Did you make a New Year’s resolution? If pro bono work didn’t make it into your 2026 goals, there’s no better time to add it. Every new year brings new opportunities.
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s 2026 calendar is already full. Ongoing clinics and outreach events including the monthly Veterans Legal Collaborative, twice-monthly Family Law Zoom Information Clinic, and the weekly Eviction Defense Self-Help Project continue to need your support.
Details about these and other opportunities can be found under “JALA Pro Bono Opportunities” at jaxlegalaid.org/pro-bono.
Many options allow for remote as well as in-person participation.
We are hosting an Ask-A-Lawyer event at the Dallas Graham Branch Library on Jan. 31. Attorneys are needed to provide brief counsel and advice to the public from 10:20 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Ask-A-Lawyer at the Orange Park Public Library on Kingsley Ave. is shifting from every other month to monthly.
This is a valuable resource for the public and a meaningful, low-stress way for attorneys to contribute without committing to a full pro bono case.
Our most recent event in Orange Park assisted 40 people who simply needed guidance on filing forms, preparing a power of attorney, scheduling a hearing and more.
In March, JALA will host its annual Alternative Spring Break, this year with two weeklong clinics. During Alternative Spring Break, law students assist low-income seniors by drafting wills and advance directives, supported by pro bono licensed attorneys who supervise the work.
The clinics will take place the weeks of March 9 and March 16. This is an excellent networking opportunity for attorneys and students, and we need your participation.
Whether you can volunteer for several days, one day or even a half-day, consider getting involved.
We encourage you to consider accepting an individual case for representation.
More than half of the cases awaiting placement online are non-litigious, including simple wills, advance directives, uncontested name changes and sealing/expungement matters.
We have many family law cases in need of placement.
All pro bono work through JALA is fully covered by our malpractice insurance and we provide support throughout your representation, including access to Westlaw, training, expert resources and, in some instances, cost coverage.
Our goal is to make pro bono work as accessible as possible.
There are ways to support pro bono beyond casework.
The Jacksonville Bar Association Pro Bono Committee meets via Zoom at noon on the first Tuesday of every month.
The 4th Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee meets quarterly at noon via Zoom, with 2026 meeting dates set for Jan. 14, April 8, July 8 and Oct. 14.
As a subcommittee of the larger 4th Circuit committee, the Pro Bono Roundtable (Large Firm Committee) meets quarterly in person at noon, with lunch provided by our hosts at McGuireWoods. The 2026 dates are Feb. 18, May 20, Aug. 19 and Nov. 18.
To learn more about any of these committees, email us at [email protected].
There is no better time than the start of a new year to continue or begin your pro bono service.
Together, let’s make 2026 a strong year for pro bono and for the many community members who rely on our help.