SOLACE

In July 2014, members of the Georgia and South Carolina bars worked
together to get Gabriel and his family home from Cyprus so he could
have chemotherapy treatment.

What is SOLACE?

SOLACE, Support of Lawyers/Legal Personnel—All Concern Encouraged, is a program of the State Bar of Georgia designed to assist those in the legal community who have experienced some significant, potentially life-changing event in their lives. The sole purpose of the SOLACE program is to allow the legal community to reach out in meaningful and compassionate non-monetary ways to judges, lawyers, court personnel, paralegals, legal secretaries and their families who experience deaths or other catastrophic illnesses, sickness or injury.
SOLACE is voluntary, simple and straightforward. SOLACE does not solicit monetary contributions but assistance or donations in kind.

How does SOLACE work?

The way the program works is simple, but the effects can be significant. If you or someone in the legal community is in need of help, simply email SOLACE@gabar.org. Those emails are then reviewed by the SOLACE Committee. If the need fits within the parameters of the program, an email with the pertinent information is sent to members of the State Bar. Those who can help reply and are then linked to the person in need.

What needs are addressed?

Needs addressed by the SOLACE program can range from unique medical conditions requiring specialized referrals to a fire loss requiring help with clothing, food or housing. Some other examples of assistance include gift cards, food, meals, a rare blood type donation, assistance with transportation in a medical crisis or building a wheelchair ramp in a residence.

Success Stories

In each of the Georgia SOLACE requests made to date, Bar members have graciously stepped up and used their resources to help find solutions for those in need.

• A solo practitioner's quadriplegic wife needed rehabilitation, and members of the Bar helped navigate discussions with their insurance company to obtain the rehabilitation she required.
• A Louisiana lawyer was in need of a CPAP machine, but didn't have insurance or the means to purchase one. Multiple members offered to help.
• A bar member was dealing with a serious illness and in the midst of brain surgery, her mortgage company scheduled a foreclosure on her home. Several members of the Bar were able to negotiate with the mortgage company and avoided the pending foreclosure.
• Working with the South Carolina bar, a former paralegal's son was flown from Cyprus to Atlanta (and then to South Carolina) for cancer treatment. Members of the Georgia and South Carolina bars worked together to get Gabriel and his family home from their long-term mission work.

Contact SOLACE@gabar.org for help.