The Superior Court Judges of the Western Circuit, in partnership with the University of Georgia School of Law and the Western Circuit Bar Association, announce the last pop-up clinic for 2018 in the Access to Justice Initiative, followed by a celebration of the program's recent statewide award. The mission of the Access to Justice Initiative is to provide access to legal services and information for individuals in need of legal assistance who live in the community. 

Superior Court Judge Regina M. Quick will host the Access to Justice Pop-Up Clinic from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at the Athens-Clarke County Library at 2025 Baxter Avenue, along with Chief Superior Court Judge Patrick Haggard, Chief Magistrate Court Judge Patricia Barron, Associate Magistrate Judge Ben Makin, Municipal Court Judge Ryan Hope, and Chief Juvenile Court Judge Robin Shearer. Staff from the Probate Court and Georgia Legal Services and faculty and students from the UGA School of Law will also be in attendance. Attendees are encouraged to bring any relevant important papers with them. 

Attorneys provide brief individual consultations on topics including family law such as divorce and child support, adoption law, immigration law, probate law, disability law, employment law, criminal law, small claims, landlord-tenant law, and general civil law at the pop-up clinics. A list of legal service/attorney resources will be provided for individuals who may wish to seek further assistance beyond the pop-up clinic. Spanish translation services are also expected to be available.

Lawyers, legal educators, and staff attorneys from the local courts have committed to volunteering their time for the Access to Justice Initiative. The initiative is an opportunity to help those in need in the community and help provide access to competent legal representation. Since the program started in December 2017, attorneys have donated over $50,000 of their time and talents at these free legal clinics.

The State Bar of Georgia awarded the Access to Justice program the prestigious William B. Spann, Jr. Award on November 15 in Atlanta. The award is given each year to a local bar association, law firm, or community organization in Georgia that has developed a civil pro bono program that has satisfied previously unmet legal needs or extended services to underserved segments of the population.The award is named for a former president of the American Bar Association and former executive director of the State Bar of Georgia. A local celebration of the award will take place after the Pop-Up Clinic ends on December 1 at 11:00 a.m. The public is invited to attend the celebration.