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Home  Georgia Lawyers, Courts & Self Help

 

  Hispanics

Catholic Charities Metro Atlanta 
For immigration refugee matters call 678-222-3920 (includes dom. violence)
Mortgage foreclosure prevention call 770-429-2369.
Public benefits or disaster relief call  770-429-2369.
All other questions call 770-429-2369 or office at 404-920-7725.

Latin American Association (404) 638-1800
Legal and financial help, immigration advocacy and more.

Hispanic National Bar Association 202-223-4777
May provide free or low cost legal assistance or referral. They represent the interests of over 78,000+ Hispanic attorneys, 18,000+ law students, and thousands of other legal professionals, including judges, law professors, and legal assistants in the United States and its territories.

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
This non-profit group protects and promotes the civil rights of the more than 35 million Latinos living in the United States. They are national in scope and have offices in AZ, CA, GA, IL, NM, TX and Washington DC. Call them even if you live in another state.

Hispanic Outreach Project (404) 377-0705 ext. 234 For intake in Spanish:  (404) 377-5381.
This project is part of Legal Aid and serves Clayton, Dekalb and Gwinnett counties.  Contact: Kathryn Pongonis or ask for the project by name.  Call their Spanish speaking direct line (404) 377-5381 for an answering machine message in Spanish.

Southern Center For Human Rights
Provides legal representation to people facing the death penalty, challenges human rights violations in prisons and jails, seeks through litigation and advocacy to improve legal representation for poor people accused of crimes, and advocates for criminal justice system reforms on behalf of those affected by the system in the Southern United States.

Southern Poverty Law Center
Fights hate and bigotry, and seeks justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Monitors hate groups, and defends the rights of Illegal Immigrants, delinquent or learning disabled kids treated unfairly by schools.

Georgia Latino Alliance For Human Rights (770-457-5232)
The Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR) educates and organizes the Latino community in Georgia to defend and promote their civil and human rights.

Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials 888-544-2536
Advocacy for Latin American related issues and concerns.

Atlanta Legal Aid (404) 524-5811 

Clayton County Pro-Bono Project (404) 669-0233
Part of Legal Aid.

Cobb County Pro-Bono (770) 528-2565
Part of Legal Aid

Gwinnett County Pro Bono (678) 376-4545
Part of Legal Aid.

Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (404) 521-0790
Deals exclusively with civil matters.  

Dekalb ProBono (Formerly The Dekalb County Volunteer Lawyer Association) (404) 373-0865 See programs and services.

Dekalb Legal Aid (404) 377-0701 (Part of Atlanta Legal Aid)

Justice Center Of Atlanta (Mediation)404-523-8236 or jcainfo@justicecenter.org
Offers free mediation for civil matters that have or could have been filed in Fulton or Dekalb counties. They can help resolve civil disputes involving divorce and family conflicts, landlord-tenant conflicts, business matters, employment disputes, educational disputes, personal injury claims, neighborhood disputes, juvenile disputes and disputes involving churches and congregations. Benefit: Both parties can resolve their problems quickly and without the high costs of a lawsuit.  Note: The Justice Center can do nothing unless both parties make the call and agree to the mediation.

Georgia Bar Association ProBono Directory 404-527-8700 or 800-334-6865
Scroll through the programs to see which ones can help you, then call the numbers above to get connected with the lawyer Volunteers who manage the program!  Or jsut call the numbers above and ask if any lawyers do pro bonon work for someone with your legal issue. 

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            The Homeless

Georgia Justice Project (404) 827-0027  
This organization defends the homeless in criminal court and will help them adjust to society.  G.J.P. staff and volunteers assist clients in all areas of their lives in addition to legal representation.  This includes group and individual counseling, financial counseling, education, job training and securing employment.  

Public Interest Practicum, University of Georgia 706-542-5213
The Public Interest Practicum, created in 1992, provides essential service as an advisor and ombudsman for the indigent, unrepresented and homeless population in the Athens area. May use law students who are supervised by lawyers.

