The Jacksonville Bar Association Pro Bono Committee works with organizations and committees throughout the 4th Judicial Circuit to identify meaningful pro bono projects that help fill the legal needs of low-income residents.
These include Florida Coastal School of Law, the 4th Circuit Pro Bono Committee, Guardian ad Litem, the Office of Public Defender, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, the JBA/Dependency Court Attorney Ad Litem project, Missing Link, the Northeast Florida Medical Legal Partnership, Three Rivers Legal Services and others.
With this broad knowledge of the legal needs of our low-income community, Pro Bono Committee members are able to assist in identifying gaps in access to justice and the existing projects addressing those needs.
This effort is called the Pro Bono Initiative and many JBA committees and members have jumped on board.
The JBA substantive committees work with the Pro Bono Committee to identify appropriate and meaningful pro bono initiatives.
For example, the Family Law committee helps staff the monthly group information clinics, provides one or two attorneys for Missing Link monthly meetings and encourages members to take one pro bono case per year.
Similar efforts are supported by committees such as Estate Planning and Tax Law, Elder Law and ADR Practitioners.
There are many opportunities that fill critical needs in our community and provide attorneys with manageable pro bono involvement and professional development resources.
It’s easy to review opportunities online. Visit jaxbar.org, Sections, United Committees, Pro Bono. Scroll down and click on “Pro Bono Opportunities.” You’ll be able to review cases in need of placement on the “Florida Pro Bono Matters” link on the left and many of the clinic and Ask-A-Lawyer opportunities on the right.
The need has never been greater.
Call on members of The JBA Pro Bono Committee to help you, your committee and other voluntary Bar associations find meaningful ways to provide pro bono legal assistance.