Ira L. Foster of the Macon Regional Office of Georgia Legal Services Program was named the Lawyer of the Year by the Macon Bar Association. Foster, a senior staff attorney with Georgia Legal Services Program, was presented with the award at the Law Day Luncheon of the Macon Bar Association. Foster was recognized for his commitment to the profession, his poverty law work and his ties to the community.

Ira is active in many organizations and he has received several other awards for his work and community service. He has is Vice President of the Georgia Alliance of African American Attorneys, a member of the Macon Bar Association, Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Life Member of the Fort Valley State University National Alumni Association, Fort Valley State University National Alumni Association Board member, former chairman of the Maulvin Engram Education Foundation, Inc., and the 2005 Houston County Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast Service Award.  Ira is a Founder and Board member of the Macon/Bibb County Teen Court.

In addition to this work, Ira has received the Supreme Court of Georgia Chief Justice Robert Benham Community Service Award, the Austin Thomas Walden Fort Valley State University Alumni of the Year Award in Social Sciences, the Dublin/Laurens County Black Festival Committee Citizen of the Year, and the Dublin Housing Authority Role Model of the Year. Foster also serves or has served on the Boards of the Alpha South Educational Foundation and the Jody Town Low Income Housing Development Corporation.