S P E C I A L F E A T U R E A u t h o r : 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 continuedfrompage20
Mr . LaFleur has served as the Pro Bono Chair of the Tampa Bay Paralegal Association since 2017 , and has donated his time to several worthy pro bono causes . For example , for the past three years , Mr . LaFleur served as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Wills for Heroes program , where he manages , organizes , and maintains a steady flow of new and returning volunteers . He also raised funds to purchase new laptops for a Wills for Heroes event .
Mr . LaFleur also sits on the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee . Through that role , Mr . LaFleur partners with other pro bono organizations to provide opportunities for members of the Tampa Bay Paralegal Association to provide pro bono legal services .
Outstanding Pro Bono Service by a Law Firm : Sessums Black Caballero Ficarrotta
Sessums Black Caballero Ficarrotta was established in Tampa in 1982 with the goal of building a quality , clientcentered firm with a specialty in marital and family law . The firm ’ s founder , Stephen Sessums , instilled in the firm a dedication to pro bono involvement . He saw pro bono as an opportunity to make a rewarding and substantial impact on the community . In keeping with that tradition , the six-attorney firm has been a consistent provider of pro bono services . In the past three years alone , Sessums Black has donated approximately 1,258 hours to Bay Area Legal Services .
In 2019 , the firm provided over 335 hours to pro bono services . In just one example , firm attorney Jennifer Ficarrotta agreed to handle a pro bono custody case where the client could not keep counsel due to the opposing party ’ s threats of violence and bullying , including threats against counsel and the judiciary . Ms . Ficarrotta took on the case despite these challenges and her client ultimately prevailed . Other Sessums Black attorneys have devoted significant hours to pro bono causes , including representing children in foster care and serving as volunteer lawyers for Bay Area Legal Services . clinic each week at Metropolitan Ministries for the homeless and indigent in the community .
Project HELP relies on attorney volunteers to staff the clinic , and the Jesuit Bar Association has consistently staffed the clinic for two months each year . In 2019 , Jesuit Bar Association members contributed 43.5 hours directly through the Project HELP Clinic . And even though Project HELP volunteers are not required to take on work outside the clinic hours , several members of the Jesuit Bar Association have provided full representation to individuals who came into the HELP legal clinic for advice . Jesuit Bar Association members also engage in their own individual pro bono and community service projects .
The Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee commends the extraordinary service of the 2020 award recipients . n
Author : Tori Simmons – Hill Ward Henderson
Outstanding Pro Bono Service by an Organization : Jesuit Bar Association
The Jesuit Bar Association is an alumni association of Jesuit High School in Tampa for alumni , parents of alumni , and parents of current students dedicated to the practice of law . Four years ago , the Jesuit Bar Association started volunteering with Project HELP ( Homeless Experience Legal Protection ). Project HELP holds a legal
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