Created in May of 2005, the Committee on Civil Justice will work to strengthen Georgia’s civil justice system by developing, coordinating and supporting policy initiatives to expand access to the courts for poor and vulnerable Georgians. Although Georgia has made significant strides in meeting the needs of indigent criminal defendants, for many of its poorest citizens requiring assistance in civil legal matters, the promise of meaningful access to justice has been slow in coming. In any given year, nearly 40% of the state’s poorest citizens have at least one civil legal need, but only 1 in 10 is able to secure legal representation. Legal services programs, pro bono legal organizations, and volunteer lawyers are currently working to meet the needs of indigent civil litigants, but their efforts have been hampered by inadequate resources. Additionally, they are often restricted in the types of cases they are authorized to handle, and their geographical reach usually does not extend to those requiring assistance in the more isolated areas of the state.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR LEGAL NEEDS SURVEY (.pdf)

Criteria for Review of Legal Needs Survey Proposals (.pdf)

Materials from Offeror’s Conference

August 2008 – Georgia Bar Journal – “Supreme Court’s Legal Needs Study: Changing Georgia’s Civil Justice System”

February 2008 – The Atlanta Lawyer – “Civil Justice for Georgia’s Most Vulnerable"

August 2007 – Georgia Bar Journal – “Civil Right To Representation Argued in CLE Mock Hearing Before Supreme Court of Georgia” (.pdf)

October 2006 – Georgia Bar Journal – “Addressing the Legal Needs of Georgia’s Poor" (.pdf)

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