IN THE PRO BO “KNOW” By LESLIE POWELL, LEGAL SERVICES OF NORTH FLORIDA
“I will never reject, from consideration personal to myself, the cause of the defenseless or oppressed….” Each attorney takes this oath on admission, and the
Special thanks to Pam Childers and the Clerk of Court staff who came out in support, as well as other staff within the First Judicial
ESRBA members rededicate to it each year at our annual
Circuit who made it such a success. And thanks to those
meeting. Many of our members actively engage in pro bono
who have already let us know that they want to participate
work by accepting case referrals or staffing legal clinics
again next year!
sponsored by our local Legal Services programs. On Oct. 16, 2014, Legal Services of North Florida and Northwest Florida Legal Services, along with the
The first topic of this series is one that someone asked during the Stand Down event, and has been raised before in various ways:
ESRBA, honored those members who have represented
“My malpractice insurance does not cover pro bono work;”
clients through our programs over the past year. Those
or, “I’m not currently with a firm, so do not have malpractice
in attendance heard words of thanks as well as words of
coverage – I’m happy to help, but don’t think I should be giving
inspiration from civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump,
advice or legal help.”
incoming President of the National Bar Association, and from our own circuit judge, the Honorable Gary Bergosh. With a new year ahead of us, this article is a first in a
Not to worry! When engaged in pro bono work through your legal services program, so long as you’re representing a client who is eligible for services under that program,
series in which we hope to answer your questions about pro
you are covered by the legal services program’s malpractice
bono work and how each of you can get involved. If you
coverage. Each legal services program has a process of
have a question that you’ve always wanted to know, please
ensuring eligibility and will not refer a person who is not
send it to Leslie@LSNF.org, and we will try to answer it. If
eligible. On occasion, at a legal clinic, someone who is not
you have a suggestion for a new kind of pro bono event or
eligible will ask for services – usually this is because their
activity, please share that with us too. And most of all, if
income or assets may be higher than we usually allow. When
you’re interested in taking a case, let us know!
that happens, it is up to each individual attorney to decide
On Oct. 24, 2014, 26 attorneys, including public
whether to meet with that person. Since a clinic visit is just
defenders and states attorney, and 22 paralegal and student
a consultation, the service is limited and, perhaps, you will
volunteers showed up in support of the annual VA Stand
have found a new client!
Down. About 100 legal matters were addressed, ranging
If you’re interested in finding out more about pro bono
from Social Security and child support, to the criminal
work, please contact Leslie Powell, at Legal Services of North
matters addressed through the Veterans’ Court. The event
Florida (Leslie@LSNF.org; 850-432-8222) or Sybil Sahuque
was the most successful yet, helping address more legal
at Northwest Florida Legal Services (SahuqueS@NWFLS.org;
issues for homeless veterans in our community than ever
850-432-2336). You can also check out the online at http://
before. At the end of the day, those who served us left with a
www.lsnf.org/cases-awaiting-placement.
little less worry and better positioned to take the next steps to make their own lives more stable, less unpredictable.
18 The Summation www.esrba.com December 2014