News + Events
Being a voice: Pro bono work with the AVLF
Daily Report
July 12, 2010
Atlanta associate Jen Blackburn’s pro bono experience with the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation’s Saturday Lawyer Program was spotlighted in a “first person”
account published in the July 12 issue of the
Daily Report.
“Of the cases I have handled through the program, the client who most stands out in my mind is Mary, a Section 8 Housing tenant who was being taken advantage of by her landlord and had no means to defend herself,” Blackburn said. “Mary was being charged utilities by her landlord despite the fact that her lease agreement with the Atlanta Housing Authority provided that utilities were included in her rent.”
Blackburn assisted Mary in legal proceedings against the landlord, which resulted in the judge requiring the landlord to reimburse Mary for her previously paid utilities, plus substantial damages.
“I readily admit that Mary’s victory had little to do with my outstanding oratory style or superb courtroom skills,” said Blackburn. “Mary simply needed a competent attorney to stand up for her. Without the Saturday Lawyer Program she would not have had access to one. There are countless people out there just like Mary who need an attorney to be their voice.”