JALA’s Pro Bono Alternative Spring Break sees record participation and expanded services
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s (JALA) Alternative Spring Break program pairs law students with volunteer attorneys to provide pro bono legal services to seniors, including drafting advance directives and simple wills. “I am amazed at the success of Alternative Spring Break and how this clinic has grown,” said Aaron J. Irving, JALA’s director of pro bono. “I am very thankful for each law school’s participation, the students’ dedication to pro bono work, and our great pro bono attorneys and federal judiciary for their support. This clinic highlights the importance of pro bono work and the need for this type of service in our community. I am ready, willing, and able to host similar clinics for students and attorneys at other times throughout the year, so please let me know if you would like to take part in similar projects.” Pictured here are students from Stetson University, University of Florida, and Jacksonville University law schools, alongside volunteer attorneys.
Each year, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s (JALA) Pro Bono Unit hosts law students for its Alternative Spring Break program. This year, JALA expanded its program to include not one, but two Alternative Spring Breaks.
“During Alternative Spring Break, students are on-site at senior residential centers where they draft advance directives,” said Aaron J. Irving, JALA’s director of pro bono. “These documents are invaluable, especially to senior members of our community, and include a power of attorney, living will, designation of health care surrogate, and designation of pre-need guardian.”
In addition to offering two back-to-back Alternative Spring Breaks, JALA’s Pro Bono Unit also expanded the services provided at the clinic to include simple wills. Students were trained on general estate planning and how to draft simple wills and advance directives using a macro-enabled automated template created by pro bono attorney Rick Stockton of Holland & Knight.
During the week of March 10, four students from Florida State University and five from Brooklyn Law School participated in the clinic.
“Not only is this the first time students from FSU participated, but it’s also the first time an out-of-state law school took part in the project,” Irving said.
The FSU participants included Christina Oliveira, Kennedi Ray, Benjamin Tuttle, and Zachary Zepeda, while the Brooklyn participants were Dario Arroyo, Lorena Flores, Genavieve Koyn, Taylor Weber, and Albulena Uka.
On March 11-12, students were on-site consulting and drafting documents at Riverside Presbyterian Apartments and Riverside Park Apartments. Volunteer pro bono attorneys Ashley Goggins, Patrick Patangan, Charles Richardson, and Katie Valley were also present to supervise and assist the students in creating these documents.
Florida State and Brooklyn law students’ Alternative Spring Break concluded with a luncheon at the Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse, hosted by U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger. Also present were Magistrate Judge Laura Lambert and judicial staff.
FSU’s and Brooklyn’s Alternative Spring Break concluded on March 13 with a luncheon at the Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse, hosted by U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger. Also present were Magistrate Judge Laura Lambert and judicial staff. During the luncheon, students learned from the judges and their law clerks about practicing in federal court and the importance of pro bono work. In total, students assisted with 59 cases during their Alternative Spring Break, Irving said.
The following week, from March 17, JALA’s Pro Bono Unit hosted students from Jacksonville University, the University of Florida, and Stetson Law School. Although Jacksonville University and the University of Florida have participated in previous years, this was the first time Stetson took part in the program. In total, 20 students spent part of their 2025 spring break providing pro bono services. Participants from JU included Aleksandr Borger, Keiry Soto Chavez, Torrey Drake, Andrew-Paul Griffis, Sibylle Kearns, Marisa Materazzi, Juana Menendez, Stevee Mullins, and Thomas Shoemaker. UF participants included Daulton Browning, Maahum Haider, Garrett Horton, and David Safir. Stetson participants included Nicholas Bragg, Allison Brooke, Matthew Clayton, Hugo Helley, Nathaniel Milak, Emily Najem, and Mark Vanderhyden. On-site volunteer pro bono attorneys included Hilary Brown, Ashley Goggins, Joann Kucklick, Isabella Limonta, Patrick Patangan, Rick Stockton, and Katie Valley.
On March 18 and 19, students and attorneys were at Jacksonville Beach, providing services at Pablo Towers and Pablo Hamlet. Between the two days of the clinic, 99 cases were opened, bringing the total for both Alternative Spring Break weeks to 158 cases opened through JALA’s Pro Bono Unit.
The week concluded for JU, UF, and Stetson students at the federal courthouse with a luncheon on March 20, hosted by U.S. District Chief Judge Marcia Morales Howard. Magistrate Judge Patricia Barksdale and other courthouse staff were present, offering encouragement and advice to the students.
“I am amazed at the success of Alternative Spring Break and how this clinic has grown,” Irving said. “I am very thankful for each law school’s participation, the students’ dedication to pro bono work, and our great pro bono attorneys and federal judiciary for their support. This clinic highlights the importance of pro bono work and the need for this type of service in our community. I am ready, willing, and able to host similar clinics for students and attorneys at other times throughout the year, so please let me know if you would like to take part in similar projects.”
For those interested in getting involved with JALA’s Pro Bono Unit, visit www.jaxlegalaid.org/pro-bono, where you can find volunteer opportunities, including cases awaiting placement. Alternatively, send an email to [email protected] for additional questions or interests.
