The Atlanta Lawyer March 2014 | Page 19

pro bono march madness Join the Pro Bono March Madness Team and Get Your Last Minute CLE Credits Before the Deadline By Kimberly D. Charles Chair-Elect of the CLE Board of Trustees and Member at Large of the Women in the Profession & Public Interest Law Sections P ro Bono March Madness began on Wednesday, March 5, 2014 with a program from Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc. and another from GAIN and Tapestri. Despite Pro Bono March Madness’s many years of rich history as a CLE with the Atlanta Bar Association, there are still many attorneys who do not know what Pro Bono March Madness is or why they should participate. By attending a CLE seminar offered during Pro Bono March Madness you will receive specific training that will help you volunteer with many non-profit legal services organizations in and around the Metro Atlanta area. And you get that last minute CLE credit that everyone is looking for in March. It is a win-win for everyone! The Atlanta Bar Association’s motto is “Lawyers who Serve.” We have an all-star team of attorneys who volunteer their time doing pro bono work. Those volunteers will tell you that volunteering to do pro bono cases not only helps your client, but also enhances your skills as an attorney and expands your perspective on the law. It gives you a break from your normal practice routine and helps you build confidence. And most of all, you will be making a huge difference in someone’s life. So why not join the team?!? grandmother get guardianship of the grandchild she has been caring for? Check out the Grandparent/Relative Caregiver Adoption project’s program. Want to help protect victims of domestic violence from future harm? Check out the program on the 25th. You will be taught everything you need to know to represent victims of domestic violence in Temporary Protective Order hearings. Passionate about making sure that children and vulnerable seniors are protected in a legal setting? Sign up to learn more about being a Guardian Ad Litem. Maybe you are not a litigator and are not too comfortable in the courtroom. Well the pro bono team is diverse and there is room for you too! Sign up for the March 18th program, pro bono for transaction attorneys, presented by the Pro Bono Partnership. Learn how to advise non-profits on employment law issues by attending the March 26th program Employment Law for non-profits. Whatever your area of practice or expertise, there is a place for you on the pro bono team! So why not sign up and help someone in dire need of an advocate. You will feel good and make a big difference in someone’s life. Oh, and you will get those CLE credits you have been meaning to get for months now. By volunteering to take a pro bono case from one of the participating agencies you will have a chance to assist clients with a variety of important legal needs. Interested in helping a CLE.calm Does the approaching CLE Deadline have you stressed? Get the CLE hours you need before the end of the year deadline with Atlanta Bar CLE self-study options! Find out more at www.atlantabar.org. The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association March 2014 THE ATLANTA LAWYER 19