PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
CELEBRATING
SERVICE
LUNCHEON
Margaret Hughes Vath
Georgia State University
School of Law
The spirit of voluntarism is woven into the fabric of
our legal community. It was this charitable impulse
that initially led many of us to law school. And it is this
philanthropic passion that continues to drive us today.
Compelling each of us to “do good.”
So intertwined are our professional obligations
and our moral ones, that the State Bar of Georgia
encourages lawyers to render at least 50 hours of pro
bono public legal services per year. Doing so “is the
individual ethical commitment of each lawyer.” Rule
6.1, comment 9.
It was my honor to preside over the Tenth Annual
Celebrating Service and Awards Luncheon this month.
This event affords us the opportunity to recognize
and honor legal professionals and groups who make
a significant impact in our community through their
dedication to public service.
The Pro Bono Service Award was presented to the
Atlanta Bar Association Bankruptcy Section. While
so many of the sections participate in commendable
pro bono projects, the Bankruptcy section was an
especially deserving recipient this year. The section
worked extensively with the bankruptcy bench and
bar on numerous initiatives, including its Reaffirma-
tion Project, its Adversary Proceeding Project, its Low
6 October 2017
Income Creditor Assistance Project, and the Georgia
State University College of Law Bankruptcy Assistance
Project. Bankruptcy Section Chair Jeffery W. Caven-
der, who accepted the award on behalf of the section,
estimates that that the section spent over 1,500 hours
in pro bono efforts last year alone.
The Community Service Award was presented to
the Atlanta Bar Association Bard Show Committee.
This committee was informally established 20 years
ago when Greg Smith, then President of the Atlanta
Bar Association, had the novel idea to showcase law-
yers’ singing, dancing and acting talents on the stage.
Serendipitously, Greg walked into Cathy O’Neil’s
office to discuss a case, and noticed her collection of
college theater posters. Recognizing a kindred spirit,
the idea took life. Since then, there have been 12 “A
Courthouse Line” Productions featuring an all-lawyers
cast, crew, writers, and band. The Show has entertained
thousands in the audience, and has raised hundreds
of thousands of dollars to support charitable causes
of the Atlanta Bar Foundationy.
The Public Service Award was presented to Jabu M.
Sengova. This award is reserved for public servants
who have advanced the fair administration of justice
in our community and have fostered professionalism
and ethics. As Chief Ethics Officer of the City of At-
lanta, Jabu uniquely fits these criteria. She works daily