Today we’d like to introduce you to Torin Togut.
Hi Torin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As started practicing law in June 1977 as a sole practitioner. In September 1984, I began working for Georgia Legal Services Program, (GLSP) which is a nonprofit legal organization representing low-income Georgians in 154 counties in Georgia. My designated job duties were to represent low-income families of children with disabilities as well as children and adults with mental and physical disabilities confined to state institutions and living in the community. I worked for GLSP for 25 years in this role. While working for GLSP around 2006, I was awarded a Cousins Fellowship at the University of Georgia School of Law to create a clinic for law students to serve low-income families of children with disabilities in the greater Athens-Clarke area and surrounding counties. After two years, I served as an adjunct professor in this role. I returned to private practice in January 2012 and continue to focus on serving and representing families of children with disabilities. I also taught special education law at the
University of Georgia School of Law each spring semester from January 2021 through May 2025.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There are always bumps in the road in the practice of law. There are challenges of securing successes for families of children with disabilities one day and then dealing with court losses and defeats the next day. Adults with mental disabilities who were confined to state institutions presented emotional as well as legal challenges.
The rules and laws for protecting the rights of children and adults with physical and mental disabilities is
complex. Civil rights lawsuits can take years to litigate. Most clients do not have adequate funds to litigate
civil rights cases.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Currently I am in the private practice of law concentrating in the area of representation of families of children with disabilities. For 25 years, worked for Georgia Legal Services Program in the areas of education and disability law.
Special education and disability rights law is a specialized area. There are a small percentage of lawyers that practice in this area. Special education practice takes many years to become competent.
How do you think about luck?
I would not characterize my role as having good or bad luck. Work and life in general take a great deal of dedication and hard work to achieve success. Establishing personal relationships and trying to remain
humble is an art that is part of life’s journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://togutlaw.net/
