• 2022 Florida Pro Bono Law School Challenge begins Jan. 31

    The 2022 Florida Pro Bono Law School Challenge, run by The Florida Bar Foundation, will begin on Jan. 31, 2022. The statewide competition, now in its fourth year, connects Florida law students with lawyers to partner on pro bono cases from legal aid organizations. Students and lawyers can visit www.FloridaLawSchoolChallenge.org to pick a case. Florida’s […]

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    Judge Emiliano J. Salcines honored as Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero, donates award to Foundation

    The Tampa Bay Lightning named the Honorable Emiliano Jose “E.J.” Salcines its Lightning Community Hero during their Dec. 28 game in Tampa. Judge Salcines then donated $20,000 of his award from the Lightning Foundation to The Florida Bar Foundation. “We are incredibly honored by Judge Salcines’ generosity,” said Donny MacKenzie, the Foundation’s executive director. “He […]

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    December 2021 Board Report

    Quarterly Board Report: December 17, 2021 The Florida Bar Foundation Board of Directors met via Zoom conference on December 17, 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and recent outbreaks involving a highly contagious variant. The major actions of the board and reports received included: Foundation Officers Elected Pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of […]

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    Former Foundation President Russell Carlisle passes away

    Former Florida Bar Foundation president and Medal of Honor winner Russell Carlisle has passed away. Russ served as the Foundation’s president from 1979-1981. He won the Medal of Honor for his dedication to the advancement of pro bono service by the legal profession and for his work in carrying IOTA across the nation. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/sunsentinel/name/russell-carlisle-obituary?id=32009588

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    One Promise Pledge

    In this season of giving, consider a donation of your time toward a pro bono case next year. Pledge now to make one promise – the promise of a gift of your time that will benefit a needy Floridian. Fill out an online pledge form. Print a pledge form. Sign up for a pledge reminder. […]

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    Foundation launches One Promise Campaign to increase pro bono work

    Today, The Florida Bar Foundation is launching The One Promise Campaign, an effort to increase pro bono work among lawyers in Florida. Visit OnePromiseFlorida.org for more information, or FloridaProBonoMatters.org to take a pro bono case today.   Thank you to The Bench Bar Fund of the U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, Florida Justice […]

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    Foundation benefits from donations of all sizes and shapes

    The Florida Bar Foundation has received a $12,558 cy pres award to be used for consumer protection legal aid. In the Southern District of Florida case Gonzalez v. TCR Sports Broadcasting, the plaintiff alleged that the Telephone Consumer Protection Act had been violated by offering to provide consumers with informational baseball score updates, but then […]

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  • Connie Bookman

    Message from the President – Fall 2021

    It takes a pandemic. It’s hard for me to watch the pain of so many folks facing so much uncertainty. To see loved ones getting sick, some dying. The fear as health care resources, usually easily accessible, are now not always available. Elective surgeries, even some emergencies, delayed in order to tend to those suffering […]

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    Florida Supreme Court approves changes to IOTA Bar Rule

    The Florida Supreme Court has amended Bar Rule 5-1.1(g), which outlines the Interest on Trust Accounts (IOTA) program. The Florida Bar Foundation has been the sole administrator of the IOTA program since 1981. The nation’s first IOTA program, Florida’s program was the prototype for similar programs across the country and still creates millions of dollars […]

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    Foundation submits comment on proposed rule amendment regarding technology to Florida Supreme Court

    The Florida Bar Foundation has submitted a comment to the Florida Supreme Court on a proposed rule amendment related to technology. The Foundation joined the Florida Civil Legal Aid Association in concern that the proposed amendments may decrease meaningful access to the justice system and/or hinder or delay the delivery of substantial justice especially in […]

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    September 2021 Board Report

    Quarterly Board Report September 10, 2021 The Florida Bar Foundation Board of Directors met via Zoom conference on September 10, 2021,  because of the COVID-19 pandemic and recent outbreaks involving a highly contagious variant. The major actions of the board and reports received included: Florida Supreme Court appointed seats The Board was pleased to welcome […]

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    Foundation awards second round of COVID-19 Relief grants to 23 programs

    The Florida Bar Foundation has awarded $2,574,996 in grants to 23 civil legal aid organizations in a second round of COVID-19 relief efforts. Grantees will use their funding to retain or hire personnel to provide direct legal assistance to low-income clients for legal issues caused by or directly related to the pandemic. To determine second […]

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