Legal Aid has a long history and we often have
seen and responded to problems that younger
organizations may just be seeing for the first time.
PIER is a vehicle for us to give other organizations
the benefit of our experience, and maybe avoid
making some of the mistakes we have made.” – Steve
Gottlieb, Atlanta Legal Aid Society
“In this era of increasing demand for free civil legal
services for the poor, and dramatically diminishing
funding for the groups that provide those services, it
has become important for the city’s pro bono providers
to be a close and consistent community. PIER is our
best avenue for assuring the regular communication
that allows for mutual support and a striking level of
cooperation from its members.” – Marty Ellin, Atlanta
Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
pier
Jonathan Eoloff
Latin American Association
Steve Gottlieb
Atlanta Legal Aid Society
Kristi Graunke
Southern Poverty Law Center, Immigrant Justice Project
Sharon Hill
GA Appleseed
Phyllis Holmen
Georgia Legal Services
“PIER effectively addresses a simple, fundamental
need: namely, to provide a regular forum for the
exchange of information, best practices, common
issues and problems faced by about three dozen
public interest organizations that are committed to
work for the public good in our diversified community.
And these discussions and exchange of information
help make good organizations and their services
even better.” – Norman Zoller, State Bar of Georgia
Military Legal Assistance Program
Monica Khant
Georgia Asylum & Immigration Network
“It’s an informal opportunity to ask questions in a
‘safe setting’. The meeting where we discussed
fellowship opportunities was very helpful to me, and
I’ve already got a potential fellow coming in next
week to discuss working at GreenLaw.” – Stephanie
Stuckey Benfield, GreenLaw
Lisa Moore
Georgia Lawyers for the Arts
As for me, PIER means fellowship. The word fellowship is
used often in my church to mean gathering as a community
to share food and friendship, but the dictionary definition
works as well:
fel•low•ship
a. The condition of sharing similar interests, ideals,
or experiences, as by reason of profession, religion,
or nationality.
b. The companionship of individuals in a congenial
atmosphere and on equal terms.
I think that sums up our quarterly gathering very well. Thank
you to the Atlanta Bar Association for supporting our efforts.
Members of PIER:
Aimee Maxwell
Georgia Innocence Project
Mike Monahan
State Bar of Georgia Pro Bono Project
Ruby Moore
Georgia Advocacy Office
Greg Nevins
Lambda Legal
Jessica Pennington
Truancy Intervention Project
Debbie Seagraves
ACLU
Rita Sheffey
Hunton & Williams Southside Legal Center
Julie Smith
Georgia Justice Project
Rachel Spears
Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta
Stephanie Stuckey Benfield
GreenLaw
Willard Timm
GSU College of Law Low Income Tax Clinic
Doug Ammar
Georgia Justice Project
Cheri Tipton
Atlanta Legal Aid Society
Jennifer Bensman
Immigration Services Catholic Charities of Atlanta
Sara Totonchi
Southern Center for Human Rights
Marty Ellin
Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
Cristal Waldrop
Georgia Law Center for the Homeless
Norman Zoller
State Bar Military Legal Assistance Program ■
The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association
October 2012
THE ATLANTA LAWYER
23