Southern Center For Human Rights
Provides legal representation to people facing the death penalty, challenges human rights violations in prisons and jails, seeks through litigation and advocacy to improve legal representation for poor people accused of crimes, and advocates for criminal justice system reforms on behalf of those affected by the system in the Southern United States.

Southern Poverty Law Center
Fights hate and bigotry, and seeks justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Monitors hate groups, and defends the rights of Illegal Immigrants, delinquent or learning disabled kids treated unfairly by schools.

Atlanta Legal Aid (404) 524-5811 

Clayton County Pro-Bono Project (404) 669-0233
Part of Legal Aid.

Cobb County Pro-Bono (770) 528-2565
Part of Legal Aid

Gwinnett County Pro Bono (678) 376-4545
Part of Legal Aid.

Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (404) 521-0790
Deals exclusively with civil matters.  

Dekalb ProBono (Formerly The Dekalb County Volunteer Lawyer Association) (404) 373-0865 See programs and services.

Dekalb Legal Aid (404) 377-0701 (Part of Atlanta Legal Aid)

Justice Center Of Atlanta (Mediation)(404) 523-8236 or jcainfo@justicecenter.org
Offers free mediation for civil matters that have or could have been filed in Fulton or Dekalb counties. They can help resolve civil disputes involving divorce and family conflicts, landlord-tenant conflicts, business matters, employment disputes, educational disputes, personal injury claims, neighborhood disputes, juvenile disputes and disputes involving churches and congregations. Benefit: Both parties can resolve their problems quickly and without the high costs of a lawsuit.  Note: The Justice Center can do nothing unless both parties make the call and agree to the mediation.

Georgia Bar Association ProBono Directory 404-527-8700 or 800-334-6865
Scroll through the programs to see which ones can help you, then call the numbers above to get connected with the lawyer Volunteers who manage the program!  Or jsut call the numbers above and ask if any lawyers do pro bonon work for someone with your legal issue. 

For More See The Homeless


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            Homeowners & Tenants

Georgia Heirs Property Law Center  706-424-7557 ext 1
Free or discounted legal help to secure and preserve  property rights of low and moderate income Georgians. The Center helps heirs property owners, nonprofits, and municipalities remediate fractured title, increase equity, and transfer wealth to the next generation through title clearing, wills creation, estate planning, and facilitating access to government, private sector, and nonprofit land management/home improvement programs.To apply for assistance, click here.

Home Defense Program (404) 377-0701  
To assist homeowners who have been victims of predatory mortgage lending practices, home-equity theft, title conversion scams, home purchase fraud or home repair rip-offs. Serving the Atlanta area,Gwinnett, Clayton and Cobb counties.  Fraud help is directed to lower and moderate income homeowners.  

Atlanta Legal Aid (404) 524-5811 

Clayton County Pro-Bono Project (404) 669-0233
Part of Legal Aid.

Cobb County Pro-Bono (770) 528-2565
Part of Legal Aid

Gwinnett County Pro Bono (678) 376-4545
Part of Legal Aid.

Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (404) 521-0790
Volunteer attorneys help low-income tenants who often face illegal evictions, unlawful withholding of security deposits, or abhorrent conditions that go unaddressed by their landlords. $ Qualifications: 200% of federal povety guidelines. As of 2016 (about 49k for household of 4, about 23k for an individual). They also help if you have unpaid wages due to you by your employer, regardless of whether you rent or own.

Dekalb ProBono
(Formerly The Dekalb County Volunteer Lawyer Association) (404) 373-0865
See programs and services.

