Atlanta’s Eric Barton Receives Pro Bono Award

The Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) honored Eric Barton with its Saturday Lawyer Program 5-Year Service Award this month at the Atlanta Bar Association’s annual Celebrating Service Luncheon.

For forty years, the Saturday Lawyer Program, a collaborative effort between AVLF and the Atlanta Legal Aid Society (ALAS), has provided low-income members of our community with access to volunteer attorneys, and volunteer attorneys with a chance to do meaningful pro bono work. Typical cases a volunteer may encounter involve defending clients against debt lawsuits and garnishments where the client disputes the amount owed or abusive tactics have been employed, stopping harassment and unfair collection practices by debt collectors, or negotiating with a landlord to secure habitable and safe housing.

Eric says, "Taking on pro bono matters through the AVLF Saturday Lawyer Program is an incredibly rewarding experience - both professionally and personally.  Every case I have handled has had a direct impact on someone's daily life, and the appreciation the clients show for the service I provide keeps bringing me back for more."