Historical Development of Pro Bono Legal Assistance to the Poor in Florida

The lawyers in Florida have long responded to the legal needs of the poor through volunteer service. Organized pro bono programs date back to the Depression Era of the 1930's, when local bar associations in some of Florida's larger communities formed small legal aid programs using lawyers volunteering their time. While funding from local United Way Programs and the introduction of federally funded programs in the mid 1960's enabled legal assistance to the poor to expand, the need continued to far exceed the available assistance.

In 1970, The Florida Bar and the University of Florida co-sponsored a study of the availability of legal assistance to the poor in Florida. Read more

2006 Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service Award Recipient

Katherine Ezell and Chief Justice Barbara J. Pariente

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Hillsborough County Pro Bono Attorneys Recognized

Left to right: Mark Lewis, Jeffrey Warren, Rosemary Perfit, Danelle Barksdale, Shawn Harrison, Jeanne Tate, Stephen Evans, Peter Scaglione, Jr., Martha Curtis, William Schwarz, Steven Hurwitz, John Morse, Susan Fox, and Catherine Teti.

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Pro Bono/Katrina Legal Aid Resource Center Press Release.pdf

www.katrinalegalaid.org

For Legal Aid & Defender Programs:  Information and links arranged by substantive categories and issue areas, for those representing disaster victims.

For Pro Bono Volunteers: Assistance for private lawyers who want to help and resources for volunteers who are helping

For People Who Need Help: State by state links to help you find a legal aid or pro bono lawyer, and other information for those affected by Hurricane Katrina in these areas:  housing, insurance, health, financial aid and general.

Legal Aid’s 19th Annual Pro Bono Awards Gala Was a Night to Remember

  Joanna Palmer - Judge Palmer's daughter; 5th District Court of Appeal Judge William D. Palmer; 18th Circuit Court Judge Lisa Davidson  

SUNTREE, FL (March 28, 2006)--- More than 150 guests attended the Brevard County Legal Aid (BCLA) Annual Pro Bono Awards and Recognition Gala at Suntree Country Club.  Fifth District Court of Appeal Judge William D. Palmer was the evening’s special guest.   In speaking of the importance of pro bono service, Judge Palmer said "Have no doubt that what you do will be appreciated, but have no doubt that the more you do will be appreciated even more." Judge Palmer helped recognize attorneys who have gone above and beyond in their pro bono contributions by generously giving free legal counsel to Legal Aid clients. The Gala event included a networking cocktail hour; a delicious dinner, door prizes and party gifts were given to everyone who attended.  “I am always impressed by the number of Judges who attend Legal Aid’s Gala, this year there were 14, it’s a complement to the attorneys,” said Rob Johnson, BCLA Executive Director. 

Attorney Deborah Smith was recognized as Brevard’s “Attorney of the Year.”  Deborah has donated hundreds of hours staffing bi-weekly family law pro se clinics at the Legal Aid office.  Deborah’s selfless dedication to the poor and disadvantaged is a shining example for the legal profession.

The Gala was generously sponsored by: Nance, Cacciatore; Platt, Jacobus, Fielding & Torres; Jerry Spangler; Kenneth F. Tworoger; Childress & Charpentier; Frank Pound, PA; The Glover Group at Morgan Stanley; Fidelity Bank; William Johnson, PA; Graham, Moletteire & Torpy, P.A.; Dean Mead; Funk, Szachacz & Diamond; Caruso & Swerbilow, P.A.; Cianfrogna, Telfer, Reda, Faherty & Anderson, P.A.; Gray Robinson; J.W. Edens & Company; Rhonda L. Hinds; Vance, Lotane & Bookhardt; and Nash, Moule & Kromash.

Legal Aid will hold it’s 3rd Annual fall fundraiser, “Sunset at the Beach” dinner dance on Saturday, August 26th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Indialantic.  BCLA is a non-profit organization that provides free legal counsel to the poor in Brevard County. For more information about BCLA please call Rob Johnson at 639-2933.