2015-16
ATLANTA BAR
FOUNDATION
&LRIS
PRO BONO
“The Foundation, as the Atlanta Bar Association’s charitable
arm, could not be more delighted at the possibilities that these
Immediate Benefits
In 2009, then-Bar president David Schaeffer, with help from
grant awards present,” said Wade Malone, Foundation president.
deGolian — by then LRIS chairman — and Foundation leaders
“We eagerly anticipate the results that a quarter-million dollar
Allan Tanenbaum and Bill Ragland (2004-05 Bar president),
investment in projects promoting equal access to justice, as-
formalized the Foundation’s grants program and selection
sistance to youth and public understanding of the law will yield.”
criteria. “We favor strong programs that are internal with the
The 60 year old LRIS service traces its origins to 1955 when
Atlanta Bar, such as the Summer Law Internship Program
it was launched as the Lawyer Referral program, a Bar com-
(SLIP) and the Minority and Diversity Clerkship Program, and
mittee, to assist returning veterans and others at the behest
those that were initially founded at least in part by the Atlanta
of Henry Troutman. Today, LRIS is a full-service referral
Bar, but which now are independent with their own governing
program, overseen since 2003 by a Board of Trustees and
boards,” Schaeffer said. Among them: the Atlanta Volunteer
still uses the same phone number that started the referral
Lawyers Foundation, Truancy Intervention Project, Atlanta
program in 1955. In 2002-03, then-Atlanta Bar President
Legal Aid Society, Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network.
William deGolian and others worked tirelessly with the State
Bar of Georgia for approval of a percentage fee-sharing pro-
Grant funding helps ensure that the SLIP and Minority & Diversity
gram that would allow LRIS to distribute funds to programs
Clerkship Program of the Atlanta Bar will continue to expand
and organizations providing legal services to a community in
and prosper. Malone, who also chairs the SLIP, observed: “The
need. Last year, LRIS received more than 40,000 calls, refer-
impact of this incredible effort will have immediate benefits to
ring more than 14,000 individuals in need of legal services
the Internship Program through increased opportunities and
to qualified, service-oriented LRIS program panel members.
be positively felt for years to come.” SLIP saw a record 49
“2015 was an exceptional year, but it shows the potential of a
program participants last summer. The Minority & Diversity
well-run LRIS. With good leadership from the LRIS Board and
$250,000 Record
Grant Disbursements
to Worthy Programs
Clerkship Program, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year,
This unprecedented amount was due in major
good administration from Carla Brown, its director, and her
offered 22 law firm clerkships for minority and diverse 1L
part to a $200,000 allocation from LRIS, stemming
staff, the LRIS has taken off in recent years,” said deGolian.
students attending the five accredited Georgia law schools.
Foundation—and the programs that it supports
The Atlanta Bar Foundation, in partnership with
Giving Back
percentage fee program,” LRIS Board of Trustees Chair Celia
—likewise benefit from fundraising initiatives,
the Atlanta Bar Association Lawyer Referral and
DeGolian also noted the program’s benefits to Atlanta Bar As-
Sunne said. “We passed our success on to pro bono organiza-
including its yearly LawJam battle-of-the-lawyer
Information Service (LRIS), recently distributed
sociation members. “The LRIS brings Atlanta Bar Association
tions in accordance with our mission. So many people need
bands competition, A Courthouse Line theatre
a record $250,000 in grant awards. The grants
lawyers into direct contact with the public more so than any other
good legal services, but at are at a loss as to how to obtain
productions, regular annual giving and its Lifetime
support the association’s youth programs and
program it offers,” he said. “Annually it helps thousands of Atlanta
those services. Here we are over 60 years later and still with
and Sustaining Fellows Campaigns.
area residents in a tangible way. It augments the law practice
the mission of finding expertise legal help for those in need.”
of its attorney panel members. It generates substantial income
“Through the collective efforts of many, [the partnership]
that the LRIS, through the Atlanta Bar Foundation, it is able to
has truly evolved into a win-win program,” deGolian agreed.
GRANT RECIPIENTS
other pro bono organizations.
from the growing referral program’s success. The
“In 2015 LRIS had its best year since the inception of the
give back in support of Atlanta area pro bono legal programs.”
The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association THE ATLANTA LAWYER
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