Dekalb Legal Aid (404) 377-0701 (Part of Atlanta Legal Aid)

Justice Center Of Atlanta (Mediation)(404) 523-8236 or jcainfo@justicecenter.org
Offers free mediation for civil matters that have or could have been filed in Fulton or Dekalb counties. They can help resolve civil disputes involving divorce and family conflicts, landlord-tenant conflicts, business matters, employment disputes, educational disputes, personal injury claims, neighborhood disputes, juvenile disputes and disputes involving churches and congregations. Benefit: Both parties can resolve their problems quickly and without the high costs of a lawsuit.  Note: The Justice Center can do nothing unless both parties make the call and agree to the mediation.

Georgia Bar Association ProBono Directory 404-527-8700 or 800-334-6865
Scroll through the programs to see which ones can help you, then call the numbers above to get connected with the lawyer Volunteers who manage the program!  Or jsut call the numbers above and ask if any lawyers do pro bonon work for someone with your legal issue. 

For More See Home Matters


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Inventors

Inventor Nationwide Patent Pro Bono Program
Are you an inventor or small business who has limited resources and needs help applying for a patent on an invention? If so, you may be eligible to receive pro bono (“for free”) attorney representation. (Must earn less than 3x Federal Poverty Level.)

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Investors

GA State College of Law Business Advocacy Clinics
Clinics vary from year to year. Scroll down to see if any support invetors or those startying a business.  In clinics, law students use methods learned in the classroom to help actual clients who cannot afford to pay for a lawyer. Students in the in-house clinics are assigned to their own cases and work under the supervision of law faculty or a supervising attorney. Click on the photo of any of the faculty and staff for their contact information.

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Prisoners or Those Charged With A Crime

Koinonia Prison and Jail Project 229-924-0391
The Prison and Jail Project visits prisoners regularly in Southwest Georgia. The Prison and Jail Project advocates on behalf of prisoners and their families; monitors conditions in the jails and prisons; works to increase the public’s awareness of these conditions; calls attention to the system’s inadequacies; and explores the viability of various alternatives to incarceration.

Georgia Innocence Project (404) 373-4433
Assists inmates in Georgia trying to prove their innocence through the use of biological evidence which can be subjected to DNA testing.  With the help of law school interns, we review and evaluate claims of innocence.  Once the project takes on representation, we work with volunteer lawyers in preparing the case for hearing and acting on the results of the testing. 

Georgia Justice Project 404-827-0027
We defend people accused of crimes, and win or lose, stand with them while they they rebuild their lives. We do this by offering free legal services coupled with a full range of social and employment services. Also provides criminal record expungement and other advocacy services to minimize consequences of a record.
We do not take the following cases:

Domestic Violence, Sex Crimes, Federal Cases, Child Abuse
Post-Convictions or Vehicle Violations
Cases Outside Fulton or Dekalb Counties

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Taxes

Tax Clinic At Georgia State University (404) 413-9230
Free assistance to low income individuals who have already been audited by the IRS or have other tax issues. The Tax Clinic can help with post-audit controversies, or IRS garnishments to pay liabilities.  Call them to see if you qualify. This organization is run by Professor Blasi.

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Veterans And Service Members

Veteran's Law Project (GA) 404) 614-3915
Assistance includes a variety of civil legal matters such as eviction defense, VA benefits, public benefits and health insurance, access to appropriate support services, disability rights, poor housing conditions, end of life planning, family law, and consumer law.

University of Georgia School of Law Veteran Services (706) 542-6439 or veteranslegalclinic@uga.edu
Provides veterans in Georgia with legal assistance they might not otherwise have access to or be able to afford, with particular regard to denied or deferred claims before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The clinic is based near the UGA campus in downtown Athens and serves veterans and their dependents across the state of Georgia.

Georgia State U. Law Volunteer Clinic for Veterans
They help veterans with most legal issues, including veterans’ benefits, rating and discharge issues, divorce, wills, landlord/tenant issues and others.

Service Women's Action Network (SWAN)
Securing equal opportunity and freedom to serve without discrimination, harassment or assault; and to reform veterans’ services to ensure high quality health care and benefits for women veterans and their families.

