The St. Petersburg Bar Association has been selected to receive the Voluntary Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award from Chief Justice Charles T. Wells of the Florida Supreme Court. The awards ceremony will be held at the Court Friday, Feb. 9.

Generally, pro bono refers to legal services provided free of charge to those who cannot pay for them. The term "pro bono," derived from the Latin phrase "pro bono publico," means "for the good of the public." This is the eleventh time the award and recognition has been given to a local bar association for its significant contribution in the delivery of free legal services to the poor.

The St. Petersburg Bar Association demonstrated a strong commitment to providing legal services to those in need by creating the Community Law Program in 1989. The program, designed by the leadership of the St. Petersburg Bar Association and Gulfcoast Legal Services, assists qualified low income citizens with their civil legal needs through the use of volunteer attorneys. The bar also provides financial resources in addition to staff support and advertising for the program.

While most members provide pro bono services regularly, it is the goal of the bar association to encourage all members to participate in the Community Law Program. In January 2000, as part of the St. Petersburg Bar's 75th Anniversary Gala, it held a silent auction which resulted in an $8,000 donation to the Community Law Program. Last month, St. Petersburg Bar President Eric Ludin hosted a "Fan-ta-Sea Cruise" dinner and silent auction. All net proceeds from the event were donated to the program.

The bar association added also a checkoff box to its annual dues statement, for member donations to the Community Law Program, resulting in more than $30,000 in contributions during the past eight years. The bar makes additional donations to the Community Law Program from activities such as the Annual Law Day Run and the Major League Baseball's Devil Rays game night. In 1999, $2,000 was donated to the program from these activities.

Plans are underway to expand the program's coverage area and number of clinics offered, including seminars to assist seniors with insurance claims and a monthly presentation entitled "What to Do when a Loved One Dies" to address post-death issues and estate planning.

For more information, contact the St. Petersburg Bar Association at 727/823-7474.

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[Updated: 07-01-2005 ]