Tallahassee Women Lawyers Receives Statewide Pro Bono Service Award as it Turns 30
Tallahassee Women Lawyers was honored as the 2011 recipient of the Voluntary Bar Association Pro Bono Award, presented by Chief Justice Charles T. Canady at the January 27 ceremony at the Florida Supreme Court. The award recognizes a Florida voluntary bar that has demonstrated a significant contribution in the delivery of legal services to individuals or groups on a pro bono basis. The 200 members of Tallahassee Women Lawyers collectively log approximately 6,000 hours each year.
TWL promotes the status of women in the legal community and creates, improves, and maintains supportive networks among its members through mutual cooperation, respect,and friendship.
TWL is one of 27 chapters of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers. Since its founding in 1981, by such members as past-president Catherine Lannon, TWL’s leadership has inspired advancement throughout the legal community. Over the years, the organization has been recognized locally, statewide, and nationally for its programming and community service projects.
TWL members serve regularly as volunteer attorneys through clinics at local senior centers. Many members are part of an expert panel that consults with other volunteer attorneys providing services to clients of Legal Services of North Florida. TWL also provides financial support to other groups that offer pro bono services.
The organization recruits volunteers for Legal Services of North Florida and Guardian Ad Litem, among other programs, and specifically recruits volunteers for the Legal Services of North Florida advice hotline program. The hotline operates three hours a day, four days a week, and offers legal advice to callers with questions ranging from custody and child-support issues to disability and veterans’ benefits. Over the past two years, the demand for this service has increased significantly due to the troubled economy.
Pro bono service is taking a special role this year as TWL celebrates its 30th year as a voluntary bar association. The organization has dedicated the influence of its nationally acclaimed Women’s Empowerment Series to the promotion of pro bono service. The opening program, “The Power of Pro Bono,” focuses on the benefits of pro bono service and the power of pro bono service to change and better the careers of those who provide it.
In addition to monthly meetings, TWL holds an annual judicial reception, lunch-and-learn CLEs, Breakfast & Books, and the award-winning Legacy of Excellence program for local middle school and high school girls interested in legal careers. TWL members are also matched with members of Florida State University College of Law’s Women Law Symposium. TWL members take their mentees to pro bono activities, such as hearings, mediations, and client meetings encouraging them to develop pro bono service habits early in their careers.
TWL launched a professional women’s exchange program called the “WE Network” in 2009 with a grant from The Florida Bar Foundation. Its purpose is to build a broad network of professionals and community leaders to facilitate business and leadership development for women professionals.
Pictured from left to right: Judge Nina Ashenafi-Richardson, M. Catherine Lannon, Judge Nikki Ann Clark, Kelly Overstreet Johnson, Chief Justice Charles Canady, Twyla Sketchley, Elizabeth “Bibb” Willis, Wendy Loquasto, Kris Knab, and Meghan Boudreau Daigle.
Maria S. Johnson is on the staff of the Bar’s Public Information and Bar Services Department.
