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NEWS AND STORIES |
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Matthew J. Calvert:
As President, Calvert will lead the board in overseeing the operations of the society and advising the executive director and staff on operational matters; preside over board and executive committee meetings; and assist with fundraising. “I am honored to be part of an organization which fills a great need for legal representation for thousands of metro Atlantans,” Calvert said. “It’s rewarding for me to give back to the community and assist those who are often in greatest need of our service.” Steve Gottlieb, executive director of Atlanta Legal Aid Society, said, “Matt will make a great board president. He has already demonstrated a commitment to the needs of our clients and a thoughtfulness in considering how we should go about our work.” Hunton & Williams’ commitment to pro bono legal services and Atlanta Legal Aid runs deep: Calvert is the second firm attorney to serve as president, and the firm has sent four associates – including its current pro bono fellow – to work at the organization for four months as fellows. Additionally, firm attorneys have represented more than 70 clients referred by Atlanta Legal Aid since 1996, and have spent more than 275 hours on various matters in the first nine months of the firm’s current fiscal year, which ends March 31. “Our firm’s long-standing affiliation with Legal Aid will continue under Matt’s leadership,” said Rita Sheffey, partner and chair of Hunton & Williams’ Atlanta Pro Bono Committee, and Atlanta Legal Aid board president in 2005. “Matt has been an avid supporter of Atlanta Legal Aid for many years and I am delighted about his appointment.” Just Another Day At Legal Aid
Some of our cases make the evening news; sometimes you read about us in the "Atlanta Journal Constitution." Most days, you don't know what a legal aid attorney has done for someone in your community. There are a million stories in this city; these are a few of them. Unemployment Benefits Ms. RL's employer had moved from a location in Loganville, eight miles from her home, to the Perimeter Mall area in DeKalb County, 32 miles away. Her new commute was two to four hours a day, depending on traffic, and involved driving on restricted access roads instead of nearby suburban roads. After also considering the cost of gas, she had offered to telecommute. Her employer would not make this option available, and she ended up resigning due to the time and cost of the new commute. After she was denied unemployment benefits, Ms. RL came to Legal Aid for help. We represented Ms. RL in Superior Court, where she was successful in showing that the employer had changed the terms and conditions of her work, and that the increased time and cost involved in her new commute made a good work related cause for quitting. The Court used the federal mileage reimbursement rate to calculate the cost of the new commute, and focused on the personal hardship to Ms. RL, and awarded unemployment benefits to her. A "Secret" Divorce Ms. GT came to Legal Aid when the Railroad Retirement Board sought repayment of an overpayment that they claimed was the result of her getting spousal benefits while divorced. She had applied for spousal benefits without knowing that the man she had married and was still living with had gotten a divorce by default when she did not respond to the notice given by publication. Yes, you read that right, despite the fact that the man was LIVING with her, he lied in an affidavit to the Court and which granted him permission to give notice by publication. Ms. GT continued living with him for years thinking they were still married, hearing about her divorce only when the Railroad Retirement Board notified her that she was not entitled to benefits and that they wanted their money back. The Board then rejected her appeal based on the erroneous conclusion that she must have known of the divorce because notice is usually given by personal service. Ms. GT asked us for help first with the overpayment, fearing a lawsuit against her, but then there was a larger injustice -- the fact that a divorce was ordered without any notice to her. Lawyers from two departments within Legal Aid worked first to overturn the Railroad Retirement Board's decision, and then successfully set aside the divorce. Ms. GT was not only absolved of liability for the alleged overpayment, her benefits have been reinstated all the way back and will continue until there is a real divorce. |
Preliminary work has already begun, and in April the official count begins. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race and other relevant data. HOW IS THE INFORMATION USED? After the Census is completed, the information that has been collected is made available to the public as statistics. For example, a table or chart would show how many people who live in a certain county speak Spanish, but would not show the name or address of anyone who speaks Spanish. Census workers are not allowed to share your personal information with the FBI, INS or other agencies. The statistical information helps in many different ways. A few examples: • Questions about race or national origin help federal agencies make sure there is no discrimination and that such laws as the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act are enforced. Local governments may want these statistics to see where bilingual programs would be helpful. • Information about numbers of children and their ages help local governments plan where to build or close schools. • Businesses use the information to decide where to locate stores or services.
A Census worker may contact you by telephone, mail or in person by knocking at your door. The Census Bureau does NOT use e-mail. U.S. Census workers will have a badge, a handheld device, a U.S. Census Bureau canvas bag and a confidentiality notice for you. The Census worker will ask for basic information, such as how many children are in the household and their ages, whether anyone in the household is of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin, and whether you own the home. BE SAFE If a Census worker comes to your home, you should ask to see photo identification and a badge before answering any questions. Remember, never invite anyone you do not know into your home. A real Census worker will not ask for your Social Security number, credit card or banking information. A real Census worker will not ask for donations of any kind. A real Census worker would not get angry if you asked to see ID or if you did not invite him or her inside your home. A real Census worker will NOT contact you by e-mail. Be on the lookout for e-mails claiming to be from the U.S. Census Bureau. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an e-mail that is supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau; delete it immediately. Recommended Reading Raising the Bar: Legendary Rainmakers Share Their Business Development Secrets, by business development coach and long-time Atlanta Legal Aid Advisory Committee member Robin M. Hensley. Ten instantly recognizable star lawyers give their tips on the practice of law, taking care of clients and building your business. It's all about "raising the bar" by finding your personal highest standards. The book comes with a DVD, for an up close and personal experience. "I am delighted that Robin has decided to donate the majority of the profits of her book to Atlanta Legal Aid. . . . Above all, I would urge everyone to read Robin’s book, because she has written about such fascinating people in such a personal way."
More about Robin Hensley. |
