Articles Posted in Pro Bono

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Attorney Esther Moody Graff Radford, Of Counsel with Williams Oinonen LLC was featured in this recent issue of the Atlanta Business Chronicle Executive Profile.

When asked, “What’s the most rewarding part of your job?” Ms. Graff-Radford was quoted: “My favorite moment is when I connect with a new client and see the change in their demeanor and stress level when they realize they have someone in their corner. It doesn’t matter if it’s just an hour consultation or a years-long case; I love making sure my clients understand their matter and that they know they have an advocate. We can crack jokes about people saying, ‘Call my lawyer.’ But when you’ve been bullied by someone more powerful, or you feel forgotten in an immigration prison, that sentence is life-affirming. It means, ‘Call my teammate. Call the person who has committed to put my interests first and protect my rights and amplify my voice.’ My second favorite moment is winning justice or compensation for someone who has been wronged. It’s a sacred trust to have earned the right be someone’s lawyer; it will never get old.”

Ms. Graff-Radford handles employment, whistleblower, discrimination, civil rights, and injury cases with Williams Oinonen LLC. She also has a thriving landlord and tenant practice and provides pro bono legal services to undocumented immigrants seeking asylum.

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Courageous APS Whistleblower Dr. Jackson Reynolds successfully had her case dismissed before the Professional Standards Commission.

Dr. Jackson Reynolds was retaliated against after she reported the abuse of her special needs students that had been captured on video.

Dr. Jackson was forced to report the abuse to Child Protective Services and the Atlanta Police Department all by herself. APS never questioned her about the matter until she was compelled to go on the six o clock news, Nancy Grace on CNN, and other news media. Soon after she was called in for questioning and was summarily terminated from her position.

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Visiting with the Director - November 2012 001.jpgVisiting with the Director - November 2012 002.jpgcov.jpgWilliams Oinonen LLC was delighted to welcome back a return group of Covenant College pre-law students in Atlanta. Special thanks goes out to the Fulton County Office of the Public Defender where students enjoyed visiting last semester and learning further about a career as a public defender from the Director Vernon S. Pitts (see above photos), Supervisor D’Andre Berry, and heard fabulous stories from Supervising Trial Attorney Elizabeth Markowitz.

Special thanks also goes out to Paul Howard at Fulton County District Attorney’s office where Assistant District Attorneys April McConnell and Antonio Veal coordinated a very exciting afternoon for the students which included watching a murder trial.

The day also featured a special luncheon at the Commerce Club hosted by Williams Oinonen LLC with special guest and fellow alumni Jeremy Davis of Carlock Copeland.

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Williams Oinonen LLC and nine other Georgia Trial Lawyers Association firms hosted a career mixer event for Emory Law students at the law school. The event was sponsored by all ten law firms, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, Emory University School of Law’s Litigation Society, Tort & Insurance Society, the Center for Advocacy & Dispute Resolution & the Center for Professional Development.

Ms. Julie Oinonen and Mr. Mario Williams, partners at Williams Oinonen LLC are also fellows at Emory Law School’s Center for Advocacy & Dispute Resolution.

The purpose was to expose Emory Law students to the Plaintiff practice and make connections for future employment. Williams Oinonen LLC is currently open to interviewing 2012 graduates who may be interested in an Emory Law Fellowship position with their firm.

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IMG_0040.JPGThis past Friday Williams Oinonen LLC hosted a group of pre-law students from Covenant College for an all day excursion. Students left at 6 a.m. from Lookout Mountain, Georgia to arrive at the downtown law office in Atlanta that morning to meet Ms. Oinonen, an attorney at Williams Oinonen LLC who led the day trip.

