TALLAHASSEE — For their work on behalf of low-income and disadvantaged clients, the Florida Bar will recognize 22 lawyers at a Feb. 7 ceremony at the Supreme Court of Florida.
"The awards recognize pro bono service in each of Florida’s 20 judicial circuits as well as service by one Florida Bar member practicing outside the state of Florida," said a press release from The Florida Bar.
This year's awards will also include two honorees in the 11th Circuit. The honors are presented annually in conjunction with the Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service Award, which is given by the chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court, the release said.
Awards recognizing pro bono contributions also will be presented in the categories of Distinguished Judicial Service, Distinguished Federal Judicial Service, Law Firm Commendation, Voluntary Bar Association and Young Lawyers Division.
This year's ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 7 at the Supreme Court of Florida and will be streamed live via the Florida Supreme Court's Facebook page. Florida Bar president Michelle R. Suskauer will present the 2019 awards.
Some of the recipients include Nancy Lynn Carty Hartjen, Jennifer LaVia, Kevin A. McNeill, Crystal Freed, Kelly L. Fayer, Ashley N. Minton, Julia K. Maddalena and Dia Teresa Colbert.
According to the release, Florida lawyers provided more than 1.58 million hours of pro bono services to those in need and more than $5.8 million to legal aid organizations in the most recent 12 months reported.
The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Awards, which was established in 1981, are intended to encourage lawyers to volunteer free legal services to the poor by recognizing those who make public service commitments and to raise public awareness of the substantial volunteer services provided by Florida lawyers to those who cannot afford legal fees.