Northlake Law Firm Gets Attention

John McManus began practicing law in 1983 and McManus & Associates began operating in 1991. The firm does much of its work in personal/business bankruptcy, real estate closings/litigation, civil litigation, divorces, and criminal matters. McManus explained that his firm had done some defense litigation in the past for the restaurant client.

“Just do your best for every client,” said McManus. “We give them respect regardless of the situation. You just don’t know what’s going to come from it.” Famous McManus clients include a fast food chain and a nationally-known mortgage lender for whom the law firm has done many closings.

But there’s a lot more to McManus than law. He earned a black belt at in Lilburn after practicing three days a week. What better way to relieve the stress and tension of running a law firm than by engaging in martial arts?

McManus was also ordained a Roman Catholic deacon in 2002 and preaches at in Stone Mountain and in Atlanta. In addition, he has been a Catholic canon lawyer since 2007. Canon Law is the oldest, existing legal system in the western world, according to www.canonlaw.info.    

“Living life as a Christian is the most difficult thing to do,” said McManus. “We’re not here by accident; we’re here for a purpose.” That might explain McManus’s commitment to Professional Ministries, Inc. The latter offers free legal services to the homeless and was launched after a three-year study on how the legal community can assist the homeless.

McManus found that when the homeless exit a shelter and are about to get back on their feet, insurmountable and expensive legal issues can send them back on the streets. For example, a creditor might garnish already-low wages or the police might jail someone for a minor warrant.

McManus explained that PMI promotes a fresh start for the homeless and contacts various law firms for volunteer attorneys. His firm’s bankruptcy and criminal work is ideal in helping the homeless, he added. PMI has plans to assist with transportation, housing and a phone bank for the homebound.

Professional Ministries does not seek to duplicate the work of homeless shelters. “We try to go in and surgically help with their (homeless) legal needs,” McManus said. PMI, however, is competing with many other nonprofits in a slow economy and needs funding to achieve McManus’s vision.