John Marshall Homeless Veteran's Legal Clinic (Georgia)
 The Legal Clinic provides free legal assistance to veterans who are homeless or are at risk of homelessness with issues relating to misdemeanor criminal charges and matters symptomatic of homelessness.

National Veterans Legal Service Program (NVLSP) (Disability Benefits)

Emory Volunteer Clinic for Veterans
To initiate service with the Clinic, you must be referred by one of the following organizations:

   The Veterans Legal Clinic at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Decatur
    Practicing attorneys who serve as mentors for Emory law students
    National Veterans Legal Service Program (NVLSP) (Disability Benefits)
    Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program (For US Appeals Ct Claims Re Veterans Issues)
    Service organizations including the American Legion, VFW, DAV, and
    Service Women's Action Network (SWAN)

The Volunteer Clinic for Veterans accepts the following types of cases:

The Clinic may consider assistance with consumer law and real property matters. However, their programs are specifically geared to:

Assistance with VA healthcare and VA determinations of incompetency.

Disability claims or Claims for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability before the Department of Veterans Affairs: Includes appeals to the Board of Veterans Appeals and the U. S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.  The Clinic will consider acceptance of an existing VA claim where there is a demonstrated need for legal research and/or additional fact-finding. Initial claims may be referred to the Georgia Department of Veteran Services.

Pension claims before the VA:  "Need" based pensions and pensions that may be available to the surviving spouse and children based on the service-connected death of a veteran.

Claims for increased rating before the Regional Office of the VA.

 Applications for discharge upgrade and record correction.

Employment law claims and representation:  Claims by veterans under the Uniform Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act (USERRA).  The Clinic will also consider providing non-litigation "preventive" advice to small non-profit organizations that represent veterans.

Criminal records: The Clinic will consider assisting veterans with problems associated with their records of arrest and conviction.  This work includes efforts to update and correct these records, as well as expungement of the record when allowed by the Georgia statute. These activities are civil in nature and the Clinic will not become involved in the underlying criminal cases.
   
Policy issues:  including creation of veterans courts and issues arising under the Uniform Deployed Parent's Custody and Visitation Act (UDPCVA).

VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars)
Whether it's helping service members and their families through long deployments or cope with rough financial times, NMS programs put our military families first. From providing free phone time and emergency financial assistance to farewell and welcome home ceremonies and college scholarships, the NMS department is here supporting our troops day in and day out.

DAV (Disabled American Veteran)

  • Free professional assistance to veterans and their families in obtaining benefits and services earned through military service and provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other agencies of government.
  • Provides a structure through which disabled veterans can express their compassion for their fellow veterans through a variety of volunteer programs.
  • Outreach concerning its program services to the American people generally, and to disabled veterans and their families specifically.
  • Represents the interests of disabled veterans, their families, their widowed spouses and their orphans before Congress, the White House and the Judicial Branch, as well as state and local government.

Free Legal Help For Veterans (50 States & DC)
American Bar Association directory of pro bono services for veterans.

Veteran's Legal Assistance For Georgia (Google)


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Wages-Unpaid

Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (404) 521-0790
Volunteer attorneys help if you have unpaid wages due to you by your employer, regardless of whether you rent or own. Income Qualfications: You must earn less than 200% of federal povety guidelines. As of 2016 (about 49k for household of 4, about 23k for an individual).

Dekalb ProBono (Formerly The Dekalb County Volunteer Lawyer Association) (404) 373-0865 See programs and services.

Dekalb Legal Aid (404) 377-0701 (Part of Atlanta Legal Aid)

Justice Center Of Atlanta (Mediation)(404) 523-8236 or jcainfo@justicecenter.org
Offers free mediation for civil matters that have or could have been filed in Fulton or Dekalb counties. They can help resolve civil disputes involving divorce and family conflicts, landlord-tenant conflicts, business matters, employment disputes, educational disputes, personal injury claims, neighborhood disputes, juvenile disputes and disputes involving churches and congregations. Benefit: Both parties can resolve their problems quickly and without the high costs of a lawsuit.  Note: The Justice Center can do nothing unless both parties make the call and agree to the mediation.

