On Monday, the members of the Georgia General Assembly returned to the State Capitol to begin the 2013 Legislative Session. With nine members of the GTLA Family among them, these lawmakers are set to embark on a challenging and far-too-often thankless mission. Though they come from opposite sides of the aisle and from all different walks of life, legislators convene under the Gold Dome for one reason – to make the State of Georgia a better place. But legislators should not be expected to carry this burden alone.

As lawyers representing people, families, and small businesses across the state we are uniquely qualified to serve as an invaluable resource to our legislators. Whether you are willing to draft or review legislation, assist in policy research and legal analysis, or simply provide your respective legislator with feedback from his or her own constituent, you have the opportunity to foster mutually beneficial alliances with our Legislature. Our legislators accomplish an extraordinary amount of work in just 40 working days at the Capitol, and the guidance and assistance from an experienced legal professional like you may very well prove to be a difference maker for a large majority of them.

GTLA needs everyone, everywhere, all the time to succeed. I encourage each of you to reach out to your Senators and Representatives during the next few months and simply ask, "How can I help you?" Then, follow this offer up with the true sincerity and good will for which so many of our members have become known. If all GTLA members engaged in the legislative process in this way, our positive impact at the Capitol would truly be immeasurable.

Another opportunity available to each of us is the GTLA Lawyer of the Day program. Now entering its third year, Lawyer of the Day has been a tremendous success for our outreach efforts, and has allowed many GTLA members to experience the legislative process first-hand. If you have not done so already, or would like to participate again, please consider signing up today by clicking here or visiting www.gtla.org for more information. I promise you will enjoy the experience of being at the Capitol – and who knows – it might even cause you to think that you too could be a legislator one day.

Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. There will be many issues before our General Assembly that will directly impact your clients, your practice and Georgia’s Civil Justice System, and we must meet these challenges head-on. We simply cannot afford to sit on the sidelines.

Of course, you can call me anytime with further suggestions, information or ideas. Your interest and commitment to our clients’ rights are always welcome. At the same time, your willingness to get involved in hands-on outreach to legislators is absolutely priceless. We must commit ourselves to helping our public servants do the best job they possibly can for the people of Georgia.