by Kent Jennings Brockwell
Staff Writer
When the clock strikes midnight this New Year’s, John Duvall will have a lot of spare time on his hands.
After three years as chairman of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s board of directors and 10 total years as a board member, Duvall is stepping down.
“It has been a delight working with the advocates of legal aid,” he said. “The people who comprise the board of directors are all very committed to the mission of the program and it has really been a fun time.”
During his time as chairman, Duvall has faced quite a few challenges, mainly a series of funding cuts JALA experienced over the past year, but he said the board has always been able to overcome and succeed.
“It has been challenging but it has been a pleasing experience,” said Duvall, who is an attorney with Ford and Harrison LLP.
According to the bylaws for JALA’s board of directors, Duvall will go into an ex-officio capacity for the next year and will be rotated off the board thereafter but he said he will still remain active within the organization.
“I will continue to volunteer,” he said. “I will still do pro bono cases for legal aid and I am always available to counsel and advise as they have needs from my practice area or from my historical standpoint with (JALA).”
JALA Executive Director Michael Figgins said Duvall’s time in a leadership role with JALA has been extremely valuable and added that he regrets seeing him exit the board.
“I would like to keep him on as long as I can,” Figgins said. “John has been great. The hours he has put in, the help he has given us at legal aid, he has just been a champion of legal aid and he has been there when we needed him the most.”
Though a replacement for the position has not been named as of yet, Figgins said JALA’s board of directors historically nominates its own vice president, who is currently Leslie Goller, an attorney at Terrell Hogan. Figgins said the nomination will probably be made at the Dec. 13 board meeting.
Though Duvall will spend some time off the board, he said he might come back to a leadership position if he is needed but added that it is time for someone else to take the board’s reins for now.
“After a while, if there is a need for someone with my skills and expertise, I will certainly participate,” he said. “I am proud of my time on the board but it is time for another person to step up.”