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