Florida Bar recognizes pro bono efforts of Jacksonville lawyer

The Florida Bar will recognize 21 lawyers for their work on behalf of poor and indigent clients during a Thursday ceremony at the Florida Supreme Court.

Rebeccah Lee Beller, a partner at Beller & Bustamante, will be one of the lawyers honored at the ceremony with he Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award. It was established in 1981 and its purpose is to encourage lawyers to volunteer free legal services to the poor by recognizing those who make public service commitments and to raise public awareness of the substantial volunteer services provided by Florida lawyers to those who cannot afford legal fees.

The award recognizes pro bono service in each of Florida’s 20 judicial circuits and one Florida Bar member practicing outside the state of Florida. It is presented annually in conjunction with the Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service Award, which is given by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Florida. Awards recognizing pro bono contributions will also be presented for Distinguished Judicial Service, Law Firm Commendation, Voluntary Bar Association and Young Lawyer during the ceremony.

In 2008-09, Florida lawyers provided 1,545,157 hours of pro bono services to those in need and $4,443,830 to legal aid organizations.

Beller’s principal areas of practice are probate and trust law, property, family and consumer law. A large portion of her pro bono service has been through work at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA). Beller’s representation of clients on a pro bono basis spans her 12 years in legal practice. She is also instrumental in training and supporting other pro bono attorneys through CLE seminars, including teaching elder law seminars. She contributed 160 hours of pro bono service in 2009.