In a ceremony at the state Supreme Court, The Florida Bar each year honors attorneys, judges, Bar organizations and law firms for their commitment to pro bono service throughout the state.
Among the honors are The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award, which recognizes one outstanding attorney for each of the 20 circuits in the state, the Chief Justice’s Distinguished Federal Judicial Service Award, and the Chief Justice’s Voluntary Bar Association Pro Bono Award recognizing a group whose members continually provide pro bono services to those in need.
Northeast Florida’s contributions to the community were certainly highlighted at this year’s ceremony Jan. 16.
The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award recipient for the 4th Circuit was attorney Fred Cromwell Isaac and for the 7th Circuit, Carol Ann Tipton Daniels.
Throughout his more than 50 years as an attorney, Isaac has provided pro bono legal assistance not only through legal aid, but also directly to individuals and nonprofit organizations.
In the past year alone, Isaac provided more than 150 hours of pro bono services.
Daniels is a staple at St. Johns County Legal Aid. Each month, she assists with legal aid’s advice clinic, where cases are reviewed and screened for potential placement with the private Bar and its pro se class.
Senior U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan received this year’s Chief Justice’s Distinguished Federal Judicial Service Award. Corrigan’s support for pro bono in Jacksonville spans many decades. While in private practice, Corrigan was a dedicated pro bono attorney and previous member of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s board of directors.
While administering the Oath of Admission to The Florida Bar, Corrigan consistently encourages new attorneys to commit themselves to pro bono service.
His tenure as a commissioner on the Florida Chief Justice’s inaugural Access to Civil Justice Commission, his support and contributions to the Bench and Bar Fund Committee and his other community involvement illustrate his long-standing commitment to equal access for those in need.
This past fall, I, along with Kathy Para and Missy Davenport, both former JALA pro bono directors, co-nominated the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association for the Voluntary Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award.
This award was created in 1991, and the Jacksonville Bar Association received this honor in 1997 and 2017.
Apart from the JBA, no other Northeast Florida Bar associations have been recognized with this accolade. The JWLA was certainly deserving of this honor, and I was pleased to be present when JWLA President Brittany Ford accepted the award on behalf of the organization.
Among its contributions to the community, JWLA advocates and encourages its members to be involved in pro bono work through local legal aid organizations, including JALA and Three Rivers Legal Services.
At the JWLA’s monthly luncheons, pro bono opportunities are promoted on each table. Additionally, each monthly luncheon highlights a local charitable organization, which have included Hubbard House, Duval County Courthouse Nursing Lounge and Comfort Room, Arise Jax, City Rescue Mission, The Women’s Center, Sulzbacher Center and Hey Mama Mobile Pantry.
Since 2018, JWLA has sponsored a paid summer internship program through JALA. Known as the Kathy Para Student Internship Fund at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, JWLA seeks to promote access to justice, provide substantive legal experience for JWLA’s student membership and foster a lifelong dedication to pro bono.
This internship offers critical legal experience for a law student while also providing needed legal services in our community.
As the director of pro bono at JALA, I rely on local Bar organizations like JWLA to spread the word about JALA’s pro bono opportunities, including staffing clinics.
In 2023, JWLA members helped staff a legal aid “Lunch and Learn” series at the Northeast Florida Women Veterans Center. JWLA members have also staffed several wills and advance directive clinics at this center, as well as at various senior citizen centers throughout Jacksonville.
At least once a month, JALA hosts an Ask-A-Lawyer clinic at community locations, including public libraries and the veteran’s outpatient clinic.
At these events, attendees bring their legal questions and have a chance to “pick the brain of an attorney” in a one-to-one conversation. Attorney volunteers are vital at the clinics as they provide clarity on the next steps for possible resolution of a legal issue.
It is often the case that persons living in low-income neighborhoods do not have ready access to an attorney with whom they can seek reassurance or direction on how to find an attorney with a particular expertise. Thanks to partnerships with organizations like JWLA, I can staff these clinics with pro bono attorney superstars.
I hope this article encourages you to get involved or continue your pro bono work. If you are a member of a voluntary Bar association, encourage your colleagues to reach out to a legal aid organization.
If you work for a larger firm, I encourage you to join the Pro Bono Roundtable, Large Firm Committee. The committee promotes the fulfillment of the ethical and professional obligation of all lawyers to provide pro bono services. Our next meeting is Feb. 19 at McGuireWoods.
If you would like more information about this committee and or about pro bono opportunities, contact me at [email protected].