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 states 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.
Download the Report on the 2007/2008 Legal Needs Study (.pdf)
Key Points Summary Sheet (.pdf)
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR LEGAL NEEDS SURVEY (.pdf)
Criteria for Review of Legal Needs Survey Proposals (.pdf)
Materials from Offeror's Conference
October 16, 2009 - WOTC11 Savannah - Roundtable Session Hopes to Solve Civil Legal Needs - Video
October 13, 2009 - Savannah Morning News - Court Study to Make Legal Help Available
October 10, 2009 - Barrow County News - Family Law Needs Pressing Across Piedmont Circuit
October 2, 2009 - Macon Telegraph - Lawyers discuss ways of helping people afford legal services
September 26, 2009 - Rome News Tribune - Judge: Poorer Georgians need better access to legal aid
September 16, 2009 - Rome News-Wire - Judge Walter Matthews To Host Meeting On Civil Legal Needs
September 5, 2009 - TImes-Georgian - Discussion addresses legal needs of poor
August 1, 2009 - The Albany Herald - Lockette Hosts Roundtable Discussion on Justice Gap
WFXL Fox 31 - Legal Roundtable Held in Albany
June 24, 2009 - USAToday.com - Study Shows Civil Legal Justice Gap in Georgia
Georgia Civil Legal Needs Summit - June 24, 2009
February 2008- The Atlanta Lawyer - Civil Justice for Georgia's Most Vulnerable
October 2006 - Georgia Bar Journal- Addressing the Legal Needs of Georgia's Poor (.pdf)
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