Have you thought about how the Atlanta Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) program operates? How are the lawyer referrals processed in the database? It is important for you to know that unlike in The Wizard of Oz, there is no “man behind the curtain.” Referrals are done by an impartial, fair computer-generated system.

First, when a member of the public calls LRIS, one of our intake specialists listens to a caller’s issue. Then, the staffer matches the caller’s legal matter with the corresponding panels/areas of law and, finally, provides the caller with the name of the first attorney displayed by the system.

Once an LRIS case is referred to a participating panel member, his/her name moves to the bottom of the list for that particular area of law. All members of the panel cycle through and rotate accordingly, one case at a time. The number of referrals a panel member receives for a certain category is directly connected to the number of active panelists in that category. Panel members must remain in compliance with the requirements of the program as outlined on the Lawyer Referral and Information Service site on the Atlanta Bar Association website: https://atlantabar.org/?pg=lrisapplicationQL. This includes, but it is not limited to the professional malpractice insurance, in which when the policy expires, the system sends automated reminders to the participating attorney, whose name will be taken out of rotation by the computer system until the renewal policy is received by the LRIS staff.

Now that I have given you transparency, I want to express my sincere gratitude to You. Thanks to you, LRIS donated $175,000 of the revenue generated from your consultation, panel and referral fees to the Atlanta Bar Foundation in 2023. The Atlanta Bar Foundation funds the Summer Law and Internship Program, the Minority and Diversity Clerkship Program, Atlanta Legal Aid and Atlanta Volunteer Lawyer Foundation among other foundations. LRIS was able to donate to the Atlanta Bar Foundation because of you. Your willingness to consult with potential clients and remit referral fees helps to sustain the important work of these foundations. While it may not feel like it at the moment, your actions are part of a broader goal to further the legal profession.

A second thank you goes to Mark Elliott, LRIS Board of Directors Member-At-Large. Mark served on the Board for a two-year term but will be rotating off the Board in May 2024. His point of view and ideas were diverse and welcomed. Mark, you will be missed.

My term as the LRIS Board of Directors Chair will end on May 31, 2024. It has been a wonderful journey and thank you for your support. The highlight of my term was our first

ever audit which generated $135,000 in additional fees! Moreover, I would like to welcome Peter Strott as the LRIS Board of Directors Chair for the 2024-25 fiscal year. He will continue to lead the LRIS program in the right direction with great projects for the success of the program.

Last, but not least, the Atlanta Bar Association membership renewal season has commenced, and I exhort you to join LRIS! By enrolling, you will enjoy the benefits of being a member a vetted and reputable lawyer referral program and be part of an important initiative for access to justice in Georgia. Visit the Atlanta Bar Association LRIS website listed above or click LRIS membership application and send it to lris@atlantabar.org. We look forward to hearing from you!