Pro Bono

Volunteer helps client gain power of attorney for daughter

Before COVID-19 changed everything, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid had a clinic on the third Tuesday of each month where volunteer attorneys assisted low-income clients with the preparation of advance directive forms such as power of attorney and living will documents. With the current safety concerns, the in-person clinic has been on hold for nearly a year. However, many attorneys are still taking these cases pro bono and assisting clients without a fee to get the much-needed documents completed.

2021-03-05T13:17:08-05:00March 5th, 2021|Pro Bono|

Attorney Rusty Mead chooses pro bono work that keeps clients from falling into “a deep canyon”

When it comes to choosing pro bono work, Carrington “Rusty” Mead looks for the most time-consuming cases that other attorneys are least likely to take, and where the clients would suffer the most dire consequences without a lawyer’s help. “I prefer to do anything that will help people feel safe and help them be able to move forward easily in their lives, so they don’t get stuck in bad spaces. That’s what I prefer to do,” Mead said. “I’m always trying to stick my finger in a dam.”

2021-03-04T15:22:16-05:00March 4th, 2021|Pro Bono|

Jacksonville attorney Carrington Mead recognized for volunteer work

Jacksonville attorney Carrington “Rusty” Madison Mead will receive the 2021 Pro Bono Award for the 4th Judicial Circuit from the state Supreme Court at a Jan. 28 ceremony in Tallahassee. He was nominated for the award by Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association and the state Guardian ad Litem Office.

2021-01-13T09:45:56-05:00January 13th, 2021|News, Pro Bono|

CM’s Guide to Working at a Non-Profit Law Firm

For students planning on going to law school, getting exposure to the legal field before signing on the dotted line for three years is invaluable. As helpful as a summer legal internship might be, most law firms don’t offer internships for undergraduate students. Feeling disappointed? FEAR NOT, NORTHEAST FLORIDA RESIDENTS OR STUDENTS SHOULD CHECK OUT THE NON-PROFIT LAW FIRM JACKSONVILLE AREA LEGAL AID (JALA). THE SCOOP ON JALA

2020-12-28T10:05:49-05:00December 28th, 2020|News, Pro Bono|

Pro Bono Week – Oct. 25-31, 2020

In October 2009, the American Bar Association established Celebrate Pro Bono Week to recognize the service of attorneys providing assistance to low-income people, to recruit more volunteer attorneys and to build awareness of free civil legal services. This tradition continues, and our legal community is a strong participant each year. This year’s Celebrate Pro Bono Week is Oct. 25-31. The theme is “Rising to meet the challenge: Pro bono responds to COVID-19.”

2020-10-24T17:38:00-04:00October 24th, 2020|Pro Bono|

Attorney Ashley-Britt Hansen provides invaluable pro bono service for her community

Attorney Ashley-Britt Hansen has served her community since she was 15, working with nonprofit organizations such as the Red Cross and Planned Parenthood. Shortly after being admitted to The Florida Bar, Hansen took on pro bono cases with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.

2020-10-24T17:09:48-04:00October 24th, 2020|Pro Bono|

Pro Bono Attorney Helps Client Obtain Safe and Secure Housing

My client, who is deaf, was jumped by a group of men while walking home from work.  Two days later his apartment was burglarized. The case caught my attention after it was reported by Vic Micolucci at News 4 Jax.  It was especially interesting to me because the victim (and my client to be) was a cook at a local restaurant in the Lakewood area where I am a fairly frequent diner.  My client’s apartment complex made some temporary repairs to correct the damage from the break in, but not enough to make much of a difference.  There were also serious problems due to roaches and rats and there had been a major water leak that was causing serious mold issues.  It was a bad situation and my client wanted to find a new place to live without having to worry about an eviction on his record.

2020-12-17T14:57:29-05:00October 24th, 2020|Client Stories, Fair Housing, News, Pro Bono|

Susannah Collins serves veterans, domestic violence survivors and others pro bono

Susannah Collins is a family law attorney, social investigator, attorney ad litem, and Florida Supreme Court certified family law mediator whose law office is located in Jacksonville’s historic district of Riverside. Her practice focuses on all areas of family law, including divorce, paternity, domestic violence, child time sharing, alimony, enforcement, civil parental kidnapping, and extended family adoptions. Since her practice began nearly 20 years ago, Collins has also offered many legal services pro bono.

2020-10-24T17:16:00-04:00October 22nd, 2020|Family Law, News, Pro Bono, Veterans Services|

Eviction Defense Self Help Project – Keeping Roofs Over Heads!

 An eviction was filed against a tenant for non-payment of rent, but she had paid rent consistently during the term of the lease. The tenant relied on public transportation; to ensure rent payment, each month the landlord drove to the property, picked up the tenant, drove her to an ATM where she withdrew the rent money, paid it to landlord, and then the tenant was dropped back off at the property. The landlord was trying to force the tenant out and misrepresented non-payment of rent in the eviction complaint a few days after having taken her money. The landlord also alleged breach of the lease due to the tenant having other adults on the property who were not listed on the lease. These other adults were the tenant’s babysitters for her children when she had to go to work. These babysitters were also present and witnessed when the landlord came to pick up the tenant to drive her to the ATM for rent payments.

2020-10-25T15:34:09-04:00October 20th, 2020|Fair Housing, News, Pro Bono|
Go to Top