Assistant Public Defender Melina Buncome is one of 21 attorneys recognized for outstanding volunteer service, receiving The Florida Bar Pro Bono Service Award for the 4th Judicial Circuit at a ceremony Jan. 26 at the state Supreme Court in Tallahassee.
Buncome is director of Problem-Solving Courts in the Public Defender’s Office in Jacksonville where she has practiced criminal defense for more than 25 years.
In addition to her work for the state, Buncome participates in programs that serve low-income people at Sulzbacher and Jacksonville Area Legal Aid where she helps clients with family law, landlord-tenant and civil matters.
Buncome’s pro bono work comprises almost 10 years of participation in Sulzbacher’s monthly program in which attorneys from the Public Defender’s Office provide legal advice to people at the center and participation in JALA’s quarterly “Ask a Lawyer” events since 2011.
In the most recent reporting period from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, Florida lawyers provided more than 1.5 million hours of pro bono services to those in need and donated $6.8 million to legal aid organizations.