On April 24, attorneys in the 4th Judicial Circuit who contributed their time toward pro bono service were honored for their commitment in promoting access to justice.
Held annually at the Duval County Courthouse, The William A. Van Nortwick Jr. Presentation of the Pins Ceremony is a luncheon where attorneys are recognized by their peers as well as by members of the judiciary.
Th event is named for the late William A. Van Nortwick Jr., a well-respected Jacksonville attorney and retired member of the judiciary.
The ceremony is organized and hosted by the 4th Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee, chaired by Circuit Judge Steven Fahlgren, and the Jacksonville Bar Association Pro Bono Committee, co-chaired by Laura Boeckman, Office of General Counsel for the city of Jacksonville; Samantha Howell, Three Rivers Legal Services pro bono director; and Aaron Irving, former Jacksonville Area Legal Aid pro bono director.
In addition to presentation of the pins, recent pro bono awards were also highlighted:
Alexandra Underkofler was awarded the Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award for the Fourth Judicial Circuit; Pajcic & Pajcic was awarded the Chief Justice’s Law Firm Commendation Award; and The D.W. Perkins Bar Association was jointly awarded the Chief Justice’s Voluntary Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award.
Aaron Irving was also honored with an Excellence in Service Award at this year’s ceremony for his dedication to our community over the past five years as director of pro bono. Irving’s commitment to the community is unparallelled and we wish him all the best in his new position as a general magistrate in Clay County.
This event would not be possible without the assistance of Duval County courthouse administration and this year’s sponsors: Akerman, Farah & Farah, Marks Gray, Fisher Tousey, Gunster and Spohrer Dodd.
For the third year in a row, Akerman covered the costs of the lapel pins for the entire 4th Circuit.
Along with their lapel pin, each attorney received a letter of appreciation from the Supreme Court of Florida.
This year’s program emcee, Duval County Judge James Nealis, encouraged attendees to remain committed to pro bono work through local legal aid organizations. Nealis and Duval Judge Robin Lanigan, who announced all the recipients as they came forward, have recently taken leadership positions in the 4th Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee.
Asghar Syed, shareholder at Gunster and president-elect of the Jacksonville Bar Association, was the keynote speaker at the luncheon. He spoke of the importance of pro bono work and encouraged law firms to support their attorneys doing pro bonowork.
Following the luncheon and keynote address, those honorees present were greeted by a receiving line of federal and state judiciary.
Recipients, your pro bono efforts make our Circuit and State a better place. We recognize that your efforts will continue to make a positive impact in years to come.
For those interested in getting involved with pro bono work, visit jaxlegalaid.org/pro-bono/ where you can find volunteer opportunities, including cases awaiting placement. Alternatively, send an email to: [email protected] if you have any questions or case placement preferences or if you practice in a large firm and want to hear about the benefits of incorporating pro bono work into your workplace culture.