William Van Nortwick joined the Akerman firm less than a month ago to boost its national pro bono efforts.
The firm has given him a pretty good head start.
Akerman received the 2015 Chief Justice Law Firm Commendation Award from the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday for its contributions to education and youth development. It’s the highest state recognition of pro bono legal services awarded to a firm by the Florida Supreme Court and The Florida Bar.
Akerman launched its “Give Back” campaign in May, working alongside the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association and local Guardian ad Litem programs.
The goal was to further promote advocacy for abused and neglected foster care children. The program was nominated by Alan Abramowitz, the state’s Guardian ad Litem Program executive director.
Across the state, 61 attorneys and 38 staff members at Akerman are now Guardian ad Litem volunteers.
They’ve advocated for almost 200 children in foster care, providing nearly 5,000 pro bono hours.
Locally, Jacksonville’s office raised $7,000 toward the cause, while other offices across the state raised funds, donated laptops and provided gift cards for children aging out of the foster-care system. The firm also made a one-year commitment to Guardian ad Litem, which would equate to almost 12,000 hours of pro bono services.
“Anything we asked them to do, they did it,” said Abramowitz.
Van Nortwick and Akerman Chairman and CEO Andrew Smulian were in Tallahassee last week to receive the award from Florida’s chief justices. Van Nortwick said he will use the award as a springboard.
“I don’t think I can take any credit for this,” Van Nortwick said with a laugh.
The former 1st District Court of Appeal judge said one of his goals this year will be to engage in more pro bono activity with the legal aid services across the state. Domestic abuse is one example where more can be done, he said, because those types of cases affect families. Often without help, he said, “children’s lives will be ruined.”
Another issue involving children is representation for those who enter the U.S. on their own, have a right to be here and need help. Van Nortwick said the state Cuban-American Bar Association is training attorneys how to handle those cases.
“That’s the type of thing that is out there that I intend to help pull together,” he said. “It’s about dealing with children in need.”
His first weeks and the next few will be filled with traveling the state to meet with Akerman attorneys, then to offices in places like New York and Chicago. And while he’ll be “shaking hands and talking to a lot of lawyers,” his mission to increase pro bono isn’t a hard sell.
As for expanding its awards section, Van Nortwick said there is an American Bar Association award — but it’s not what’s important.
“The real award is in the hearts of the lawyers and other employees who do good and feel good,” he said. “It’s about seeing how it is to impact a child’s life.”
@writerchapman
(904) 356-2466