Did you make a New Year’s resolution? Is it a “SMART” goal (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound)?
Did you include pro bono among your 2025 goals? If not, there is no better time than now as a new year means new opportunities.
At Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, we have expanded several of our programs and are bringing back others, including JALA’s Citizenship Day.
The Citizenship Day clinic is tentatively scheduled March 29 at the University of North Florida. This clinic is a collaboration of JALA’s Pro Bono and Immigration units, UNF, the Jacksonville University College of Law and the Jacksonville Bar Association Law Week and Hispanic and Latino Interest committees.
The goal is to assist eligible lawful permanent residents with their N-400 naturalizations applications so they may become U.S. citizens. Applicants will meet one-to-one with an attorney to fill out and review their application. Training for this clinic will be provided.
Also in March, JALA will host its annual Alternative Spring Break clinics.
During this weeklong community outreach project, law students assist low-income seniors with drafting advance directives, which include a power of attorney, living will, designation of health care surrogate and designation of pre-need guardian.
Pro bono attorneys assist at the clinic to supervise students in creating the documents.
The first clinic is during the week of March 10, with students from Brooklyn Law School and Florida State University School of Law. The next week, JALA will host a clinic with law students from the University of Florida, JU and Stetson University.
If you are able to assist at a clinic for multiple days, one day, or even a half-day, please consider registering.
Our monthly clinics, such as our Veterans Legal Collaborative, Orange Park Library Ask-A-Lawyer and Conditions Clinic also need your support. Information about these opportunities can be found by clicking on “JALA Pro Bono Opportunities” at www.jaxlegalaid.org/pro-bono.
I encourage each of you to consider accepting a case for representation. More than half of our cases awaiting placement online are nonlitigious. Many involve requests for simple wills and advance directives, uncontested name changes and sealing/expungement.
However, there are many family law cases awaiting placement.
All I am asking is that you accept just one case. You are 100% covered under JALA’s malpractice insurance for all pro bono work done through us whether it be case related or non-case related. We will provide you with support during the course of your representation including access to Westlaw, training, expert attorney resources and may even cover costs.
Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for you to perform your pro bono work.
In furtherance of its support for pro bono, the state Supreme Court approved an amendment to The Florida Bar rules, which now allows attorneys to earn CLE credit for providing pro bono services. This rule change provides that attorneys may earn one hour of general CLE credit for every hour of pro bono work, up to five credit hours.
There is no better time than the beginning of a new year to continue or start your pro bono work. Together, let’s make 2025 a great year for pro bono.