The internship program with Florida Coastal School of Law and the Family Nurturing Center is integral in the center’s operations of serving families in crisis.
The children and families who use our center for safe visitation and exchanges depend on the commitment of our staff, volunteers, and interns.
If not for our center, these families would have force themselves into unsafe situations or not see each other at all.
Three pro bono interns have provided a lasting positive impact on the work of the center.
Zachary Carroll began his internship in April 2013 during the second semester of his first year of law school. He immediately immersed himself by attending domestic violence injunction hearings and conducting new-client orientations.
By attending the injunction hearings, Carroll served as a representative of the center in court to provide parents newly ordered to use our services with the steps needed to begin visits or exchanges.
He was able to relay case information to our administrative staff to ensure the dynamics of each family were known. In providing new-client orientations, Carroll reviewed with each parent the parameters of our program, how appointments are scheduled and what to expect from the visitation.
Amy Maletzky Hanna began her internship in June 2013 between her first and second year of law school. She also began to provide orientations and attend injunction hearings.
A month into her internship, Hanna assisted our clinical division in the organization, structure and process for social investigations.
Her commitment then led to her joining the center through the Work Study program, where she assisted in an administrative capacity. Hanna was responsible for providing new parents with information on how to begin the orientation process and fielding calls from parents regarding our electronic system or questions regarding their case.
Her role also involved training new interns to conduct orientations, as well as assisting attorneys and judges with questions regarding the program and services.
Olivia Yergey began her internship in March 2014 during her second year of law school.
Just as her colleagues had done, Yergey conducted new-client orientations. Her commitment was evident when she returned home to Orlando for an externship over the summer and quickly resumed her role with the center upon her return to Jacksonville.
This team of students in January piloted a project to conduct new-client orientations in a group format. The project helped facilitate more orientations in a shorter period of time, which shortens the time parents were required to wait before visits or exchanges could occur.
Carroll, Hanna and Yergey provide a cohesive orientation experience for the parents and alleviate any concerns they may have. These students have balanced school and their internships while each juggling other activities such as part-time work, extracurricular activities and academic externships.
Their support of the center has been unwavering and without their time and commitment, we would not have the resources to accomplish these things.
Throughout the 4th Judicial Circuit, law students provide critical support to many organizations that offer social and legal services to some of the most vulnerable people. Our community is better because of their efforts.
For more information on pro bono opportunities in Northeast Florida, attorneys and students are encouraged to contact Kathy Para, Chair of The Jacksonville Bar Association Pro Bono Committee, at [email protected].