National Volunteer Week is April 21-27.
Established in 1974, it is an opportunity each year to recognize the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges and build stronger communities.
I want to give a special shoutout to some of the Three Rivers Legal Services Jacksonville-based volunteers:
Andrew Baskins and Jeanine Sasser are regular volunteers with our monthly Ask-A-Lawyer Clinics at the NAACP in Jacksonville.
Brenda Ezell has worked on more than a dozen housing cases through our Telephonic Housing Clinic, advising tenants on their rights and responsibilities.
Logan McEwen, Amanda Thoele, Frank Morreale and Edward Sarnowski have assisted several clients with estate planning and advance directives.
And all of our current student volunteers:
• Megan Beery, paralegal studies, Santa Fe College
• Katelyn Brunson, a senior at the University of Florida
• Lola Correch, a senior at the University of Florida
• Naiara da Rocha, a 2L at the University of Florida Levin College of Law
• Dalia Dooley, a junior at the University of Florida
• Rainer Dybevick, paralegal studies, Santa Fe College
• Karissa Dzurik, 3L at the University of Florida Levin College of Law
• Dani Hernandez-Gil, a graduate student at the University of Florida
• Kate Stoops, a senior at Whitman College
• Alex Wagenberg, a senior at the University of Florida
• Luke Welborn, a junior at the University of North Florida
In 2023, our volunteers worked on about 300 cases and reported 1,000 hours of service. I can guarantee that much more time was contributed, though not reported.
You can join these elite ranks and help the community while learning new skills and areas of the law that can increase your business.
In addition to training materials and mentorship, Three Rivers provides liability insurance coverage, recognition for service and reimbursement for litigation costs.
We have a variety of opportunities:
The Telephonic Housing Clinic is an advice-only clinic offered 5-6 p.m. Tuesdays. Cases are limited to private landlord/tenant issues with a time commitment of 45 minutes.
Our Pro Se Divorce Clinics are in-person assistance clinics offered every three months in Jacksonville and Fernandina Beach with a time commitment of one to three hours.
Three Rivers staff prepares the forms with the clients. Volunteer attorneys participate for the limited purpose of providing counsel and advice on parenting plans, alimony and support.
The Ask-A-Lawyer clinics are conducted one Saturday for about three hours each month at the NAACP in Jacksonville.
Law in the Library is a virtual community outreach event in cooperation with the Alachua County Library District. A volunteer presents on a legal topic for about 40 minutes and then answers a few questions from viewers. The sessions begin at 5:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month.
Also available are pro bono referrals for advice and counsel/brief services or full representation.
We reach out to volunteers one-by-one after determining that volunteer skills and client needs match. You can tell us what kind of work you want to do including subject matter area, transactional or litigation; where you want to do it by county, remote or at clinics; and how you want to do it whether solo, co-counsel with staff or with a mentor.
If you have questions or would like to participate in any of the above, contact Krizia Gonzalez-Colon at [email protected] or 904-423-8980. You also can select an available case and learn more about TRLS’s Pro Bono Legal Assistance Program (PBLAP) at trls.org/volunteer/