president’s message
In October 2011, we played a key role in celebrating the
10th anniversary of the Multi-Bar Leadership Council, begun
by my predecessor Seth Kirshenbaum during his year as
Atlanta Bar President. Following that retreat, we organized
a summit of the Presidents and Presidents-elect of area bar
associations, on Presidents’ Day, in the Presidents’ Board
room at the Bar Center. It was such a wonderful gathering,
full of energy and ideas for collaboration, that we immediately
agreed to make it an annual event, with periodic lunch
meetings during the year. The second annual Presidents’
Summit is scheduled for February 18, 2013.
In April 2012, we hosted a special presentation about
the soon-to-be built National Center for Civil and Human
Rights, co-sponsored by the Gate City, GABWA, GAWL,
and Stonewall Bar Associations. It was a special evening
and motivated us to do even more together. And we joined
Gate City, GABWA, GAWL and Stonewall for other events
during the year.
And at the national level, for the second consecutive year,
we participated in a panel before the National Conference
of Bar Presidents on our initiatives to enhance public trust
in our profession, and we have urged leaders to continue
those programs on at least an annual basis.
Public Interest Organizations and Community Service
Partners
In May 2011, I challenged 100% of our Sections to become
engaged in pro bono. Many are engaged in pro bono efforts,
but we have not achieved 100%. We have more work to
do and our Pro Bono and Community Service Committee,
chaired by Judge Susan Edlein and Melody Richardson,
continues to work hard to achieve that goal.
Our numerous pro bono activities continue and are strong,
including the Celebrating Service Luncheon and Pro Bono
Fair, and Pro Bono March Madness CLE. And through our
Foundation and Lawyer Referral Service, we continue to
provide grants to support our pro bono programs and public
interest organizations. As I wrote in the May 2011 issue of
this publication, individually and collectively, we need to do
more to support our public interest and pro bono providers
financially. Several of our Sections, particularly including
Litigation, are leaders in this regard, as are many of our
Members.
I hope you have seen our increased focus on promoting
our three Community Service Partners: Everybody Wins!;
Atlanta’s Table, the Atlanta Community Food Bank; and our
newest partner, ServiceJuris. We intend to expand our efforts
to promote their activities in the coming years.
The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association
Our Bar Family
Although we focused on external relationships, we did
not neglect our bar family this year. In addition to the new
lease for expanded office space, largely being furnished by
generous donations from several law firms, we approved
amended and restated bylaws replacing the ones first
adopted in 1978 and amended 78 times since. Through
our amended agreement with our sponsor IST, we will have
printers and copiers for the new space at no additional cost,
and we recently hired a fabulous new employee. And, we
continue to work toward an orderly transition resulting from
the retirement of two long-time valued employees.
Importantly, we also focused on our related organizations.
Members of our Lawyer Refe