F E A T U R E A R T I C L E b y: S t e v e C l i n e & T o r i S i m m o n s – H i l l W a r d H e n d e r s o n
Bridging the gap Between community Service and pro Bono Service
C o m m u n i t y S e r v i c e s C o m m i t t e e a n d T h i r t e e n t h C i r c u i t P r o B o n o C o m m i t t e e J o i n t A r t i c l e
The Hillsborough County Community Services Committee is committed to providing attorneys with volunteer opportunities to serve various non-profit and charitable organizations throughout Hillsborough County and the surrounding areas.
It is important that attorneys are actively involved in serving their communities in a variety of ways. But, there is one way that only attorneys can help— providing pro bono legal services. However, not all community service and volunteer work qualifies as pro bono service. In fact, the majority of community service activities do not qualify as pro bono services.
There are two key requirements for pro bono services:( 1) the attorney must be performing legal services; and( 2) those legal services must directly relate to addressing the
not all community service and volunteer work qualifies as pro bono service.
legal needs of the poor. See Fla. Bar R. 4-6.1( describing pro bono public service). 1
The Florida Supreme Court has emphasized that pro bono services are intended,“ to address the legal needs of the poor [ and ] [ t ] hat objective is distinguishable from other types of uncompensated public service activities of the legal profession.” Amendments to Rules Regulating the Florida Bar-1-3.1( a) and Rules of Judicial Administration- 2.065( Legal Aid), 630 So. 2d 501, 503( Fla. 1993)( emphasis in original). Accordingly, while“ other public service by the legal profession is important... uncompensated public service activities not directly related to services for the courts and the legal needs of the poor” do not qualify as pro bono. Id.
There are many opportunities for attorneys to“ bridge the gap” between traditional community
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