The day started out with a visit to Emory University School of Law. The group arrived at Emory University around 9:15 a.m. to do a brief walking tour of the larger university campus as a whole and ended up at the law school building. They started the visit by attending an admissions presentation in the Emory Law School Courtroom and then participated in a student led tour of the law school itself. Afterwards, they attended a property class taught by Professor Frank Alexander which according to students was the best part of their visit at Emory. His lecture focused on the constitutional issues surrounding eminent domain. Prior to saying goodbye, they were introduced to the Dean of Admissions, Ethan Rosenzweig 02L

After the Emory Law School tour, the group travelled to the Commerce Club, of which Ms. Oinonen is a member to attend a special private luncheon. During this time, she listened to all of the students share stories of their time at Covenant College and answered questions about law school and the legal profession.

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easter.jpgGood Georgia Lawyer wishes Chag Sameach to all our Jewish friends this Passover.

We also wish a Good Friday and Happy Easter to all who celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ this Sunday.

For all people, it is a good time to reflect on the newness and re-birth of the season this spring.

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covenant.jpgOn Saturday, February 4th, Julie Oinonen, Partner at Williams Oinonen LLC was a guest speaker at Covenant College, on Lookout Mt. Georgia where she spoke to Covenant students who are considering law school. Covenant College is a four year liberal arts Christian college on Lookout Mountain, Georgia of which Ms. Oinonen is an alumna. Ms. Oinonen shared with students tips on getting into the best law school, succeeding while you are there, and figuring out whether a law career is right for you. Ms. Oinonen particularly spoke of her profession as a calling and how her faith informs her practice.

Ms. Oinonen is a partner at Williams Oinonen LLC, a civil litigation firm that also provides political consulting, campaign strategy, and opponent research for election campaigns. This is her second time speaking at Covenant College within the past year as her law firm has made a special effort to reach out to pre-law students at the institution.

The two other alumni speakers at the event were Mr. Pete Johnson and Mr. Cal Marshall, both licensed attorneys in the state of Tennessee. Mr. Pete Johnson an attorney at his own firm, handles corporate, real estate, wills, construction and development law. Mr. Cal Marshall is an associate Chambliss Bahner and Stophel P.C. in Chattanooga where he practices business and health law, assisting clients on compliance with federal and state regulations and business planning.

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The family at Good Georgia Lawyer, Williams Oinonen LLC, wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving and holiday season.

We are very thankful for all our many blessings this year. God has been good and it is only through Him that we derive our strength and being.

We wish all our clients and fellow neighbors of the Georgia community a safe and happy holiday. Enjoy the turkey, your loved ones– family, and friends.

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At the request of Georgia State Bar President-Elect Robin Frazer Clark, President Ken Shigley appointed Julie Oinonen, partner at Williams Oinonen LLC to serve on the Georgia Fair Market Practices Committee.

The Fair Market Practices Committee will have two tasks:

First, this committee will review over potential amendments to the Rules of Professional Conduct 7.2 on legal advertising and a nonbinding Statement on Professionalism in Lawyer Advertising that will address practices that the federal courts do not let us prohibit.

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emory.jpgWilliams Oinonen LLC partner Julie Oinonen was recently appointed as a Fellow at the Emory University School of Law Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution.

Previously, Ms. Oinonen has been a Dean’s Teaching Fellow and Post Doctoral Fellow for Emory University School of Law. She is also admitted into the prestigious Order of Emory Advocates, in addition to being awarded the Kathleen Kessler-Eidson Trial Advocacy Award and International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award by Emory University School of Law. Ms. Oinonen has a Masters of Education and Masters of Business Administration graduating Magna Cum Laude. She completed her undergraduate education at Covenant College, a Christian college located on Lookout Mountain, Georgia.

Ms. Oinonen now joins her partner, Mr. Mario Bernard Williams, who is also a Fellow at the Center. Prior to Mr. William’s career as an attorney at Williams Oinonen LLC, he worked in the field of International Human Rights throughout South America. Mr. Williams graduated with honors from Morehouse with a degree in Political Science and has extensive experience with opponent research, policy analysis and political consulting. Additionally, Mr. Williams and Ms. Oinonen have had much success working on opponent research campaigns for elected officials throughout Georgia.

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