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Digon-Greer honored with the Marshall R. Cassedy, Sr., Award for work to advance pro bono service

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Frank Digon-Greer

Outgoing Bar President Mike Tanner presents Frank Digon-Greer with the Marshall R. Cassedy, Sr., Award for his “extraordinary efforts” to advance pro bono service in Florida. Digon-Greer, assistant director of the Bar’s Programs Division, administers The Florida Bar’s Free Legal Answers program, a means for members of the public to obtain quick answers to a variety of everyday legal issues people face. With more than 1,000 volunteer attorneys Florida has the highest percentage of overall questions answered among similar programs across the country at 87%.

Francisco-Javier P. (“Frank”) Digon-Greer is the latest recipient of the Marshall R. Cassedy, Sr., Award for his “extraordinary efforts” to advance pro bono service.

In making the announcement at the 2022 Annual Convention, outgoing President Mike Tanner cited Digon-Greer’s service to The Florida Bar’s Pro Bono Committee, to the Supreme Court of Florida’s Commission on Pro Bono, and his work administering The Florida Bar’s Free Legal Answers program, a means for members of the public to obtain quick answers to a variety of everyday legal issues people face. Digon-Greer is the Bar’s assistant director of the Programs Division.

Established in 2012, this award honors and recognizes the legacy and attributes of Marshall R. Cassedy, Sr., who served as executive director of The Florida Bar from 1961-1980.

Tanner said Florida’s Free Legal Answers program now has more than 1,000 volunteer attorneys and has the highest percentage of overall questions answered among similar programs across the country at 87%. As of February 28, 2022, Florida Free Legal Answers volunteers provided responses to 17,541 questions and assisted 15,809 clients.

Sponsored by the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service, the virtual legal clinic allows lawyers to earn pro bono reporting credit from the comfort of home, any time of day or night.

Lawyers select questions from a variety of civil legal categories and answer anonymously. Currently as of June 27, 2022 Florida Free Legal Answers volunteers have answered 19,184 questions.

Nationwide, more than 10,627 attorneys have registered since the initial launch, and Florida, with 1,021 volunteers, leads the pack.

Tennessee, the next closest, has 969 volunteer lawyers, followed by Illinois with 975 and Texas with 726.

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