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State Bar Staff
Executive Staff
Cliff Brashier, Executive Director (404) 527-8755
cliff@gabar.org
William P. Smith III, General Counsel (404) 527-8720
bill@gabar.org
Sharon L. Bryant, Chief Operating Officer (404) 527-8776
sharon@gabar.org
Steve Laine, Chief Financial Officer (404) 527-8748
stevel@gabar.org
Dee Dee Worley, Assistant Director, CLE (404) 527-8712
deedee@gabar.org
Pauline Childress, Administrative Assistant to Chief Operating Officer (404) 526-8635
pauline@gabar.org
B.A.S.I.C.S.
Bar Association Support to Improve Correctional Services (BASICS) is a successful and effective program which provides a 30-hour course of instruction for soon-to-be released prison inmates. BASICS also provides after-care post-release assistance to BASICS program participants.
Ed Menifee, Coordinator (404) 527-8760
edmenifee@aol.com
Communications/Publications
The State Bar of Georgia's publications and media relations are coordinated by the Communications Department and various related committees. Along with producing the Georgia Bar Journal, the Directory & Handbook, and the Consumer Pamphlet Series, the Communications Department is also responsible for updating and maintaining the State Bar of Georgia Web site.
Sarah I. Coole, Director (404) 527-8791
sarah@gabar.org
Jennifer R. Mason, Assistant Director (404) 527-8761
jennifer@gabar.org
Derrick W. Stanley, Section Liaison (404) 527-8774
derricks@gabar.org
Stephanie J. Wilson, Administrative Assistant (404) 527-8792
stephaniew@gabar.org
Conference Center
The Bar Center is the home of the lawyers and judges of Georgia. It is their professional gathering place. Members in good standing with the Bar may reserve any of the Bar Center's 3rd floor rooms (10 conference rooms, a mock trial courtroom and an auditorium) free of charge (food, soft drinks and coffee are extra) on a first-come, first-served basis during business hours for law-related meetings.
Faye First, Conference Center Manager (404) 419-0155
fayef@gabar.org
Kyle Gause, AV Manager (404) 419-0160
kyle@gabar.org
Rudy Ross, 3rd Floor Porter
Consumer Assistance Program
This program is designed to improve communication between lawyers and their clients by seeking to resolve minor problems which do not rise to the level of a serious ethical violation. The Program also enforces Bar Rule 1-209 which allows the State Bar to suspend an attorney who willfully fails to timely pay child support obligations.
Lynda Hulsey, Director (404) 527-8726
lynda@gabar.org
Steven Conner, Assistant Director (404) 526-8623
steven@gabar.org
Donna Davis, Senior Administrator
donna@gabar.org
Barbara Dailey, Administrator
barbara@gabar.org
Jill Muvdi, Administrator
jill@gabar.org
Department Fax No. (404) 287-8390
Main CAP Line (404) 527-8759
Continuing Legal Education
(Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency) This program is designed to enhance its members' professional competence as lawyers. Active lawyers are required to keep current on the law by attending a minimum of 12 hours of education each year. Of these, at least one must be in ethics, one must be in professionalism, and for trial attorneys three must be in litigation. The CLE department assists attorneys with keeping track of their CLE hours throughout the year.
Cliff Brashier, Executive Director (404) 527-8755
cliff@gabar.org
Dee Dee Worley, Assistant Director (404) 527-8712
deedee@gabar.org
Amy Smith, Administrator (404) 527-8716
amy@gabar.org
Crystal Richards, Administrator (404) 527-8708
crystal@gabar.org
Pamela Bryson, Administrator (404) 527-8719
pamela@gabar.org
Jonathan Benjamin, Administrator (404) 527-8714
jonathanb@gabar.org
Fee Arbitration
The Fee Arbitration Program provides a convenient mechanism for resolving fee disputes between attorneys and clients. It also provides for the resolution of fee disputes between lawyers resulting from a partnership dissolution, sharing of fees or the withdrawal of a lawyer from a partnership. Petitions are available through the Fee Arbitration office.
Rita Payne, Director (404) 527-8751
rita@gabar.org
Cassie Hickman, Coordinator (404) 527-8732
cassie@gabar.org
DeAnna Massey, Administrative Assistant (404) 527-8752
deanna@gabar.org
Diversity Program
The Diversity Program at the State Bar of Georgia represents a major commitment to increase opportunities for ethnic minority attorneys in the assignment of corporate and governmental legal work. Participating corporations and government entities seek to forge a lasting working partnership with minority lawyers throughout Georgia. This program is open to all minority- and majority-owned law firms as well as corporations and governmental agencies in Georgia.
Marian Cover Dockery, Director (404) 230-6788
marian@gabar.org
Finance
The Accounting / Finance Department is responsible for the investment of all revenues for Bar membership and Section dues, and other funds. Monthly reports are issued to the Executive Committee, Budget/Finance Committee and to senior Bar staff.