Georgia Bar Association ProBono Directory 404-527-8700 or 800-334-6865
Scroll through the programs to see which ones can help you, then call the numbers above to get connected with the lawyer Volunteers who manage the program!  Or jsut call the numbers above and ask if any lawyers do pro bonon work for someone with your legal issue. 

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            Women

Women's Resource Center To End Domestic Violence office: 404-370-7670, Hotline 404-688-9436 info@wrcdv.org
Consultation with Volunteer Attorneys through a free legal clinic one evening per week. Services are provided at our community office in Decatur. Childcare is provided. Also has a program for elder abuse advocacy. Call their 24 hour Domestic Violence Crisis Hotline at (404) 688-9436  

National Women's Law Center (202) 588-5180 Fax (202) 588-5185
A public policy group that does research and advocacy on national landmark cases affecting women and their families.  They deal with issues such as abortion, health care, child care, employment and education.  Call them for help, publicity or referrals. 

Service Women's Action Network (SWAN)
Securing equal opportunity and freedom to serve without discrimination, harassment or assault; and to reform veterans’ services to ensure high quality health care and benefits for women veterans and their families.

Southern Center For Human Rights
Provides legal representation to people facing the death penalty, challenges human rights violations in prisons and jails, seeks through litigation and advocacy to improve legal representation for poor people accused of crimes, and advocates for criminal justice system reforms on behalf of those affected by the system in the Southern United States.

Southern Poverty Law Center
Fights hate and bigotry, and seeks justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Monitors hate groups, and defends the rights of Illegal Immigrants, delinquent or learning disabled kids treated unfairly by schools.

Atlanta Legal Aid (404) 524-5811 

Clayton County Pro-Bono Project (404) 669-0233
Part of Legal Aid.

Cobb County Pro-Bono (770) 528-2565
Part of Legal Aid

Gwinnett County Pro Bono (678) 376-4545
Part of Legal Aid.

Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (404) 521-0790
Deals exclusively with civil matters.  

Dekalb ProBono (Formerly The Dekalb County Volunteer Lawyer Association) (404) 373-0865 See programs and services.

Dekalb Legal Aid (404) 377-0701 (Part of Atlanta Legal Aid)

Justice Center Of Atlanta (Mediation)(404) 523-8236 or jcainfo@justicecenter.org
Offers free mediation for civil matters that have or could have been filed in Fulton or Dekalb counties. They can help resolve civil disputes involving divorce and family conflicts, landlord-tenant conflicts, business matters, employment disputes, educational disputes, personal injury claims, neighborhood disputes, juvenile disputes and disputes involving churches and congregations. Benefit: Both parties can resolve their problems quickly and without the high costs of a lawsuit.  Note: The Justice Center can do nothing unless both parties make the call and agree to the mediation.

Georgia Bar Association ProBono Directory 404-527-8700 or 800-334-6865
Scroll through the programs to see which ones can help you, then call the numbers above to get connected with the lawyer Volunteers who manage the program!  Or jsut call the numbers above and ask if any lawyers do pro bonon work for someone with your legal issue. 

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            Miscellaneous Groups

Free Legal Help If About To Sign Reaffirmation Agreement At Courthouse (ND GA)
If you are unsure about the reaffirmation process or have a question about your agreement, you can receive free counseling from volunteer attorneys on the day of your reaffirmation hearing. Please arrive at least one hour prior to your hearing and meet your volunteer attorney in the Attorney Lounge.

GA State College of Law Advocacy Clinics
Clinics vary from year to year. Scroll down to see if any support invetors or those startying a business.  In clinics, law students use methods learned in the classroom to help actual clients who cannot afford to pay for a lawyer. Students in the in-house clinics are assigned to their own cases and work under the supervision of law faculty or a supervising attorney. Click on the photo of any of the faculty and staff for their contact information.

