July 12, 2012

ATLANTA - Nelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough LLP awarded Atlanta Legal Aid funds for a summer internship for Samuel Park, a rising 3L with Georgia State University College of Law. Park will work with the Health Law Partnership (HeLP), a medical-legal partnership among the Atlanta Legal Aid Society (ALAS), Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and the College of Law to address the legal needs of low-income children and their families receiving care at Children's.

Nelson Mulliuns has provided Atlanta Legal Aid Fellowship grants in the past to support attorneys working on children's issues. "The Nelson Mullins funding was both surprising and encouraging," Park said. "My summer internship with the Health Law Partnership has allowed me to work directly with individual clients in need of medical services. It has been given me invaluable experience and insight into the daily struggles of low-income families with children in desperate need of medical services," he explained. 

"We are grateful for the assistance Nelson Mullins is providing to allow us to increase the numbers of childresn we can serve," said Steve Gottlieb, executive director of ALAS. "Children are among the most underrepresented in the legal system, and the addition of summer law clerks can help us reach more of those in need."    

Sylvia Caley, Director of HeLP and Co-Director of the HeLP Legal Services Clinic at GSU, stated, "Students gain valuable experience through participation in summer internships, externships and clinics. These opportunities offer students the chance to develop lawyering skills in a hands-on way, while also providing needed legal services for children and families in the community."

 

As one of his responsibilities at HeLP, Park has researched Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and investigated denials of patients' families. "Due to the bureaucracy of the Social Security Administration, the appeals process becomes prohibitively cumbersome and families may be unjustly denied assistance," said Park. "I have been able to accompany clients and provide assistance by working through the process."

 

"I can personally relate to our clients' situations. As I child, I had nerve damage that paralyzed my left hand for a year," shared Park. "My family was only able to afford surgery through PeachCare."

 

"I am thankful that Nelson Mullins and Atlanta Legal Aid have provided this opportunity." He added, "It is a blessing to have the opportunity help." 

To learn more:

HeLP http://healthlawpartnership.org

Atlanta Legal Aid Society www.atlantalegalaid.org

Nelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough LLP www.nelsonmullins.com

 

Contact:

Stacie P. Kershner, JD
Associate Director, Center for Law, Health & Society