Edmund Baxa Jr., an attorney at Foley & Lardner LLP. began his pro bono work with Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association in 1993. Since then, he has worked tirelessly as a Guardian ad Litem for 88 children. He has reported over 2,100 hours of pro bono work on those cases. He is not only a champion to the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, he is a champion to the abandoned, abused, and neglected children that he has advocated for. He sets the bar for attorneys in large law firms by showing that pro bono work is important and can be done.
For decades, Jim Dickson of Adams & Reese has provided leadership, legal expertise, and an empathetic approach to practicing pro bono law in Pinellas County. Jim was instrumental, as a member of the organization’s founding board, in the creation of Community Law Program. Jim has continued to serve low-income members of our community as an officer, board member, and pro bono volunteer, and as president of the board from 2015-2021. He has contributed well over 500 hours of pro bono service in the last decade alone. Jim has spent his career going above and beyond to serve the community of St. Petersburg and the State of Florida as a whole.
Attorney Zachariah Evangelista of Ser & Associates PLLC has volunteered pro bono for Dade Legal Aid’s Put Something Back program since 2014. He has dedicated himself to providing critical legal services, such as contract drafting and incorporation, to nonprofit startups, helping them grow and make a positive impact in Miami Dade County. His commitment to legal clinics and various projects has offered essential support to countless individuals in need, consistently advocating for the less fortunate in his local community.
For the past 19 years, Elizabeth “Betsy” Hapner has volunteered with Bay Area Legal Services’ Volunteer Lawyers Program on the Case Referral Panel. In the time span of her pro bono career, she has been assigned 54 cases. Fifty one of those were to provide direct representation and the additional three she acted as a mentor for another pro bono attorney. Betsy’s commitment to pro bono has been unwavering as she continuously takes on assignments despite having cases assigned to her. At the present time, Betsy has four open cases, some of which are extended service that will take an ongoing commitment to conclude.
Lisa Kilbride has devoted more than 2,300 hours to representing Hillsborough County’s most vulnerable children in complex, multi-year dependency and delinquency cases. Fearless in court and tireless outside it, she not only secures justice but also visits clients on nights and weekends, helping with school, jobs, and stability. As one of Crossroads For Florida Kids’ earliest volunteers and now its Board President, Lisa has inspired and mentored other attorneys, strengthening the pro bono community. She embodies the oath to “never reject…the cause of the defenseless or oppressed,” making her a true champion of children and access to justice.
Christopher Mayle of Bold Patents has demonstrated unwavering commitment to empowering low-income inventors and entrepreneurs through his exceptional expertise, dedicating hundreds of hours since 2020 with Dade Legal Aid – Put Something Back, recently earning him recognition from the USPTO. His unique qualifications, combining a Mechanical Engineering degree with a Biomechanical minor from the University of Florida and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois, enable him to expertly navigate complex intellectual property challenges, helping innovators bring their ideas to life. His tireless advocacy and inspiring spirit make him a true champion for the intellectual property community and those he serves.
Kateryna McCaleb works in her own solo law office, McCaleb Law P.A., yet she finds time to do pro bono work with Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association. Since becoming an attorney four years ago, Kateryna has taken 9 bankruptcy cases. She even agreed to take a case within two months of going out on maternity leave. She has so far reported a total of 55 hours of time on her cases. The majority of bankruptcy cases that Kateryna has handled have been senior citizens or disabled individuals. Kateryna became involved in pro bono work while she was a law student volunteer at our office, and she has remained committed to serving low-income individuals in bankruptcy cases.
Sean McCormack‘s daily practice areas are Worker’s Compensation and Social Security at Colling Gilbert Wright, PLLC. However, he has been a pro bono Guardian ad Litem for Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association for almost two decades. He has accepted 34 pro bono assignments where he has advocated for the best interests of 55 children. He has reported over 500 hours of service. He recently handled a case that involved complex abuse issues as well as a federal law involving children. He handled it with skill, compassion and dedication.
In addition to volunteering for Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s Ask-A-Lawyer clinics, Logan McEwen of Marks Gray P.A. regularly participates with JALA’s Eviction Defense Self-Help Project where he helps tenants understand their rights and navigate complex housing issues. Volunteer attorneys like Logan not only provide counsel and advice to tenants, but oftentimes assist tenants with drafting statutory notices to their landlords or responding to eviction complaints. JALA’s Eviction Defense Self-Help Project began in June 2018, and Logan has been an active volunteer since that time. In fact, Logan has volunteered for 57 individual landlord/tenant clinics, assisting approximately 150 individuals. This year alone, Logan has assisted 15 clients through JALA’s clinic. In some instances, he has accepted the client’s case for ongoing representation.
