MEMBERSHIP
Has It Been a Year Already?
PETER H. STROTT Strott & Dillon LLC pstrott @ strottdillon. com
It has been my privilege and honor to serve as the Atlanta Bar Association Lawyer Referral Information Service(“ LRIS”) Chair for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Serving as the Chair this past year has allowed me to learn much about what it takes for the LRIS to operate, and it takes a lot. A special shout-out goes to Ms. Lucia Keller, LRIS Director, our behind-the-scenes pillar of the organization, who does most of the“ a lot.” And I must add that Ms. Keller would humbly deflect my shout out to others, because that is the type of person who she is.
I joined the LRIS as a panel member in 2007. At the time, and for many years thereafter, I viewed the LRIS solely as a means to obtain additional clients, and I never gave much thought to the process involved in obtaining those referrals or about LRIS’ s mission. Then, after many years as a panel member, I joined the LRIS Board of Directors. Being a board member opened my eyes to the impact that the LRIS has not only for its panel members, but also the metro-Atlanta residents seeking counsel. From the inception of the remittance of percentage fee policy in September 2004 until April 30, 2025, the LRIS has generated $ 5,480,777.87 in percentage fees for its attorneys. There have been 237,535 referrals and the LRIS has assisted more than 1,103,433 callers over this same period. All very impressive numbers. If you want your practice to be on the receiving end of some of the millions of dollars generated, sign up. The link to join the program is: https:// atlantabar. org /? pg = lrisapplicationQL
But there is more to LRIS than generating leads for lawyers. A lot more. The LRIS panel members remit 15 % of their fees above $ 500 to LRIS. Each year, LRIS works with the Atlanta Bar Foundation to provide grants to pro bono organizations in Metro Atlanta. Between 2009 and 2024, the LRIS contributed a total of $ 2,027,220, in grants to Metro Atlanta programs.
This year was no exception: LRIS contributed $ 180,000 to Grant Program and the Grant recipients were: Atlanta Bar SLIP($ 43,000), Atlanta Legal Aid Society($ 35,000), Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation($ 35,000), GA Asylum and Immigration Network($ 35,000), Truancy Intervention Project($ 20,000), Georgia Appleseed($ 5,000), Georgia Innocence Project($ 5,000), Georgia Justice Project($ 5,000), Georgia Lawyers for the Arts($ 2,500), Gideon’ s Promise($ 6,000), Latin American Association($ 2,500), Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta($ 8,500), and Southern Center for Human Rights($ 2,500).
Each year, the grants are awarded during the Grant Celebration Luncheon. In December 2024, the luncheon was hosted by Wade Malone from Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP. We extend our appreciation to them for facilitating this event.
The highlight of my year as Chair was attending the Grants Luncheon. I knew of the various pro bono organizations that were Grant recipients, but what I did not know was the power, dedication, and conviction of the individuals who make up those organizations.“ Wow” pretty much sums them up--an amazingly talented group of individuals who are committed to serve those with greater needs. Each attendee had a chance to tell a little about themselves and their organizations and it was so impactful for me to hear their stories. This luncheon taught me the hidden power of the LRIS – helping the Atlanta pro bono community continue their missions serving Atlantans in need.
Another LRIS accomplishment this year was the revamping of the Modest Means Program, which now offers limited scope representation for family law matters. To help attract new Modest Means panel members when full representation is needed, the attorney’ s hourly rate has been increased to $ 150 for family law cases. For more information, please contact modestmeans @ atlantabar. org.
As my term is nearing its end, I would like to thank the entire LRIS Board of Directors who make me look good! I also want to express my appreciation and gratitude for the leaders of this Board whose terms end on May 31, 2025. They are Walter Gabriel, Bomkapr Kanu, and Tristan Morrison, and extend a warm welcome to new LRIS Board of Directors leaders: Colin A. Adebayo, ReShea Balams, and Caroline Pineres, who will serve as Member-At-Large for two consecutive years.
20 MAY / JUNE 2025