INDIAN ROCKS BEACH ATTORNEY RECEIVES TOP LEGAL SERVICES HONOR FROM FLORIDA SUPREME COURT
Thursday, April 07
- Organization: The Florida Bar
- Link: http://www.floridabar.org
Indian Rocks Beach attorney James M. "Van" Vanderplas has been selected to receive the Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service Award from Chief Justice Barbara Pariente on Thursday, April 7. The award is Florida's highest public honor conferred by the Supreme Court on a private lawyer.
The Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service Award commemorates Miami civil rights lawyer Tobias Simon, who died in February 1982. Each year the award is bestowed upon an attorney to encourage and recognize extraordinary contributions by Florida lawyers in making legal services available to persons who otherwise could not afford them, and to focus public awareness on the substantial voluntary services rendered by Florida lawyers in this area. The term "pro bono," derived from the Latin phrase "pro bono publico" means "for the good of the public."
Vanderplas received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in psychology and mathematics from the University of Texas in 1948, 1949, and 1951, respectively. He served as a research psychologist at the Aero Medical Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH, from 1951 to 1955. He then served as assistant associate and professor of psychology at Washington University, St. Louis, MO, from 1955 to 1983. During his tenure as professor, he attended the Washington University School of Law on a part-time basis from 1973 to 1980, where he was awarded his J.D. degree. He was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1981 and joined the Clearwater Bar Association that same year. He has carried on a solo practice in Indian Rocks Beach since 1981.
Since 1982, Vanderplas has donated a minimum of four hours per week to the Gulfcoast Legal Services’ Clearwater office. He conducts interviews of prospective clients, obtaining all information necessary for adequate evaluation for possible — and appropriate — representation by the staff attorneys. Vanderplas applies his experience in real property, probate, family, landlord/tenant, collections, consumer, and Social Security law to offer advice and counseling. In all, Vanderplas has donated approximately 4,500 hours to pro bono activity in 22 years of volunteer service.
He has taken an active role in local municipal affairs, both in St. Louis and Indian Rocks Beach, where he has resided since 1983, serving on the city’s Budget Review Committee during the 1980s and aiding in the distribution of support materials during the hurricane of 1985. He also served on the Governor’s Human Rights Advocacy Committee for about five years.
Vanderplas has two grown children and eight grandchildren. He presently resides with his wife, Dr. Jean Vanderplas, in Indian Rocks Beach.
The Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service Award commemorates Miami civil rights lawyer Tobias Simon, who died in February 1982. Each year the award is bestowed upon an attorney to encourage and recognize extraordinary contributions by Florida lawyers in making legal services available to persons who otherwise could not afford them, and to focus public awareness on the substantial voluntary services rendered by Florida lawyers in this area. The term "pro bono," derived from the Latin phrase "pro bono publico" means "for the good of the public."
Vanderplas received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in psychology and mathematics from the University of Texas in 1948, 1949, and 1951, respectively. He served as a research psychologist at the Aero Medical Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH, from 1951 to 1955. He then served as assistant associate and professor of psychology at Washington University, St. Louis, MO, from 1955 to 1983. During his tenure as professor, he attended the Washington University School of Law on a part-time basis from 1973 to 1980, where he was awarded his J.D. degree. He was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1981 and joined the Clearwater Bar Association that same year. He has carried on a solo practice in Indian Rocks Beach since 1981.
Since 1982, Vanderplas has donated a minimum of four hours per week to the Gulfcoast Legal Services’ Clearwater office. He conducts interviews of prospective clients, obtaining all information necessary for adequate evaluation for possible — and appropriate — representation by the staff attorneys. Vanderplas applies his experience in real property, probate, family, landlord/tenant, collections, consumer, and Social Security law to offer advice and counseling. In all, Vanderplas has donated approximately 4,500 hours to pro bono activity in 22 years of volunteer service.
He has taken an active role in local municipal affairs, both in St. Louis and Indian Rocks Beach, where he has resided since 1983, serving on the city’s Budget Review Committee during the 1980s and aiding in the distribution of support materials during the hurricane of 1985. He also served on the Governor’s Human Rights Advocacy Committee for about five years.
Vanderplas has two grown children and eight grandchildren. He presently resides with his wife, Dr. Jean Vanderplas, in Indian Rocks Beach.
[Updated: 07-01-2005 ]
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