With each passing year, the demand for pro bono legal services continues to grow. Many of you have risen to meet this challenge by volunteering at clinics, participating in community outreach events and taking on individual cases.
Your dedication and generosity make a real difference. Thank you.
To put this into perspective, consider the numbers. The Florida Pro Bono Coordinator’s Association is a voluntary network of pro bono directors and coordinators from across the state. Its mission is to collaborate and promote access to legal services for those in need by connecting pro bono program facilitators and leveraging their collective expertise.
Recognizing the importance of a consistent statewide standard, the FPBCA adopted an average hourly rate of $350 for pro bono services at its July 2025 meeting. Previously, many legal aid organizations, including JALA, used their own lower rates.
This updated rate better reflects the true value of the legal services our volunteer attorneys provide and ensures greater consistency in recognizing pro bono contributions across Florida. For JALA, it means that the time and talent our volunteers dedicate to helping those who cannot afford legal representation will now be valued at a rate closer to the real market rate.
Your commitment strengthens our community and underscores the profession’s shared responsibility to ensure equal access to justice for those who would otherwise not be able to afford a private attorney.
Using the $350 rate, the value of in-kind legal services provided by private attorneys through JALA totaled $1,642,147 in 2023 and $1,965,827.50 in 2024– an almost 20% increase. From January through October of this year, the value has already reached $1,588,202, and we are optimistic that we will surpass 2024’s figures.
These totals do not include the hours contributed by non-attorney volunteers, including the many undergraduates and law students who support JALA’s mission.
Attorneys contributed 4,537 hours of pro bono service between January and October. This includes representing clients and participating in Ask-A-Lawyer events, group informational clinics, teaching webinars and serving as expert resources for fellow pro bono attorneys.
Already in 2025, 673 cases have been placed with pro bono attorneys, a 33% increase compared with last year. These cases impacted approximately 1,349 people in client households.
Your commitment to pro bono work changes lives, not just for the clients themselves, but for their families as well.
While the numbers are impressive, the real impact is reflected in each client’s story: someone facing eviction, the tenant with habitability issues, the grandmother seeking custody of her grandchildren, the veteran navigating a divorce or the elderly client needing a last will and advanced directives.
Without pro bono advocates, these clients probably would not be able to afford legal counsel, with potentially devastating consequences for themselves and their families.
There are many ways to get involved with pro bono, and the time commitment is often minimal. For example, requests for simple wills and advance directives typically take fewer than five hours, yet your work can impact generations.
Noncase-related opportunities such as Ask-A-Lawyer events and group clinics also provide invaluable service. Even a two-hour commitment at one clinic makes a difference.
Looking ahead to the coming year, we will build on this momentum and expand access to justice for those who need it most. We are grateful for your dedication, generosity and support of JALA’s mission.
Every hour you contribute makes a tangible difference. Together, we can ensure more people in our community receive the legal help they deserve.
I hope this article inspires you to continue your pro bono efforts or to get involved for the first time.
Visit jaxlegalaid.org/pro-bono to view cases and sign up for our clinics and outreach events.