Tax Clinic At Georgia State University (404) 413-9230
Free assistance to low income individuals who have already been audited by the IRS or have other tax issues. The Tax Clinic can help with post-audit controversies, or IRS garnishments to pay liabilities.  Call them to see if you qualify. This organization is run by Professor Blasi.

Southern Center For Human Rights
Provides legal representation to people facing the death penalty, challenges human rights violations in prisons and jails, seeks through litigation and advocacy to improve legal representation for poor people accused of crimes, and advocates for criminal justice system reforms on behalf of those affected by the system in the Southern United States.

Southern Poverty Law Center
Fights hate and bigotry, and seeks justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Monitors hate groups, and defends the rights of Illegal Immigrants, delinquent or learning disabled kids treated unfairly by schools.

 Atlanta Legal Aid (404) 524-5811 

Clayton County Pro-Bono Project (404) 669-0233
Part of Legal Aid.

Cobb County Pro-Bono (770) 528-2565
Part of Legal Aid

Gwinnett County Pro Bono (678) 376-4545
Part of Legal Aid

Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (404) 521-0790
Deals exclusively with civil matters.  

Dekalb ProBono (Formerly The Dekalb County Volunteer Lawyer Association) (404) 373-0865 See programs and services.

Dekalb Legal Aid (404) 377-0701 (Part of Atlanta Legal Aid)

Justice Center Of Atlanta (Mediation)(404) 523-8236 or jcainfo@justicecenter.org
Offers free mediation for civil matters that have or could have been filed in Fulton or Dekalb counties. They can help resolve civil disputes involving divorce and family conflicts, landlord-tenant conflicts, business matters, employment disputes, educational disputes, personal injury claims, neighborhood disputes, juvenile disputes and disputes involving churches and congregations. Benefit: Both parties can resolve their problems quickly and without the high costs of a lawsuit.  Note: The Justice Center can do nothing unless both parties make the call and agree to the mediation.

Georgia Bar Association ProBono Directory 404-527-8700 or 800-334-6865
Scroll through the programs to see which ones can help you, then call the numbers above to get connected with the lawyer Volunteers who manage the program!  Or jsut call the numbers above and ask if any lawyers do pro bonon work for someone with your legal issue. 

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Lawyer Committees 

The Access to Justice (404) 527-8763  
is a long-term committee of the State Bar of Georgia.  The mission of this 0committee is to support pro-bono efforts around the state and study methods to increase access to the courts for low-income persons. Contact: Michael Monahan.

Unmet Legal Needs Committee (706) 342-7900  
This committee is to address the needs of middle income people who feel they cannot afford an attorney.  Find out if committee has public hearings.  Contact: Chairperson James Winkler.

The ABC Committee (A Business Commitment) (404) 527-8762/63   The ABC Committee will give free assistance to nonprofits in business matters such as: drafting bylaws and articles of incorporation, tax advice, renewing contracts and other business issues. To qualify the board of the non-profit must be comprised of a majority of law income persons. Contact: Michael Monahan.

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Lawyer Referrals

Georgia Bar Association ProBono Directory 404-527-8700 or 800-334-6865
Scroll through the programs to see which ones can help you, then call the numbers above to get connected with the lawyer Volunteers who manage the program!  Or jsut call the numbers above and ask if any lawyers do pro bonon work for someone with your legal issue. 

State Bar Association-Lawyer Referral Service (404) 521-077
Lists lawyers based on their specialty.  

Martindale-Hubble Lawyer Locator (All 50 States & DC)


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Law In Other States/Fed Law

www.law.cornell.edu/topics/landlord_tenant.html

http://www.law.cornell.edu/topics/state_statutes.html#property  
www.ljx.com
Has links to case law and other legal sites.

Code of Federal Regulations

United States Code

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