Steve Laine, Chief Financial Officer (404) 527-8748
stevel@gabar.org
Bernice Robinson, Staff Accountant (404) 527-8740
bernice@gabar.org
Sandra Dixon, Staff Accountant (404) 527-8745
sandra@gabar.org
High School Mock Trial
Regional, state and national high school mock trial competitions are coordinated annually by the YLD High School Mock Trial Committee to expose high school students to the legal system and encourage them to be better informed citizens. This program involves hundreds of volunteer lawyers and judges as team coaches, round judges and planners. The committee also sponsors an annual summer law camp, a moot court contest, a court artist contest, and a journalism contest.
Stacy Rieke, Coordinator (404) 527-8779
stacyr@gabar.org
Peggy Caldwell, Assistant Coordinator (404) 527-8797
peggy@gabar.org
High School Mock Trial
mocktrial@gabar.org
Law Practice Management
This program provides assistance to law firms and solo practitioners in everything from what type of office equipment to buy to what type of billing process is best for their firms. The department maintains a law office management and technology library with resource personnel who are available for consultations in lawyers' offices or by telephone regarding management issues. The department's resources and materials are available to all Bar members, particularly those who do not have professional office management personnel.
Natalie Kelly, Director (404) 527-8770
natalie@gabar.org
Pamela Myers, Resource Advisor (404) 526-8621
pam@gabar.org
Jodi McKenzie, Member Benefits Coordinator (404) 526-8608
jodi@gabar.org
Kim Henry, Administrative Assistant (404) 527-8772
kim@gabar.org
Law-Related Education Program
The Law Related Education (LRE) Program offers K-12 teachers a wide variety of strategies for including LRE in their social science education curriculum. The program's outreach efforts fall into four key categories: teacher workshops, exhibitions at teacher conferences, the Bar's Journey Through Justice collaboration, and The LRE Circuit newsletter publication.
Deborah Craytor, Director (404) 527-8785
deborahcc@gabar.org
Lawyer Assistance Program
This program provides confidential assistance to Bar members whose personal problems may be interfering with their ability to practice law. Such problems include stress, chemical dependency, family problems and mental or emotional impairment. Services are confidential and free to Bar members.
Hotline: (800) 327-9631
Management Information Systems
Management Information Systems is responsible for meeting all of the Bar's computer needs. This department maintains the Bar's computers and network.
Lamont Burwell, Director (404) 527-8746
lamont@gabar.org
Angel Martinez, Network Administrator (404) 526-8629
angel@gabar.org
Meetings
The State Bar Board of Governors holds four meetings each year including the Annual and Midyear Meetings. These quarterly meetings offer CLE seminars, speakers and issues updates to keep lawyers informed of their ever-changing profession. Committee and Section meetings take place throughout the year.
Michelle Garner, Director (404) 527-8790
michelle@gabar.org
Membership
This department creates and keeps up-to-date computerized and hard copy records for all 37,000+ bar members. It also updates all membership computer records with changes or payments; prepares annual dues notices and processes income; furnishes labels and demographics regarding members and sections; prepares the alphabetical and geographical portions of the State Bar Directory & Handbook; prepares letters of good standing for members upon written request at a nominal charge of $15; furnishes membership enrollment packets to all new attorneys and enrolls them accordingly; and administers State Bar elections under the direction of the Elections Committee. Photo membership identification cards are provided for $10.
For Questions or assistance please call:
Membership Department, (404) 527-8777
membership@gabar.org
Brinda Lovvorn, Director (404) 527-8780
brinda@gabar.org
Judy Hill, Assistant Director (404) 526-8625
judy@gabar.org
Brandy Preston, Administrator (404) 526-8636
brandy@gabar.org
Kendra Williams, Administrator (404) 527-8718
kendra@gabar.org
Department Fax No. (404) 527-8747
Office Management
Carolyn McKnight, Office Manager (404) 527-8775
carolyn@gabar.org
faye@gabar.org
Carol Carson, Receptionist (404) 527-8700
carol@gabar.org
M. Kory Motley, Mailroom Coordinator (404) 527-8788
kory@gabar.org
Office of the General Counsel This office acts as in-house counsel for the State Bar of Georgia and ensures lawyer compliance with the ethics rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Georgia. In addition to maintaining a helpline for members who have questions about the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct, staff attorneys are available to discuss the functions of the office with local and circuit bars upon request. Attorneys from this office act as staff for the Client's Security Fund. Created in 1968, this fund provides financial relief for members of the public who have sustained a financial loss as a result of a Georgia lawyer's dishonest conduct.
