(FLORIDA) – “I have always felt compelled to help others when I can,” notes Jessica M. VanValkenburgh, an attorney at McCarthy Summers Wood Norman Melby & Schultz, a law office in Stuart, Florida. With a professional background in family law issues, like divorce and child custody, VanValkenburgh often volunteers her legal skills to help everyday Floridians at Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS).
FRLS is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to qualified individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties and to farmworkers statewide. Our Pro Bono, or Private Attorney Involvement (PAI), Program gives lawyers like VanValkenburgh the opportunity to assist vulnerable individuals and communities with a range of civil legal challenges, from public benefits assistance to eviction prevention to disaster legal services, and more.
VanValkenburgh – who has held numerous leadership roles, including her tenure as Chair of the Judicial Relations Committee of the Martin County Bar Association from 2019 to 2023, as well as her current positions as a Board Member of Florida Legal Services and Treasurer of Martin County Women Lawyer’s Association – considers FRLS’ attention to serving local communities a motivating factor in her choice to volunteer with the legal aid organization.
She notes, “It is a logical fit for me to work with Florida Rural [Legal Services] to help [others] and my fellow residents in need.” Our regional focus provides Florida residents with specialized legal services by maximizing local resources, while continuing to advance our mission of establishing a uniform Pro Bono delivery system.
Volunteering at FRLS affords private attorneys and legal professionals the chance to make an impact in their own communities. For VanValkenburgh, a personal resonance with her Pro Bono clients has been particularly enriching.
“I have enjoyed talking to people, easing their concerns and providing them with information that they might not have ever had. It is very rewarding to me to know that I have helped good people solve problems and not be taken advantage of by a system to which they are unfamiliar.”
Though localized, the impact of VanValkenburgh’s legal aid work is far felt and long lasting. She notes that her litigants are left with the “confidence to help themselves and move on from difficult situations.”
Legal Aid Made Local: Pro Bono at FRLS
Whether you are a current law student, a private attorney, or a retired or inactive legal professional, there are ample volunteer opportunities for you at FRLS. Our Pro Bono Program endeavors to match volunteers with cases that suit one’s burgeoning legal interests or lifelong strong suits. Moreover, Pro Bono work can mean anything from assisting a client with limited advice via phone call to taking on full legal representation, and everything in between.
Ultimately, our mission is clear: to provide high quality civil legal assistance and representation to our communities.
Start your Pro Bono journey at FRLS. Call 1-888-582-3410 or sign up for an active case here.
About Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS):
Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to qualified individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties and to farmworkers statewide. Since 1966, FRLS has pursued justice by providing legal services in
housing law, family law, consumer protection, public benefits, elder law, disaster relief, education law, tax advocacy, and more, all at no cost to our clients. FRLS collaborates with community organizations and Pro Bono attorneys to deliver quality advocacy, outreach, and education designed to protect the rights of those in need. For over 50 years, FRLS has been a steadfast advocate for justice. Learn more at www.FRLS.org.