Pro Bono that matters. Pro Bono that’s manageable.
Pro bono efforts at JALA have been developed and maintained for over twenty-five years by Sarah Jones Fowler, who has served as Director of the Public Service Project. During its existence, JALA’s pro bono program has provided free legal services to thousands of low-income persons. Building on that legacy, the pro bono program at JALA continues to be a critical resource dedicated to closing the justice gap and ensuring that legal representation is available to all regardless of ability to pay.
JALA is committed to providing its volunteers with opportunities that will be rewarding and that will fit with professional and personal obligations. JALA offers pro bono that makes a difference to individuals and in the northeast Florida community and pro bono that’s manageable in the context of our volunteers’ busy lives. Opportunities are available in Duval, Clay, St. Johns, and Nassau counties. Sign-up forms of attorneys outside of Duval County are forwarded to the pro bono lead attorneys in those counties. JALA continues to develop Continuing Legal Education resources for its volunteers. These are listed on the CLE link for this website.
There are two broad categories of volunteer opportunities: 1) Case Participation, which includes Case Representation and serving as an Expert Resource for pro bono attorneys, and 2) Project Participation which includes serving as an intake interviewer for Thursday evening intake, presenting the CARE (Credit Abuse Resistance Education) curriculum to area high school seniors, conduction monthly informational clinics, brochure translation for JALA’s Fair Housing Unit, and other valuable efforts. Attorneys who choose case representation as their volunteer placement will work with Sarah Fowler to be matched with clients whose issues fit within the attorney’s practice areas. Ms. Fowler may be reached at (904) 356-8371, ext. 330, or via email at sarah.fowler@jaxlegalaid.org. New projects are in development and JALA is always interested in new program ideas. Please contact Kathy Para for details regarding the opportunities available and to suggest other possibilities. Ms. Para may be reached at (904) 356-8371, ext. 363, or via email at kathy.para@jaxlegalaid.org.
