by Kathy Para
JBA Pro Bono Committee Chair
Pro bono work is about more than just the outcome of the case — it’s about bringing more opportunities to the attorneys and the clients involved.
Opportunities come frequently in pro bono. It is the nature of the work to provide an outlet for the voiceless to be heard, and for the attorney to have a platform to be an advocate for those who can’t represent themselves.
None of this weighs lightly on the “Pro Bono Attorney of the Month,” Tania Schmidt-Alpers.
Schmidt-Alpers views her pro bono work as an outlet for her passion — preventing domestic violence and providing service and refuge for its victims.
After practicing law for 17 years, Schmidt-Alpers has homed in on the area of family law and domestic issues, and always finds time to bring pro bono work into her caseload.
“While each pro bono case has such special circumstances and brings with it its own rewards, I am most proud of the appellate pro bono work that I have done representing victims of domestic violence,” said Schmidt-Alpers.
“Unlike the day-to-day representation of individuals, it has allowed me to systemically advocate for domestic violence victims across the state of Florida. It’s been very rewarding to later have attorneys approach me and tell me that an appellate case I worked created case law that helped them in a later case they handled,” she said.
Aside from working inside the office on her pro bono cases, Schmidt-Alpers also brings her pro bono spirit to local domestic abuse shelters, volunteering and talking to victims in need of representation.
When asked why she originally became involved in pro bono work, Schmidt-Alpers’ answer was simple: she saw the need for it.
“In 1997, after working for an attorney who encouraged pro bono work, I went to work for my local Legal Aid office, Central Florida Legal Services in Palatka. Now I assist clients of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s St. Johns County office,” said Schmidt-Alpers.
“Working for a Legal Aid office helped me learn that I had not truly known before what tremendous need there is for pro bono representation. Legal Aid just simply cannot handle the entire volume and nor should they — it is every attorney’s obligation for the privilege of practicing law to give back to those who cannot afford an attorney but need justice,” she said.
Schmidt-Alpers is an example of many hardworking, compassionate pro bono attorneys in our community. They see a need for help and respond.
The need for pro bono civil legal services is immense. Schmidt-Alpers helps to expand the pro bono world by working outside the office to stay in touch with those who need assistance and working overtime for the justice they deserve.
“Pro bono is like the old potato chip commercial, you can’t take just one,” said Schmidt-Alpers. “The rewards of handling pro bono cases far exceed the burdens. Just take one and try it — you will want to do more.”
Attorneys interested in becoming involved in pro bono representation and/or pro bono projects should contact Kathy Para, chair, The JBA Pro Bono Committee, [email protected] or 356-8371, ext. 363.