The Atlanta Lawyer December 2018 / January 2019 | Page 22

Legal Aid Pro Bono’s New Website Bridges Justice Gap For Georgia Clients By Laura Rashidi-Yazd Atlanta Legal Aid Society’s Director of Pro Bono Legal Services [email protected] Do your goals for 2019 include more pro bono work? If so, the Atlanta Legal Aid Society can help! Legal Aid Pro Bono re- cently launched its new website, LegalAidProBono.org. It is an online tool that makes it easier for volunteers across Georgia to connect with meaningful pro bono opportunities. Approximately 25% of metro At- lanta’s 5.7M residents currently live below the poverty guide- 22 December 2018/January 2019 line. Across Georgia, low income households experience an average of three legal needs a year – which totals about 2M legal needs each year. With the state of Georgia having approximately 31,000 ac- tive attorneys and 1,000 emeri- tus attorneys, there is absolutely something that can be done to alleviate these hardships. That is where the new Legal Aid Pro Bono website comes in. “The new website expands the scope and reach of pro bono by helping bridge the justice gap and providing equal access to all. Vol- unteers can find projects that meet their interests while supporting the critical needs of Georgia cli- ents,” says Laurie Rashidi, Atlanta Legal Aid Society’s Director of Pro Bono Legal Services. The website LegalAidProBono.org works by matching client needs and volunteer skills. Volunteers can browse projects that fit their