Guardians ad litem funded by Foundation change one life at a time
“It wouldn’t have been a happy story or a success story,” says Melissa Whitted, reflecting on what it would have been like for her and her husband to adopt…
Continue readingLegal aid programs prepare, respond in face of COVID-19
As the reality of stay-at-home orders, social distancing and closed businesses set in for Floridians in…
Continue readingMessage from the President – Spring 2020
I hope this newsletter finds you and your family healthy during this unique and unprecedented time. While there have been and will continue to be many challenges, I am…
Continue readingDomestic violence survivors turn to legal aid for divorce, support
One night during the summer of 2018, Elizabeth* waited outside her home for her husband to let her back in to get her two young daughters. He had punched…
Continue readingMessage from the President – Winter 2020
When most of us think about legal aid, we think about lawyers on the front lines serving clients. But, there are a lot of things going on behind the…
Continue readingFoundation awards $6.4 million in Community Economic Development grants
The Florida Bar Foundation board on Dec. 13 approved $6,443,162 in grants to 25 legal aid providers to address community economic development. Following a $16.65 billion settlement agreement between…
Continue readingTrafficking prevention rule adopted by state board of education
During the fall 2019 semester, law students from the Florida State University College of Law Human Trafficking Exploitation Law Project (HELP) advocated for proposed Florida Department of Education (DOE)…
Continue readingFoundation receives $21,000 cy pres award
The Florida Bar Foundation has received a $21,406 cy pres award from a settlement in a case involving fees charged by payday loan companies. Two cases were consolidated for the…
Continue readingFoundation raises $63,665 for Loan Repayment Assistance Program at dinner
By Carley Conrod At the 43rd Annual Dinner and Reception on June 27, more than $63,000 was raised in support of…
Continue readingRichard C. Milstein receives Medal of Honor Award
Richard C. Milstein received the 2019 Medal of Honor for a lawyer at the Foundation’s Annual Reception and Dinner for his exemplary and unending capacity for pro bono work…
Continue readingMichael A. Bedke receives Medal of Honor Award
Michael A. Bedke, a real estate partner in the DLA Piper Tampa office, received the 2019 Medal of Honor for a Lawyer for his exceptional dedication to providing pro…
Continue readingPro Bono Law School Challenge benefits mentor, law student and clients
After scouring the internet for legal help and finding the cost of a bankruptcy lawyer overwhelming, an elderly couple approached Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida (CLSMF). What might have seemed…
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