The Atlanta Lawyer August/September 2020 Vol. 19, No. 2 | Page 31

join several different family law panels . My favorite cases are custody cases in which I can help a family develop a parenting plan and co-parenting skills that allow children to have a low-conflict , healthy environment . There are so many of these cases that come through LRIS !
In addition to the regular child custody and divorce panels , I joined the LRIS Modest Means panel . The LRIS Modest Means program serves those clients who might not qualify for Legal Aid but had been previously unsuccessful in finding representation that fits their budget . They are screened like all the other cases , but they also have to meet income requirements . While it is not required to be on the Modest Means panel , I am so glad I did it . The clients were so grateful to find this service ! In January 2019 I returned to Lawyers for Equal Justice ( L4EJ ) as the Executive Director . I provide coaching and mentorship to attorneys as they build innovative , socially conscious law firms . L4EJ has attorneys in many areas of the law , from criminal to business to juvenile dependency , all with a focus on closing Georgia ’ s justice gap . I help these attorneys learn the basics of running a law firm , from trust accounting and bookkeeping to client engagement and practice automation . The same way it helped me , LRIS helps these attorneys build a book of business and many of the participants serve on the Modest Means panel as well .
Lest you think that all the cases that come to LRIS are low-paying , you should know that in 2019 alone , LRIS attorneys collectively brought in over $ 310,000 in attorney ’ s fees in practice areas as diverse as bankruptcy , medical malpractice , and family law . And with recent upgrades to the reporting system and technology LRIS uses , it is easier than ever for attorneys to access their referrals and track their fees .
My goal as the Chair of the LRIS Board of
MEMBERSHIP
Directors this year is to help streamline processes within program to make it easier for the LRIS staff to do their jobs , to make it simple for panel attorneys to report and stay compliant , and to make sure the Atlanta Bar community knows the benefits of being an LRIS panel member . I would especially love to see more attorneys joining the Modest Means panel to provide representation to those in our community who need it the most .
The cost to join the LRIS is only $ 125.00 / year for Atlanta Bar Association and Hispanic Bar Association members and $ 325.00 / year for non-bar members . This fee includes up to ten areas of law . If you are an attorney in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia and have maintained professional liability insurance please complete a LRIS application .
I look forward to working with you this year !
www . atlantabar . org THE ATLANTA LAWYER 31