| In Georgia we have a network of legal services | | | | If Atlanta Legal Aid cannot accept your case, there |
| offices to provide free legal help in civil (not criminal) | | | | may be other free resources available. See the web |
| cases to low-income people. Most legal services | | | | site for the State Bar of Georgia, or contact the |
| offices set an income limit to qualify for their | | | | Atlanta Bar Association Referral Service at |
| services, and some programs also consider all your | | | | 404-521-0777. (Other bar associations may have |
| assets, regardless of how much money you're | | | | similar programs. Contact your local bar association to |
| making. | | | | find out what is available.) |
| Services are generally provided by staff attorneys | | | | Georgia Legal Services |
| and sometimes paralegals with experience in certain | | | | The Georgia Legal Services Program has 13 offices |
| areas, such as divorce, landlord-tenant problems, | | | | around the State, which serve low-income Georgians |
| subsidized housing, public assistance, Social Security | | | | in civil matters. Their priority areas include: |
| and unemployment. Additionally, these legal services | | | | • Family/Domestic Violence |
| lawyers may also be able to point you toward | | | | • Housing |
| non-legal help such as temporary housing, domestic | | | | • Public Benefits |
| violence shelters and food banks. | | | | • Consumer |
| Atlanta Legal Aid | | | | • Healthcare |
| Atlanta Legal Aid provides representation exclusively | | | | • Education |
| in civil (non-criminal) matters. Naturally, because of | | | | • Employment |
| budget and staffing constraints, they prioritize the | | | | Clients must meet income guidelines in order to be |
| types of cases they take. Priority cases generally | | | | eligible for free legal services (at or below 125% of |
| include housing, consumer fraud, public benefits, | | | | federal poverty level). There are exceptions, so if |
| employment, education, health, spouse abuse and | | | | your income is slightly over that amount, you should |
| child custody cases. They also represent those who | | | | still call (404-206-5175) to find out if you qualify. |
| are elderly, disabled, mentally ill or who have AIDS, | | | | LegalAid-GA |
| cancer or ALS. Client intake consists of questions | | | | LegalAid-GA is a joint project of Atlanta Legal Aid |
| regarding the nature of their problem, household | | | | Society, Inc. and the Georgia Legal Services Program. |
| income and size. Clients may be served with a | | | | The project is powered by Pro Bono Net, funded by |
| referral, brief service and advice, or full | | | | Legal Services Corporation and the Georgia Access |
| representation. | | | | to Justice Project and produced in cooperation with |
| Generally, clients must have an income at or below | | | | the Carl Vinson Institute of Government and legal |
| 125% of the federal poverty guidelines | | | | service organizations and government agencies |
| (approximately $26,500 for a family of four). Clients | | | | throughout Georgia and the United States. Their goal |
| also must reside and have a viable case that falls | | | | is to provide the public with easy Internet access to |
| within Atlanta Legal Aid's priority and service areas: | | | | basic legal information and legal resources in Georgia. |
| Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Cobb and Gwinnett Counties. | | | | Pro Bono Net is a unique collaboration among the |
| Potential clients can apply for services by telephoning: | | | | various parts of the public interest legal community, |
| (404) 524-5811 in Fulton County | | | | organized primarily in New York city. They use |
| (770) 528-2565 in Cobb County | | | | information technology to increase the amount and |
| (404) 377-0701 in DeKalb County | | | | quality of legal services provided to low-income |
| (678) 376-4545 in Gwinnett Countyor (404) 669-0233 | | | | individuals and communities. They can be reached at |
| in Clayton and South Fulton Counties. | | | | 212-760-2554. |