The Senior Attorney Fellows Program, a project of Atlanta Legal Society, Inc., enables senior lawyers and retired judges to partner with Atlanta Legal Society, Inc., non-profit organizations, courts, and other public service entities to increase equal justice for all. Although lawyers are encouraged to provide pro bono services throughout their careers, they are not often offered a role to play after retirement. By matching lawyers who are retired or transitioning toward retirement with groups that need their help, the program allows these lawyers to use their specialized skills and experience to do engaging pro bono work, remain active members of the legal community, and help people and groups in need. Fellows devote 10-20 hours per week to their projects, and commit to work for one academic year, from September through June. Fellows come from diverse professional backgrounds and have had careers as judges, litigators, transactional attorneys, legal services attorneys, public servants, and public interest advocates. We welcome statements of interest from all lawyers who are retired or transitioning toward retirement. Some Fellows have completely retired from the practice of law, some are just starting to scale back their practices, and the rest are somewhere in the middle.
FAQ's
When should I apply or submit a statement of interest?
While we welcome applications and statements of interest at any time during the year, we start recruiting each January. We encourage the early submission of applications so that we have ample time to match Fellows to partner organizations.
Do I have to be retired to be a Senior Attorney Fellow?
No. Some Fellows have completely retired from the practice of law, some are just starting to scale back their practicesand transition into retirement, and the rest are somewhere in the middle.
For my Senior Attorney Fellowship, I am most interested in trying an area of law that is completely new to me. Is this possible?
Yes. Many Fellows have embarked on projects that involve an area of law in which they have no substantial experience.
How much time do Senior Attorney Fellows commit to their projects?
Fellows devote 10-20 hours per week to their projects, and commit to work for one academic year, from September through June.
What type of projects do Fellows work on?
We are most interested in projects aligned with the mission and strategies of Atlanta Legal Society, Inc. but we will consider any project that is focused on increasing access to justice for persons in Georgia or that increases a nonprofit organization’s capacity to accomplish a social justice mission. Projects may entail litigation, be transactional in nature, involve public policy or advocacy work, or relate to other types of legal tasks.
How can a Senior Attorney Fellow do legal research if he/she does not already have access to resources such as Westlaw?
Atlanta Legal Society, Inc. has access to various resources and aims to provide the research support that their Fellows need.
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