Daniela Mendez has dedicated nearly 900 hours since 2019 to representing Hillsborough County’s most vulnerable children in dependency and delinquency proceedings through Crossroads For Florida Kids. A first-generation attorney fluent in Spanish, she bridges cultural gaps and ensures youth facing trauma, poverty, and mental illness are truly seen and heard in court. Beyond legal advocacy, she mentors her clients, celebrates their achievements, and even opened her home as a foster mother to a former client. Her lived experience, deep compassion, and unwavering commitment embody the spirit of pro bono service. Daniela has not only transformed the lives of individual children but also has strengthened justice and equity for at-risk youth in our community.
Andrew M. Nerney of Gunster has been an invaluable asset to the less fortunate served through Dade Legal Aid’s Put Something Back program since 2021. He provides compassionate legal support to disadvantaged individuals navigating the probate process. Through his dedication, he has assisted over 45 clients and contributed more than 500 pro bono hours in probate and life estate matters. His selfless commitment to helping those facing challenging times makes him a true pro bono hero.
Kellie O’Connell consistently steps forward to serve Hillsborough County’s most vulnerable youth. Since joining Crossroads in 2023, she has handled eight extended representations in dependency, delinquency, juvenile mental health court, and direct-filed juvenile criminal cases, contributing over 200 hours to date. Always first to answer a call, she goes above and beyond – attending community events with clients, mentoring new volunteers, and serving on Crossroads Board. Kellie also participates in the delinquency on-call program, volunteering monthly as attorney ad litem and often covering last-minute needs. In her words, “Helping young clients make positive changes in their lives is very rewarding and I am so proud of all the progress my clients have made.”
Steven Rubin always makes time for pro bono service. As a Florida Bar Foundation Fellow and former chair of the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education, Steven worked with Funding Florida Legal Aid to create Certified Lawyers on Call (CLOC). Currently, CLOC has 215 board certified lawyers who provide pro bono consultations to legal aid staff attorneys and bono attorneys. Steven serves as both coordinator for CLOC and a volunteer. He accepts pro bono cases from the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, and mentors legal aid staff attorneys and pro bono attorneys on their pro bono cases.
Gil Singer is a Pro Bono Hero whose 45-year legal career exemplifies the highest ideals of The Florida Bar. He has contributed 2,000+ pro bono hours to vulnerable children and working poor families through Crossroads For Florida Kids, Guardian ad Litem, and Bay Area Legal Services. At Crossroads, Gil has represented abused and neglected children in complex, high-stakes cases, giving them a voice in the legal system. Beyond direct service, he recruits and mentors other attorneys. As Gil says, “We cannot give up on our at-risk children without giving them a voice, an opportunity to learn right from wrong, and to mentor and protect them.” Gil’s advocacy brings hope, stability, and justice to those who otherwise could not access it.
Ted Swiecichowski has been a fearless leader in developing a partnership with Southern Legal Counsel (SLC) to offer legal name change clinics to low income Floridians. Since 2021, Ted and his team of pro bono attorneys have assisted with dozens of legal name change clinics, providing pro bono legal assistance to hundreds of marginalized Floridians. Ted is also Chase’s lead for the Tampa Start Anew program to empower survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Additionally, Ted volunteers for the Junior Achievement Financial Literacy Program and Biztown programs, and he serves on Chase’s Pro Bono Day of Service leadership team, where their global legal department provides more than 60 pro bono events each year.
Samantha Tomlin tirelessly advocates for Hillsborough County’s most vulnerable children through Crossroads For Florida Kids. Since 2022, she has contributed over 400 pro bono hours representing children in delinquency, dependency, and criminal cases. Samantha demonstrates exceptional dedication to her clients, provides mentorship to new attorneys, volunteers for urgent on-call cases, and ensures her clients receive stable guidance and access to critical resources. Her work has helped children safely navigate the foster care system, complete probation, and plan for their futures. Samantha said, “Pro bono service reminds us that the law is not just a profession, but a duty to ensure justice reaches those who need it most.”
Gabriel L. Valdes, a partner at Sidley Austin LLP, has shown an unwavering commitment to serving the underserved through Dade Legal Aid’s Put Something Back project. Since 2014, he has assisted over 45 clients, donating hundreds of pro bono hours in areas such as contracts, venture law, real estate and non-profit work. His leadership extends to inspiring and engaging his associates to participate in the Put Something Back program, amplifying the firm’s impact in giving back to those less fortunate. Valdes’ dedication to pro bono service exemplifies a profound commitment to justice and community empowerment.
Charlotte Warren of Carlton Fields P.A. volunteers as a pro bono lawyer with Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association on multiple fronts. She donates money, handles cases, and spends time in the evening for Teen Court. In fact, she spends so much time volunteering for Teen Court, she has become a fixture for the program, and the juvenile court says they couldn’t get along without her. She brings positivity to the legal profession through her pro bono work.