Georgia Lawyers for the Arts is a non-profit organization that offers creative, hands-on legal services to arts and cultural groups in Georgia. It was founded in 2020 with the merger of the Georgia Bar Associations and the Georgia College of Law. Its mission is “to promote the artistic and creative pursuits of individuals and groups in Georgia” (as well as nationwide). Membership in GLA is by invitation only and members are required to complete an application.
Lawyers For the Arts in Georgia
The application can be downloaded from the site for $15. By completing the online intake process an artist/writer will be contacted and given the necessary information to determine eligibility for a grant or scholarship. To be considered for either a grant or scholarship, an applicant must meet certain requirements. One such requirement is the completion and certification of a “gilbertian” (an advanced graduate course of study that includes general liberal arts studies). Another requirement is that the applicant must have completed their law degree, but need not be an attorney.
- In Georgia, attorneys are required to hold state bar association’s credentials. Bar associations in Georgia are required to approve attorneys for state bar membership before they are allowed to practice law. In order to be eligible for state bar membership, lawyers must complete and pass the state bar exam. As Georgia lawyers for the arts, one must also pass the state bar exam. Therefore, there is no guarantee of either of these things if one decides to pursue his or her career as an artist in Georgia without a bar exam.
- For artists interested in careers as lawyers in Georgia, they can look towards Professional Bar Associations, which is located in Atlanta, Clarkston, Powder Springs, and Marietta. These professional bar associations provide attorneys with the resources they need to find a job as an attorney. Georgia is home to six professional bar associations, including the Georgia State Bar Association. Georgia State Bar Association serves clients in the area of family law, criminal law, employment law, and corporate/ Employment law. Its website provides many resources for locating attorneys in cities and towns throughout Georgia. Additionally, the organization links to the online site of the Georgia State Bar Association where one can find out about disciplinary actions and action alerts regarding attorneys in the state of Georgia.
- There are other Georgia lawyers for the arts community who provide legal services to the local community in other ways. For example, Appalachian Legal Assistance Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides free legal services to low-income families in the Appalachian Mountains region of Georgia. The foundation provides its services to individuals and families who may be experiencing hardships due to economic crisis. Many of the Appalachian Legal Assistance Foundation’s programs are designed specifically to assist artists who are facing financial hardship.
The Georgia State Bar Association, in association with the American Bar Association, is another source of pro Bono legal assistance in Georgia. The bar association provides education and information to lawyers on a variety of professional issues. Georgia lawyers for the arts in not-for-profit organizations may be able to get grant money from the state to help them carry out their pro Bono activities. Other professional arts groups that may be able to utilize this type of funding are the Georgia Musicians Union, Georgia Authors Guild, and the Georgia Authors Conservatory. No matter what arts groups are in need of help, Georgia lawyers can help.