William P. Smith III, General Counsel (404) 527-8720
bill@gabar.org
Connie P. Henry, Clerk, State Disciplinary Board (404) 527-8720
connie@gabar.org
Main Telephone (404) 527-8720
Ethics Helpline (404) 527-8741
Ethics Helpline (800) 682-9806
Bar Counsel
Robert McCormack, Deputy General Counsel (404) 527-8720
robertmc@gabar.org
John J. Shiptenko, Assistant General Counsel (404) 527-8720
john@gabar.org
Betty Derrickson, Paralegal (404) 527-8720
betty@gabar.org
Deloise Mathews, Legal Secretary (404) 526-8627
deloise@gabar.org
Disciplinary Counsel
Paula J. Frederick, Deputy General Counsel (404) 527-8720
paula@gabar.org
Jonathan Hewett, Senior Assistant General Counsel (404) 527-8720
jonathan@gabar.org
Jenny Mittelman, Senior Assistant General Counsel (404) 527-8720
jenny@gabar.org
A. M. Christina Petrig, Assistant General Counsel (404) 527-8720
tina@gabar.org
Rebecca Hall, Assistant General Counsel (404) 527-8720
becky@gabar.org
Kellyn O. McGee, Assistant General Counsel (404) 527-8720
kellyn@gabar.org
Carmen Rojas Rafter, Senior Grievance Counsel (404) 527-8720
carmen@gabar.org
Dan O'Sullivan, Staff Investigator (404) 527-8796
dan@gabar.org
Lamar D. Jackson, Staff Investigator (404) 527-8784
lamar@gabar.org
Carolyn Williams, Paralegal (404) 527-8720
carolynw@gabar.org
Regina Putman-Kelley, Overdraft Notification Coordinator (404) 527-8720
regina@gabar.org
Kristin Poland, Part-time Paralegal (404) 527-8720
kristin@gabar.org
Kathya St. Louis, Pro-Hac Paralegal (404) 526-8603
kathya@gabar.org
Deborah M. Grant, Legal Secretary (404) 527-8720
deborah@gabar.org
Cathe Hall-Payne, Legal Secretary (404) 527-8720
cathe@gabar.org
Bobbie Kendall, Legal Secretary (404) 527-8720
bobbie@gabar.org
Deloise Mathews, Legal Secretary (404) 527-8720
deloise@gabar.org
Jessica Oglesby, Receptionist (404) 527-8720
jessica@gabar.org
Sections
Forty sections provide service to the legal profession and public. A conduit for information in particular areas of law, sections provide newsletters, programs and the chance to exchange ideas with other practitioners. To join a section, contact the Membership Department at (404) 527-8780.
Derrick W. Stanley, Section Liaison (404) 527-8774
derricks@gabar.org FAX: (404) 527-8749
South Georgia Office
The Tifton branch of the State Bar of Georgia is designed to give South Georgia lawyers greater access to the Bar. The office may be used for CLE seminars, ADR trainings, local bar meetings, etc. Lawyers and law-related groups may use the facility for Bar-related purposes. Call for reservations.
Bonne D. Cella, Office Administrator (229) 387-0446
bonne@gabar.org
Sherry Gatewood, Receptionist (229) 387-0446
sherry@gabar.org
Fax Number (229) 382-7435
Toll Free Number (800) 330-0446
Transition into Law Practice Program
The goal of the Transition into Law Practice Program, also known as the Mentoring Program, is to afford every beginning lawyer newly admitted to the State Bar of Georgia with meaningful access to an experienced lawyer equipped to teach the practical skills, seasoned judgment, and sensitivity to ethical and professionalism values necessary to practice law in a highly competent manner.
Douglas Ashworth, Director (404) 527-8703
tilpp@gabar.org
Ebony C. Smith, Administrative Assistant (404) 527-8704
ebony@gabar.org
Unlicensed Practice of Law
The Unlicensed Practice of Law (UPL) Department addresses the investigation and prosecution of UPL in Georgia.
Steven J. Kaczkowski, Director (404) 527-8743
steve@gabar.org
John G. Marty, Assistant Director (404) 527-8743
johnm@gabar.org
Lorraine Bell, Legal Secretary (404) 527-8743
lorraine@gabar.org
Robert Tyson, Staff Investigator (404) 527-8743
robertt@gabar.org
Thomas H. Porter, Staff Investigator (404) 527-8743
tom@gabar.org
Jim Pangborn Jr., Staff Investigator (404) 527-8743
james@gabar.org
Lesley Gillard, Legal Secretary (404) 527-8769
lesley@gabar.org
Young Lawyers Division
The Young Lawyers Division (YLD) is responsible for aiding and promoting the advancement of the younger members of the State Bar by providing a program of activities and projects which serve both the profession and the public. All members of the State Bar who have not yet reached their 36th birthday or who have been admitted to their first Bar less than three years are automatically members.
Mary McAfee, Director (404) 527-8778
mary@gabar.org