Nelson Joins The Florida Bar Foundation as Pro Bono Program Officer

Claud B. Nelson III

MAITLAND, Fla. – Claud B. Nelson III has joined The Florida Bar Foundation, a statewide charitable organization whose mission is to provide greater access to justice, as its new pro bono program officer.

The Foundation funds civil legal aid and projects to improve the administration of justice and increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the legal aid delivery system. In addition to providing funds directly to Florida legal aid organizations, the Foundation engages in catalytic philanthropy by investing in the legal aid delivery system and working to develop and expand innovative pro bono initiatives.

“We’re excited to have Claud join us in increasing pro bono partnerships in Florida through current & new initiatives like Florida Pro Bono Matters,”  said Ericka Garcia, the Foundation’s director of pro bono partnerships.

As pro bono program officer, Nelson will work with Garcia to foster pro bono relationships and collaborations with bar associations, law firms, courts, law schools, legal aid organizations and other groups.

Nelson most recently served as an assistant city attorney for five municipalities in Central Florida as an attorney of counsel with Stenstrom, McIntosh, Colbert & Whigham, P.A., while also representing private clients in various civil matters. He previously served as a criminal prosecutor with the Seventh Judicial Circuit in Daytona Beach and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts.

Nelson has volunteered extensively for Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida and provided pro bono services independently to his own clients. He will work out of the Foundation’s Maitland office. The Foundation previously had a pro bono program officer based in Miami, for whom Akerman LLP donated office space. Garcia and Nelson will continue to utilize Akerman’s donated office space when working in South Florida.

“As pro bono program officer with The Florida Bar Foundation, I will strive to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of Floridians,” Nelson said.

Nelson has a bachelor of science in business administration and finance from the University of Florida and attended Seattle University School of Law before transferring to Northeastern University School of Law, where he earned his law degree.