the thirteenth JuDiciaL circuit 2018
pro Bono service awarD winners
Pro Bono Service Award winners (l to r): Professor Ann Piccard and student representative
with Stetson University College of Law, Katherine Kebos, Jon Gatto, Debra Smietanski,
Tori Simmons, and Mark Wolfson with Foley & Lardner LLP.
Continued from page 56
Ms. Smietanski has also provided
pro bono legal services to low-
income individuals and non-profit
organizations that serve low-income
and vulnerable citizens in our
community. Ms. Smietanski has
participated in the BAVLP Client
Intake Clinic, interviewing legal
services applicants; on the Mentor
Panel, mentoring Bay Area Legal
Services staff attorneys and
volunteer attorneys; and on the
Case Referral Panel, accepting
referrals of clients for consultation
and representation, primarily in
the areas of wills and estates and
advance directives. Ms. Smietanski
has accepted 24 BAVLP cases,
including two cases from the
BAVLP Community Counsel
Program, where she provided legal
services to non-profit groups. Ms.
Smietanski also has represented
a number of pro bono clients in
probate matters, assisting poor
individuals in clearing title to
their homes so that they may
make necessary repairs or apply
for a homestead exemption.
M AY - J U N E 2 0 1 8
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HCBA LAWYER
Ms. Smietanski’s contributions
extend to other programs serving
the community. From 2008
through 2011, Ms. Smietanski
provided nearly 50 hours of pro
bono service to the Tampa Hyde
Park Rotary Club Foundation, a
non-profit organization, first by
participation in its creation and
then in the procurement of its
IRS tax exempt status. She was
a member of the Tampa Hyde
Park Rotary Club from 2002-
2013 and served as its president
from 1998-1999. Between 2009
and 2010, Ms. Smietanski
provided more than 10 hours of
pro bono assistance to Seniors
in Service of Tampa Bay, Inc.,
a non-profit organization that
enhances the lives of seniors,
by reviewing its by-laws and
developing a conflict of interest
policy. She was a member of its
Board of Directors from 2003-
2013 and served as chairperson
of the Board from 2008-2010.
She is also a member of the
Tampa Bay Estate Planning
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