During the Georgia Supreme Court’s special session on August 22nd, the daily report discussed Georgia’s current lawyer deficit with our own Attorney, Jennifer Cabrera-Torres
Chief Justice Urges Newly Admitted Attorneys to Address ‘Lawyer Deficit’
“One way you can pay it forward is to commit to improving access to justice for others,” said Supreme Court of Georgia Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs Tuesday. “[T]he need is great and the reward in helping others is immeasurable,”
What You Need to Know
- Supreme Court of Georgia Chief Justices draws attention to state’s legal deserts during admission ceremony.
- Attorneys newly admitted to practice before the high court encouraged to ‘pay it forward’ with pro bono legal service.
- Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs noted access to justice woes with 67 of Georgia’s 159 counties having 10 or fewer lawyers.
Before commencing a special session of oral arguments held at the Atlanta John Marshall Law School Tuesday, Supreme Court of Georgia Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs urged four newly admitted attorneys to help be a part of the solution to Georgia’s legal deserts problem.
“We have a deficit of lawyers in Georgia,” Boggs said Tuesday during an admission ceremony. “One way you can pay it forward is to commit to improving access to justice for others by supporting programs like the State Bar’s Legal Services Program and offer up for bono legal services to those who are in need.”
‘No Lawyers at All’
During the off-site admission ceremony, attorneys Jennifer Claudia Cabrera-Torres, Robert Coggins, Erin Coleman, Anne Johnson and Terri A. Wells stood front and center as Boggs administered their oaths.
The chief justice called the collective’s ability to practice law among nearly 53,000 other attorneys in the Peach State “a privilege,” before suggesting each thank those who’d helped along the way.
“I remind you to pay it forward. You can do this first by upholding the highest standard of professionalism in your personal and professional lives,” Boggs said. “You can also pay it forward by committing to serving others, by improving the lives of persons in need through your legal career, by seeking also, however, to improve our judicial system.”
Boggs highlighted that Georgia had legal deserts consisting of counties with few, if any, attorneys. He reminded that the legal profession’s “deficit of lawyers” had a direct impact on access to justice, particularly in rural communities and for litigants living in poverty.
“In Georgia, 67 of [the state’s 159] counties have 10 or fewer lawyers. In seven counties … in rural Georgia … there are no lawyers at all,” Boggs said. “Our trial judges across the state continue to see a significant rise in self-represented litigants in their respective courts in all types of cases, including domestic violence, divorce and child custody proceedings.”
Having addressed the state’s legal desert challenge, Boggs laid out how each of the four newly admitted attorneys could become a part of the access to justice solution. He suggested they uphold the legal profession and oath they’d just taken by acting on their “obligation to lift up the profession by helping others.”
In addition to participating in the State Bar of Georgia’s Legal Services Program, Boggs recommended the attorneys “offer up pro bono legal services to those who are in need.”
“You’ll find the need is great and the reward in helping others is immeasurable. Along the way, it’ll make you a better lawyer,” Boggs said. “It will also reflect well on our profession. It’ll make your chosen profession more fulfilling. With that, I want to welcome you all to the bar of this court. My colleagues and I wish you the best in your profession and professional lives. We all look forward to having you practice in front of us.”
‘Would Not Otherwise Have a Voice’
Boggs’ address resonated with Gwinnett County native Cabrera-Torres. Following the admission ceremony, the Norcross attorney told the Daily Report she initiated discussions with her González Torres Law colleagues about expanding the firm’s reach “to those less fortunate areas through events and targeting.”
“I feel I have the duty to expand access to my firm’s services to those areas of Georgia less fortunate to have a Spanish speaking attorney like myself that may not be otherwise accessible,” Cabrera-Torres told the Daily Report Wednesday.
“My passion is educating and giving back to my community, especially the older Spanish-speaking generation that would not otherwise have a voice.”
