who can – and will – teach you how to help .
No matter what you do in your day job , you have talents and skills that our public interest clients need . If you have ever taken testimony or a deposition , you have the skills to learn how to present a family violence survivor ’ s testimony and cross-examine the Respondent . If you know a lot about corporate tax ( check out our 2023 Rita Sheffey Award Winner , tax law wiz and full-time public interest lawyer , Robyn Miller ), you can learn how to help a small food pantry navigate the tax code . If you can negotiate a billion-dollar merger , you can learn how to help an emergency shelter negotiate its lease with a landlord . Really , any one of you reading this can learn how to help single parents , struggling artists , small non-profits , medically fragile seniors , unhoused veterans , immigrants , kids facing truancy issues – if you can imagine the challenge , we have a public interest organization that needs YOU . And to help , all you need to do is be willing to show up and learn .
So join us and commit to doing more pro bono in 2024 ! If you aren ’ t sure which CLEs and projects may be for you , consider reaching out to any of our board members . We would love to help get you involved !
Sarah Cipperly , Board Chair , Cipperly Law , LLC ( Atlanta Legal Aid Society , Inc . Alumna ) Kimberly Charles , Chair Elect , Deputy Director , Atlanta Legal Aid Society , Inc . Elizabeth Main , Treasurer , Georgia Legal Services Program Darcy McLean , Secretary , Senior Pro Bono and Community Engagement Manager , Alston & Bird Alpa Amin , Executive Director , Georgia Immigration & Asylum Network Audrey Bergeson , Burgeson Family Law , LLC ( Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation Alumna ) Erin Donahue-Koehler , Georgia Justice Project Danielle Simpson , Truancy Intervention Project Ayana Jones-Lightsy , Immediate Past Chair , Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation Rita Sheffey , Chair Emeritus , Executive Director , Atlanta Legal Aid Society , Inc .
SARAH CIPPERLY Cipperly Law Group Cipperlylawgroup . com