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Dear Colleagues,
Once again, we find ourselves facing the familiar challenges brought by
hurricanes, and our hearts go out to everyone impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. If you need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. And if you’ve been fortunate enough to be spared, we kindly encourage you to lend a hand to a friend or colleague who may be struggling during this difficult time. The Bar is actively supporting those affected, and your contribution—big or small—can make a world of difference. Here’s how you can help:
FEMA/YLD Disaster Hotline: After a storm, The Florida Bar YLD, in conjunction with the ABA Young Lawyers Section and FEMA, works to activate the Disaster Relief Hotline. All Florida Bar members eligible to practice may volunteer to provide basic civil legal services for people who cannot otherwise afford legal representation in non-fee generating cases. After a hurricane hits, many people need simple advice about how to get their life back in order. Sign up to volunteer to answer the questions of hurricane victims on a pro bono basis.
Florida Free Legal Answers: Although attorneys are strongly cautioned against engaging in the solicitation of hurricane victims (which is prohibited by Rule 4-7.18), the Florida Free Legal Answers program offers a relatively easy way to lend your expertise. Sign up to to quickly and easily answer questions from the public. It is easy to do, takes only a couple of minutes and can mean so much to those in need.
Florida Pro Bono Matters is another way to assist Floridians via an interactive website funded by Funding Florida Legal Aid (FFLA) — both in hurricane recovery and year-round. You can view descriptions of available pro bono opportunities and indicate an interest in any of them; you then will be contacted by the posting organization with more information.
National Disaster Legal Aid Advocacy Center welcomes all advocates and volunteers from nonprofit legal aid organizations, bar associations, pro bono counsel from law firms and corporations, law school students and faculty, and allied nonprofits working on disaster legal aid. Visit the website to sign up. The website has links to a multitude of disaster relief manuals and training tools.
CLICK HERE for additional hurricane information and updates, consumer resources, how you can help, and other helpful links from The Florida Bar.
In the midst of turmoil, the work of our Section continues. We are particularly excited about the upcoming Judge Williamson View from the Bench Seminar Series, one of the most respected bankruptcy programs in Florida. Join us in Tampa on November 7th and in Miami on November 8th, where our esteemed speakers listed below will offer invaluable insights into how judges are navigating complex issues in the courts today. This program is always in high demand, so we encourage you to register early to secure your spot. It is also important to note that this program will not be recorded or webcasted so in-person attendance is the only way to attend.
Lastly, let’s take a moment to celebrate the milestones of our colleagues: Lynn Sherman retired from the practice of law on September 30, Roy Kobert transitioned to full-time mediation, and Stichter Riedel Blain & Postler marks its 50th anniversary this year. Congratulations to all on these wonderful achievements!
Best,
Manny
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