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Dennis.Harrison@jaxlegalaid.org

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So far Dennis Harrison has created 323 blog entries.

Commentary: Lawyers should be required to give back

The importance of pro bono legal work has increased and will continue to do so. By Stacey DeVall | Jacksonville Area Legal Aid deputy pro bono director | November 6, 2025 “Have-tos before want-tos.” That is a pretty common saying in my house. My kids always want to do the fun things first—the activities that bring instant joy—before tackling homework, laundry or dishes. I get it. But without tending to the “have-tos,” the foundation crumbles. We fail ourselves and our communities. The same principle applies to our profession. Many lawyers think about pro bono work as a “want to.” They really want to help the community, and they want to be able to report it to the Bar and they want to put it on their website. But what if we reframed pro bono not as a “want to” but rather as a “have to,” because in reality, it is.

2025-11-06T10:12:20-05:00November 6th, 2025|Pro Bono|

Runners, walkers and bikers can support Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s Shelter for Elders initiative through the Nov. 22-23 Freed to Run

Gunster Shareholder and endurance runner Mike Freed and Jacksonville Area Legal Aid – joined by several event directors from the Northeast Florida community – are gearing up for the Freed to Run Challenge Nov. 22-23 to benefit JALA’s Shelter for Elders endowment, which supports housing-related legal assistance for indigent seniors. “We are thrilled with the success of Freed To Run and can’t wait to continue to build on it,” Freed said. Individual runners, relay teams, walkers and bikers will raise funds for the endowment through peer-to-peer fundraising based on a challenge to complete as many half-mile laps around the Duval County Courthouse as they can in a period of either 12 or 24 hours. Other options are to run a 5k or to bike from the St. Johns County Courthouse to the Duval County Courthouse. Those businesses, organizations and individuals wanting to participate, donate to the endowment or lend their in-kind support to the event can contact the appropriate director:

2025-10-23T11:30:39-04:00October 23rd, 2025|Freed To Run, News, Shelter for Elders, Uncategorized|

JALA pro bono legal clinic helps grandparents raising grandchildren

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid will hold a free legal clinic on Tuesday, October 21 from 9 a.m. to noon at Charger Academy, 7050 Melvin Road, in Jacksonville. Participants will meet one-on-one with an attorney for guidance on civil legal matters, such as family law, temporary custody, and housing. The event was created to address a need identified by community partners, who found that several local children being raised by their grandparents don’t have legal orders identifying their grandparents as temporary custodians. “This can impact a child’s ability to get medical treatment and impact their ability to be enrolled in school,” says Stacey DeVall, deputy director of Pro Bono for JALA. So far, 17 families have signed up for the pro bono clinic.

2025-10-23T11:31:56-04:00October 20th, 2025|Uncategorized|

JALA housing counselor prevents foreclosure for a woman in major health crisis

Jane (not her real name) has dealt with severe health problems since 2017. Most recently, she was hospitalized for atrial fibrillation, which is an irregular and rapid heart rhythm that can lead to blood clots in the heart. Ms. Williams’ hospital bills were costly, and it meant that she had to pay those expenses instead of her mortgage. She had issues with her bathroom faucet at the same time and received a major water bill on top of the damages to her bathroom caused by the plumbing issues. JALA housing counselor Carmen Curtis-Skownronski was able to obtain over $4,000 from the City of Jacksonville’s Foreclosure Intervention Program. This brought her mortgage up to date, and Ms. Williams is no longer in fear of foreclosure. Ms. Williams expressed her sincere gratitude, saying, “I felt overwhelmed and stressed, but your support made a real difference.” 

2025-09-24T10:33:32-04:00September 24th, 2025|Client Stories, Fair Housing|

A lifelong commitment to pro bono

Joshua “Josh” Gostel’s journey into pro bono work began during his years at Georgetown Law, where he first discovered his passion for helping those with limited resources. While volunteering with the Capital Area Immigrant Rights Coalition in Washington, D.C., he provided free legal assistance to detained immigrants, planting the seeds for what would become a lifelong commitment to pro bono service. After seven years in practice focusing primarily on commercial and construction litigation, Gostel moved to Jacksonville in 2021 and immediately sought opportunities to continue his pro bono work in his new community. It was then that he connected with JALA’s Pro Bono Unit, where he has since become an invaluable volunteer attorney.

2025-09-04T09:26:38-04:00September 4th, 2025|News, Pro Bono|

Best-selling author Stephanie Land to headline JALA’s Equal Justice Awards Celebration

Best-selling author and economic justice advocate Stephanie Land whose memoir was the inspiration for Netflix’s Golden Globe and Emmy Award-nominated original series Maid, will deliver the keynote address at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s 23rd Equal Justice Awards Sept. 18 at the Jacksonville Public Library. Land’s bestselling debut memoir Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive recounts her harrowing saga as a single mom navigating the poverty trap. Her unflinching testimony exposes the physical, economic, and social brutality that domestic workers face, all while radiating a parent’s hope and dedication. JALA’s Equal Justice Awards features the presentation of the Robert J. Beckham Equal Justice Award, named for a former JALA board member and longtime supporter. It is bestowed on a person or organization who has notably promoted the cause of equal justice for low-income residents of Northeast Florida.

2025-08-05T11:53:01-04:00August 5th, 2025|Equal Justice Awards, News, Uncategorized|

JALA helps daughter regain title to her home after her father’s death

“Emily,” not her real name, deeded her home to her father so he could have a nice place to live and get a homestead exemption. Her father later passed away, and after a year had passed, she reached out to JALA for assistance, but her sister had hired a private attorney to handle the matter, so JALA closed the case. Eight months later, Emily reached out to JALA again after the private attorney failed to file any pleadings on the case. Once two years had passed since Emily’s father had passed way, JALA staff attorney Jessica Farmer was able to file the probate as a summary administration with Emily's mother as the beneficiary. Emily’s mother, who lived in a nursing home, then signed a deed transferring the property back to Emily, who now has her house back in her name and can apply for a homestead exemption. “You have no idea how happy you have made me,” Emily wrote in a thank you note.

2025-07-02T13:13:44-04:00July 2nd, 2025|Client Stories, Fair Housing, Family Law, Tangled Title|

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