Former Florida Bar Foundation Civil Legal Aid Summer Fellow Katie Nokes Minervino leads Pierce Atwood‘s Immigration Practice Group in Portland, ME. She received an Outstanding Service Award from the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project in Maine for pro bono representation of asylum seekers in 2013. From 2019-21, she served as the
At 16, Jasmine Mendez was on her own. She was being discharged from a two-year stay at a Statewide Inpatient Psychiatric Program (SIPP), and she had no family members willing to take her in. Jasmine’s father left her family when she was seven. “My mother wasn’t of sound mind, and
It has been my pleasure to serve as FFLA’s president this year and to be a firsthand witness to the significant milestones that have come to pass as we navigate the changes brought forth by amendments to the IOTA rule. While progress is oftentimes one step forward and two steps
After a four-year pause due to lack of funding, FFLA will once again fund its Civil Legal Aid Summer Fellows program, through which Florida law students spend 10 weeks working at a legal aid organization. FFLA allocated $100,000 to fund 10 fellows for the 2024 program. In January, The Florida
Cy Pres Award FFLA received a cy pres award of $392,549 from a recent class action settlement with unclaimed and residual funds. Plaintiffs’ lawyers John Yanchunis and Ryan McGee of Morgan & Morgan facilitated the cy pres award. 2023 End of Year Giving Campaign More than 161 donors contributed to
FFLA has added Westlaw Precision with AI-Assisted Research to its statewide subscription that provides legal research tools to its grantees. FFLA’s subscription allows more than 20 Florida legal aid organizations to access Westlaw’s many tools at a reduced rate. Westlaw, an online legal database platform, provides case histories, form builders
FFLA is off and rolling! In December, we distributed more than $33 million in IOTA funds to 35 legal aid providers. Undoubtedly, this funding gives more low-income Floridians a greater chance to address and resolve their legal needs. Right now, FFLA staff are finalizing an IOTA Distribution final report template.
FFLA held a housewarming event on December 7, 2023, to officially announce its new name, welcome guests to its new office and dedicate its Legacy Garden. During the event, a memorial tree was planted in FFLA’s Legacy Garden in honor of the late Alan B. Bookman, former Florida Bar President
In December 2023, The Florida Bar Foundation changed its name to FFLA. Posts prior to this date contain our former name. In June, The Florida Bar Family Law Section donated $75,000 to the Foundation’s Children’s Legal Services grant program. Since 2012, the section has donated $650,000 to support legal aid
In December 2023, The Florida Bar Foundation changed its name to FFLA. Posts prior to this date contain our former name. The Florida Bar Foundation awarded two lawyers with its top honors in June. David B. Rothman, founder of criminal defense firm Rothman & Associates, P.A., in Miami, received the
In December 2023, The Florida Bar Foundation changed its name to FFLA. Posts prior to this date contain our former name. The Foundation has spent more than a year working on changes that will better reflect who we are and what we do. I am pleased to announce that after
In December 2023, The Florida Bar Foundation changed its name to FFLA. Posts prior to this date contain our former name. The Paul C. Doyle Children’s Advocacy Award was presented during the Foundation’s 2023 Annual Award Ceremony and Breakfast on June 22 in Boca Raton. The award, given biannually, recognizes
