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“[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
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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
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