Imagine the impact we could make if every attorney took just one pro bono case a year. That contribution could significantly improve access to justice for all.
You can offer your legal expertise to a low-income client by contacting one of several local legal service organizations.
Guardian ad Litem
When you volunteer with the Guardian ad Litem program, you become a voice for a child in dependency court.
The opportunity allows you to share your area of expertise, such as special education, probate, guardianship, appeals or immigration.
Contact Christine Meyer, supervising program attorney, at [email protected] for more information.
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid and Three Rivers Legal Services
Established in 1935 by The Jacksonville Bar Association, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid specializes in providing civil legal assistance to low-income clients.
Three Rivers Legal Services has its headquarters in Gainesville but also provides civil legal aid to low-income people at its Jacksonville office.
Attorneys are urgently needed to represent clients who have a legal matter and to assist with group information clinics and one-day events.
Attorneys specify the practice areas in which they will assist.
Professional liability insurance and CLE webinar support are provided.
Review cases online at jaxlegalaid.org and click on “Cases in Need of Placement with Pro Bono Attorneys.”
Clinics and outreach opportunities are organized and implemented through collaboration of the JBA, Florida Coastal School of Law and other voluntary Bar associations and community agencies.
Cases posted on the website are from JALA, Three Rivers, the Northeast Florida Medical Legal Partnership and the Veterans Legal Collaborative.
Email [email protected] for more information on training available and civil pro bono opportunities.
For information on Project R, Lawyers in Libraries, Citizenship Day, advance directives for seniors, pro se bankruptcy assistance clinics and group information opportunities, email [email protected]
Civil Circuit Court appointments
The JBA is serving as the point of contact for dependency court and civil circuit court appointments of pro bono attorneys.
Lawyers interested in assisting a child in a dependency matter and receiving pro bono appointments from the dependency bench are encouraged to contact Nikki Hawkins at [email protected].
Attorneys interested in assisting an indigent client in a civil matter and receiving pro bono appointments from the civil bench may contact [email protected].
Missing Link
Family law attorneys and paralegals are needed to assist victims of domestic violence with preparing pro se divorce documents.
Missing Link meets once a month in the evening. For more information, including the schedule and locations, email Cindy Houston at [email protected].
Northeast Florida Medical Legal Partnership
When a doctor, nurse, social worker or other member of a medical team suspects an environmental, economic, social or educational legal issue may exist, they make a referral to NFMLP for a legal diagnosis.
Referrals come from clinics serving the low-income population. An attorney interviews the patient and evaluates whether he or she would best benefit from legal assistance or another community service.
If legal assistance is recommended, the case is placed with the NFMLP for pro bono placement.
Attorneys receive case summaries and full case information prior to acceptance of the case. Support includes training and professional liability insurance.
For more information, contact [email protected].
Office of Public Defender
Attorneys are needed to serve as special assistant public defenders representing clients in misdemeanor cases. Training and support are provided.
It’s an opportunity to help a low-income client seek justice while allowing staff attorneys more time to focus on the thousands of cases they already handle.
For more information, email Gary Beard at [email protected].
To learn about other pro bono opportunities, email [email protected] or call (904) 356-8371, ext. 363.