HCBA Lawyer Magazine Vol. 28, No. 4 | Page 7

H C B A Continued from page 4 “[n]ot only is Steve an excellent lawyer who is an effective advocate for his young clients, he is also a kind, compassionate human being who becomes a stalwart supporter for these children in and outside the courtroom.” Steve says he serves because, “I firmly believe it is the obligation of every attorney to serve those who cannot through their own means hire an attorney … [but] as I have continued to work for children as a GAL and a Crossroads attorney … I have come to realize that it is the children and their families who bless me and help me to grow both as an attorney and as a person.” In presenting the award, Chief Justice Jorge Labarga summarized it well saying “This man is a MASTER pro bono lawyer.” Second, the George Edgecomb Bar Association won the statewide Voluntary Bar Association Pro Bono Award, primarily for its work in establishing and maintaining its Legal Redress Workshop. Since 2004, GEBA has conducted free workshops in predominately minority neighborhoods and at Hillsborough Community College to provide much needed legal education and pro bono services for a wide variety of citizens in need. At each workshop, volunteer lawyers teach citizens areas of law that disproportionately impact our minority and low- income populations, such as immigration, criminal law, employment and housing discrimination, tenant rights, bankruptcy, foreclosure, and family law. At each session, GEBA’s volunteers devote significant time to answering questions and connecting attendees with existing pro bono resources to provide continuing assistance. In 2017, GEBA offered 15 minute one-on-one counseling sessions on a range of legal topics. Since 2004, GEBA estimates that it has conducted 16 workshops, and its lawyers have contributed approximately 2,000 pro bono hours. As attorney Charles Holloman noted in support of GEBA’s nomination, “I have witnessed many cases where the attendees start the day with tough questions, misdirection P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G E Go rd o n Hi l l - Hi l l Wa rd He n d e r s o n and, sometimes, a little anxiety about a stressful legal problem; but, then end the day fulfilled and empowered to address their legal issues with confidence … The GEBA volunteer attorneys have a proven track record of experience, integrity, and devotion to ‘the cause of the defenseless or oppressed.’” And last but certainly not least, Jo Ann Palchak won the Florida Bar President’s Award for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. Jo Ann’s passion for pro bono service began as a law student at Stetson University when she worked with the immigration office of Gulf Coast Legal Services and published in the area of gender crime and donated her research materials to the International Criminal Tribunals of Rwanda and Yugoslavia. Since then, Jo Ann has donated approximately 5,500 hours of pro bono service in her almost 12 years of practice. Among other things, Jo Ann has handled a case from the Innocence Project for over eight years, has assisted in pursuing a federal lawsuit to ensure the rights of migrant workers, and has represented a federal inmate who was denied needed AIDS medication. As an Attorney Ad Litem to countless children, Jo Ann represents them in their legal cases, but also provides much needed mentoring and, as she is all too often the steadiest adult influence in their lives, even attends their graduations. In nominating Jo Ann, Katherine Yanes (president of the Federal Bar Association, Tampa Bay Chapter) recognized that she “does not take ‘no’ for an answer when it comes to helping her clients, nor does she say ‘no’ when asked to help anyone in need, particularly those who have been marginalized or disenfranchised.” Thank you Steve, GEBA, and Jo Ann for your leadership in showing what lawyers who are committed to pro bono service can accomplish. We are so proud to have such great lawyers committed to pro bono service here in Hillsborough County. I encourage everyone to follow their lead and volunteer to one of the many great causes they have championed. lawyers doing good in the CoMMunity this year, i am closing each article by telling the story of attorneys who have gone above and beyond in their civic involvement. this month’s recognition goes to scott Mclaren who recently won the federal bar association tampa bay Chapter pro bono service award, primarily for his leadership in helping organize a help clinic for federal pro se litigants. the legal information Program is a weekly clinic at the sam gibbons federal Courthouse at which pro se litigants meet with attorneys who answer questions and provide general information on federal procedural matters. the clinics are held each tuesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. since its start in 2017, the clinic has provided 100 litigants with information on procedural rules, court orders, preparing pleadings, and other procedural and logistical topics. More information is available at www.flmd.uscourts.gov/pro_se/docs/pro-selegal_assist.htm. Please consider volunteering with this worthy program. MAR - APR 2018 | HCBA LAWYER 5