AVLF is proud to announce that Michael Lucas has become the
new Deputy Director of the Foundation.
Michael Lucas, AVLF Deputy Director |
Michael has worked with AVLF for four years, and two years
ago became the Director of Housing and Consumer Programs. In that span, Michael
has done especially remarkable work with AVLF’s signature program, the Saturday
Lawyer Program: under Michael’s cogent and enthusiastic direction, the Saturday
Lawyer Program is the strongest it has ever been in the 40 plus years of its
operation. In 2013 alone, more than 250 volunteer lawyers counseled more
than 350 clients on a Saturday morning on housing, wage claim and debt defense
matters and dispensed more than $250,000
of free legal services to low-income members of our community on Saturday alone
– saying nothing of the significantly greater amount of work done on the cases
after Saturday when those attorneys accepted cases.
Michael started the AVLF Dollars for Judgments Program by
encouraging the State Bar Creditor’s Rights Committee to join AVLF in an effort
to collect judgments secured by or on behalf of AVLF clients; he was also
instrumental in the founding of the new LICAP (Low Income Consumer Advocacy
Program) Program that will send experienced practitioners into Bankruptcy Court
in adversary proceedings on behalf of AVLF clients who are judgment creditors.
Michael also directs the AVLF/Atlanta Bar Association Estate Planning &
Probate Section Probate Information Center, and related AVLF substantive pro
bono programs.
Moreover, Michael is a delightful person with whom to work, has
a wicked sense of humor and is widely well respected in the Atlanta legal
community. With his energetic and passionate approach to every interaction
(sustained, somehow, through the sleep-deprivation period brought on by the
birth of his and wife Lauren’s two daughters, Maya and Zoe), Michael continues
to present the very best of the Foundation, and as a Staff we look forward to
Michael’s leadership. Our congratulations to our wonderful colleague and new
Deputy Director, Michael Lucas!