Please contact us at 478-238-0224 or info@mgajustice.org if you have any questions.
WHAT WE DO AT MIDDLE GEORGIA JUSTICE
We help people get legal assistance when they cannot afford to pay for it. Our financial eligibility is up to 300% of the federal poverty level. Our service area is Bibb, Houston, Peach, Crawford, Monroe, Jones, and Twiggs Counties.
Interested persons click on Get Help tab on our website to fill out questionnaires to start our intake process. Once we receive the necessary forms, we schedule an intake interview for eligible applicants.
There are three ways we provide assistance:
- Our Self Help Center – we assist people completing family and probate court papers, as well as applications for pardons;
- Direct representation by one of our staff attorneys; or
- Referral of the matter to a volunteer attorney on a pro bono or reduced fee basis.
OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, STAFF
HISTORY
Middle Georgia Justice was formed October 16, 2017, to provide legal assistance to low-income people in middle Georgia. The Community Foundation of Central Georgia was a fiscal sponsor until we obtained IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status May 2, 2018. The office opened June 1, 2018. Initial staff included an office manager and three incubator lawyers. Patrons are referred by GLSP, area judges and court clerks, lawyers, ministries, and community service agencies. Family law, probate, and heirs’ property cases are a large component of service requests. August 2018, we began enlisting lawyer volunteers in the “Justice Brigade” to provide pro bono or reduced fee assistance to our patrons. September 2018, we began intake of patrons.
May 2019, we hired an executive director and developed a family law Self Help Center (SHC) in January 2020.
The SHC provides access to court-approved pdf-fillable family law pleadings that pro se patrons complete with assistance from staff/volunteers. We are developing probate/heir’s property SHC capacities. Middle Georgia Justice assists patrons with criminal history relief – critical to employment, public assistance benefits, and also with ID’s and driver’s licenses.
The incubator program ended in September 2020 and Middle Georgia Justice hired its first staff attorney December 2020. September 2021, we hired a new staff attorney to handle family law matters.
Our staff includes an office manager, executive director, and two staff attorneys, one for family law and one for probate/heirs’ property cases.
The Middle Georgia Justice mission is a collaboration with Mercer Law School, GLSP, Macon and Houston Bar Associations, local ministries, and agencies. Mercer Law students have worked with us since the summer of 2018. Our evolution and success as an organization is possible because of generous contributions of money and service from lawyers, law firms, local and state bar associations, foundations, citizens, and the support and encouragement of others throughout the state.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Middle Georgia Justice is committed to excellence and transparency in all of our work, managing our resources effectively, and adhering to the highest ethical and professional standards in our governance and management. We are fortunate to have a diverse and talented group of attorneys and other professionals serving on our Board of Directors.
More information is available about Middle Georgia Justice board, bylaws, and key policies, including our Code of Ethics and Whistleblower Policy, Conflict of Interest Policy, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy.
FINANCIAL AND TAX INFORMATION
Middle Georgia Justice is committed to efficiently and effectively managing our resources in order to maximize our impact in the community.
Middle Georgia Justice’s 990 tax return is prepared annually by the respected firm of Lamb & Brawell, LLC. Tax returns for past fiscal years are available below. These returns, as well as additional information, are also available on Guidestar, where Middle Georgia Justice is recognized for the highest level of transparency.
Tax Returns
Federal Tax-Exempt Status
Middle Georgia Justice is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and under state law. A copy of Middle Georgia Justice’s federal Tax-exempt certification is available here.
LOCATION
Our offices are located at 241 Third Street in downtown Macon.
We are on the second floor, just upstairs from Georgia Legal Services.
CONTACT US
SOCIAL MEDIA
