Pro bono collaboration supports U.S. veterans in North Florida
Though U.S. military veteran Jeff McCary found himself unable to work because of an injury, he continued to pay his child support as long as he could. Although McCary received rent assistance from Family Endeavors and Florida Veterans Foundation, he eventually exhausted his savings. A motion for contempt was filed
Nelson Joins The Florida Bar Foundation as Pro Bono Program Officer
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
Founder of Space Coast Community Law School Named Brevard County Legal Aid Pro Bono Attorney of the Year
Seeing an unprecedented need for legal services in Brevard County as the economy continued to decline in 2010, attorney Brigitta Hawkins created the Space Coast Community Law School. Working to help people “get their lives back on track,” Hawkins said, “makes you feel like you actually accomplished something. Sometimes people
Foundation’s new pro bono website goes statewide
After a successful pilot in Miami-Dade County, FloridaProBonoMatters.org, a new website that enables pro bono attorneys to search for local pro bono cases that suit their interests, is being rolled out statewide. The Florida Bar Foundation, which has funded and overseen the development of the site, in June held training
Attorney Angela C. Vigil to serve on The Florida Bar Foundation board
MAITLAND, Fla. – Miami attorney Angela C. Vigil has been appointed by The Florida Bar to a three-year term on the board of The Florida Bar Foundation, a statewide charitable organization whose mission is to provide greater access to justice. Vigil is pro bono partner and executive director for Baker
Escambia Project utilizes community design to create new legal services models
For two and a half days in early February, legal aid attorneys, community activists, social service providers, law professors, Florida Bar Foundation staff and others gathered at a community service center in Pensacola to design new approaches to the delivery of legal services. Led by Margaret Hagan, director of the
New interactive pro bono website puts attorneys in the driver’s seat
MIAMI –Lawyers in Miami-Dade County who want to volunteer their services will soon have an easy way to find just the right case through an interactive website funded by The Florida Bar Foundation. “This system puts pro bono attorneys in the driver’s seat, giving them a user-friendly way to filter
FSU law professor honored for work supported in part by The Florida Bar Foundation
by Jakeyla Augustin Paolo Annino, director of the Children’s Advocacy Clinic at the Florida State University Public Interest Law Center, has been selected by the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) to receive the 2017 Father Robert Drinan Award for his work, much of which has been funded by The
Legal aid attorneys push Florida Medicaid to cover cure for hepatitis C
For two years Vickie Goldstein filed appeals and wrote letters trying to get Florida’s Medicaid program to pay for a drug with the potential to cure her of the viral infection that was slowly destroying her liver. For two years she got the same answer: You have to get sicker
Pro bono attorney prevents wrongful eviction for mother and daughter
by Rayven Wright On the eve of her 21st birthday, Brittney and her mother Tina were shocked to receive a notice of non-compliance from their property manager. According to the notice, Brittney’s emotional support animal, Panga, was in violation of the community’s height and weight guidelines under the pet policy.
Gulfport attorney, 79, still going strong for pro bono clients
By Rayven Wright Not long after his retirement in 2012, Gulfport attorney Larry Markell, then in his mid-70s, began offering his legal services pro bono to low-income residents throughout Pinellas County through the Community Law Program. In Markell’s first case with the program, he represented a divorcee about his age.
Miami pro bono attorney works to reunite teen with his aunt
By Rayven Wright After his parents lost their parental rights, “Jake,” 15, began the battle to find stability and permanency in a forever home. While living with his parents, Jake had been exposed to violence and drug use and experienced severe neglect. Jake was placed with his maternal aunt, but