Miami attorney Jacqueline H. Scola will receive The Florida Bar's Young Lawyers Division (YLD) Legal Aid Public Service Award for her efforts in providing legal assistance to Florida's needy. The award will be presented by Chief Justice Charles T. Wells of the Florida Supreme Court on Friday, Feb. 9.

The award was instituted in 1991 by the Young Lawyers Division and is presented in conjunction with the Supreme Court of Florida and The Florida Bar's Pro Bono Service Awards. 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."

Scola began her commitment to public service immediately following law school. In 1982, she began work as an assistant state attorney in Dade County. In 1995, she joined the Department of Justice as an assistant U. S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida.

Scola is currently director of Professional Development and Training for the Justice Department's Southern District where she trains approximately 450 employees in a jurisdiction stretching from Ft. Pierce to Key West. Since 1995, she has recruited and trained volunteers in her office for the "Put Something Back Program" to handle cases for indigent clients in domestic violence injunction hearings and as guardians ad litem.

Scola is the president-elect of the Miami-Dade County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers. She chairs the Federal Court Practice Committee of The Florida Bar and one of The Florida Bar Grievance Committees. She is married to the Hon. Robert N. Scola, Jr. They have two sons.

# # #

[Updated: 07-01-2005 ]