Welcome
Georgia Lawyers
Volunteering with GLA allows you to expand your skill set, gain valuable experience, and make meaningful contributions to our local underserved artistic communities, all while fulfilling the ethical duty to provide access to justice for those in need.
Additionally, pro bono work can enhance a lawyer's professional reputation, build a strong network of contacts, and provide a sense of fulfillment that extends beyond traditional legal practice.
Network and socialize with a dynamic group of over 1,000 Georgia attorneys.
Contribute to cultural enrichment and make a positive impact by supporting Georgia's artistic community.
Gain experience in new areas of law, develop practical skills and expand your professional network.
Available Arts Cases
Updated Jul 27, 2026
Interested in taking on a pro bono case with GLA? Please contact us at cases@glarts.org
Arts Cases
TAX
A6369-1-E: Artist Needs Advice on Changing Status from an Employee to Independent Contractor
Artist has been a filmmaker for over 18 years producing small indie experimental films for the film circuit. She is currently an Artist in resident at a Non-Profit (AP). AP received a grant and brought on artist to produce a film by the end of 2028. There is no contract, supervision or other usual indications of employment. Artist has been paid as an employee to date and would prefer to be paid as an independent contractor. Artist would like advice on how to change her status to 1099 and the pros and cons of doing so.
TRADEMARKS
A5448-5-R: Artist Needs Help Registering a Trademark
Artist is a poetess (and inventor) and would like to register a word mark on an intent to use basis for various goods. She holds an email address incorporating the intended mark.
Interested in a case? Comments or Questions?
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
Thank you to Alan Clarke of Greenspoon Marder, Jeffrey Morgan of Ballard Spahr, Michelle Davis of Arnall Golden Gregory, Sunnita Blount of Creative EsquiHER and Deborah Stewart of The Stewart Law Practice for taking a case since our last newsletter!
GLA and its Georgia PATENTS Program thank the companies, law firms and patent practitioners who earned a 2025 USPTO Patent Pro Bono Certificate.
COMPANIES
Arclin USA LLP
LAW FIRMS
Alston & Bird
Ballard Spahr
Edell, Shapiro & Finnan, LLC
Jennifer Knight Law Office, PLLC
North Carolina Central School of Law Intellectual Property Clinic
Smith Gambrell Russell
Troutman Pepper Locke
PATENT PRACTITIONERS
Arclin USA LLP
Ram Sabnis
Alston & Bird
Nick Bell
Alison Davis
Eric Pettis
Brian Teague
Carter Reeb
Ballard Spahr
| Charley F. Brown |
| Sophie E. Forsyth |
| Alexander J. Gee |
| James M. Hannon |
| Jonathan P. Hummel |
| Jonas Jarvholm |
| Benjamin D. Kirk |
| Michele A. Kliem |
| Matthew J. Littlefield |
| Jamie K. Major |
| Brian C. Meadows |
| Alexander M. Porte |
| Sandra Sciascia-Zirger |
| Clint South |
Edell, Shapiro & Finnan, LLC
Andy Floam
Peggy A Sue
Jennifer Knight Law Office, PLLC
Jennifer Knight
North Carolina Central School of Law Intellectual Property Clinic
Maymanet Asfar
Smith Gambrell Russell
Thomas Wiseman
Thompson Hine
Clint King
Womble Bond Dickinson
Chris Lightner
Volunteering with GLA FAQs
Joining is easy. Fill out this form and let us know what types of cases you would like to work on.
No, there is no cost to become a volunteer attorney.
GLA requires all of its volunteer attorneys to have legal malpractice insurance coverage. In-house counsel, fear not . . . GLA has malpractice insurance covering in-house attorneys who volunteer for our clinics or take pro bono cases!
We will send you our case list and events and may reach out to you directly to see if you are interested in specific cases in your areas of practice.
Yes, we are always looking for educational opportunities for our artist community and welcome virtual seminars or blog articles for our website.
We constantly update our website and distribute our case list via email twice per month.
Check the box on your volunteer form where you are asked if we can send your newsletter.
Please reach out to us at gla@glarts.org and we will respond immediately.
Please reach out to us at gla@glarts.org.
Pro-Bono Cases FAQs
GLA sends out a bi-weekly newsletter with available arts cases. The case list is also available above. If you see a case that interests you, just send us an email at cases@glarts.org with the ID number and title of the case.
Additionally, we may reach out to you directly by email when we have a case we feel is a good fit for your practice area. In these instances, the cases will appear the same way they do in the newsletter. If you are able to assist, you can accept the case simply by replying to the email. GLA will only contact you for the areas of practice you indicated on the Attorney Volunteer Form.
If you agree to take a pro bono case, GLA will first forward you both the client’s and adverse parties’ names and contact information so you can run a conflicts check.
We ask that you complete the conflicts check and let GLA know the outcome of the check within 10 business days. If it will take longer, please notify GLA of the delay. Otherwise we will place the client back on the case list and reach out to other attorneys.
Should the client pass conflicts, we will forward your contact information to the client who will contact you directly within three business days.
You will also receive an email officially assigning you the case that contains the client’s contact information and several documents outlining our program and processes.
If you do not hear from the client within three business days of our email, please contact GLA via email to notify us, and we will attempt to contact the client to have him or her contact you.
Once the client contacts you, GLA steps out of the picture. All services and communications are strictly between you and the client. GLA does not have an attorney-client relationship with the artist. GLA’s only involvement will be monthly update emails (quarterly for trademark and copyright registrations) which we use to keep track of how cases are progressing generally. This ensures that cases do not get forgotten and keeps our database current. Since GLA does not have a confidential relationship with the artists, we do not retain copies of client materials, including financial documents, contracts, etc..
No, cases are assigned on an issue-by-issue basis. You are not required to assist the client with new legal issues.
While you are welcome to assist clients with new issues that arise, related or not, we explain to the clients that you will work solely on the issue(s) assigned and are not acting as general counsel.
Clients should contact GLA for any new issues that arise.
At the completion of your representation, we ask that you complete the online Pro Bono Report. The link to this report is included in your initial assignment email and we will also include it in our monthly update emails.
The completion of this form is necessary for several reasons: GLA uses this information to track the hours and value of the services GLA provides, which helps us obtain grants to continue our work and discover ways to improve our services. Also, the link will close out the case in our CRM and we will stop sending monthly update requests.
Please reach out to us at gla@glarts.org.