From the Executive Director

• Jurisdiction: United States,Federal
• Citation: Vol. 27 No. 5 Pg. 0014
• Pages: 0014
• Publication year: 2022

Your State Bar: What We Do, Who We Are . . . .

DAMON ELMORE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STATE BAR OF GEORGIA

damone@gabar.org

As president of the State Bar of Georgia for 2021-22, Elizabeth L. Fite has made “Know Your Bar” an essential element of focus. It is an appropriate emphasis, especially following two years of disconnect from routines and friendly interests on the part of Bar staff and Bar members. It is in that spirit that this column aims to help everyone remember and connect with the programs and departments available to our members.

We do this from time to time. I noticed that our longest serving executive director, the late Cliff Brashier, penned a similar article nearly two decades ago. For the most part, what was true then remains true today, such as the State Bar staff’s goal to “consistently strive to give accurate information and courteous assistance to help our members be better lawyers and judges. We also seek to provide expert assistance and valuable benefits to the public served by the legal profession.”

So if you are new to the profession or just need a refresher on the many ways you can benefit from the Bar’s member services, here are brief descriptions of most of the programs and departments that directly serve our members, along with contact information for the appropriate person in each area.

Bar Center

Cliff said it best: “The Bar Center is the home of lawyers and judges of Georgia. It is (our) professional gathering place.” The Bar Center headquarters in downtown Atlanta is open and stands ready to serve all members and the public through the administration of justice and work of the profession. Bar Center conference rooms can be reserved for law-related meetings on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Members can also enjoy our lawyers lounge and take advantage of complimentary parking and free Wi-Fi throughout the center. For more information on the Bar Center, email me at damone@gabar.org. For more information on the Conference Center, visit www.gabar.org/conferencecenter or contact Faye First, Conference Center manager, at fayef@gabar.org.

Client Assistance Program

Assisting members of the public with matters that relate to the profession is an equally important part of our work. The Client Assistance Program (CAP) is designed to improve communication between lawyers and their clients by working to informally resolve minor matters that might not rise to the level of a serious ethical violation. Contact Mercedes Ball, CAP director, at mercedesb@gabar.org.

Communications

All of our efforts to keep our members and the public informed—publications, media relations, social media content, podcast episodes, graphics, flyers, pamphlets and website—are coordinated by this department. Publications include the bimonthly Georgia Bar Journal, monthly Enews and regular updates for our members, design for The YLD Review, edits to the Lawyers Living Well...