The Atlanta Lawyer April 2013 | Page 28

SECTION UPDATE Atlanta Associates Double Fundraising for Local Pro Bono Organizations By: Fredric J. Bold Jr. Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore LLP By: Jonathan E. Smith Scoggins & Goodman PC T he Atlanta Council of Younger Lawyers closed the books on its 2012 Associates’ Campaign in November, one of its most successful campaigns in recent history. This grass-roots effort comprised of associates at Atlantaarea law firms is the ACYL’s signature annual event and aims to raise both awareness of the critical need for pro bono legal services in our community and much-needed funds for those organizations. Given the funding challenges faced by charitable organizations of all stripes during the recent years of economic downturn, all lawyers should take pride in how the youngest members of our profession stepped up to answer this substantial need with overwhelming generosity. Thanks to Atlanta-area associates and the select law firms that matched their associates’ donations, the Associates’ Campaign raised $35,344 this year—doubling the total from 2011! This total came from over 320 associates and law firms. Donors directed these funds to the following local pro-bono organizations that provide legal services to the poor: Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, First Presbyterian Coming Home Project, Georgia Appleseed Student Tribunal Project, Georgia Asylum & Immigration Network, Georgia Innocence Project, Georgia Justice Project, Georgia Law Center for the Homeless, Georgia Legal Services Program, Georgia State Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic, GreenLaw, Latin American Association Immigrant Services Department, ProBono Partnership of Atlanta, Southern Center for Human Rights, and the Truancy Intervention Project. The top overall three firms were: 1. Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore, LLP ($9,010) 2. King & Spalding, LLP ($6,720) 3. Arnall Golden Gregory, LLP ($2,250) The top three small firms (1-25 associates) were: 1. Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore, LLP ($9,010) 2. Hunton & Williams ($2,050) 28 THE ATLANTA LAWYER April 2013 [email protected] [email protected] 3. Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry ($1,030) The top three medium sized firms (25-50 associates) were: 1. Arnall Golden Gregory ($2,250) 2. Paul Hastings ($2,175) 3. Nelson Mullins ($1,131.55) The top three large firms (50+ associates) were: 1. King & Spalding ($6,720) 2. Kilpatrick Townsend ($2,225) 3. Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan ($1,387.50) The following firms had 100% associate participation: Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore; Fellows Labriola; Hunton & Williams; Nelson Mullins; and Scoggins & Goodman. This year’s success was also made possible by the generous support of several firms who matched all or a portion of their associates’ donations: Arnall Golden Gregory; Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore; Chamberlain Hrdlicka; Duane Morris; Fellows LaBriola; Hunton & Williams; Jones Day; King & Spalding; Paul Hastings; and Rogers & Hardin. The Associates’ Campaign relied on a dedicated group of associates who volunteered many hours to communicate the campaign’s message. These associates who served as their law firm’s firm coordinators are: Tyler Arnold Arnall Golden Gregory Jessica Casey Jones Day Elizabeth Jordan Alston & Bird Katie Sullivan Kilpatrick Townsend The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association