Your donation can make a significant difference in the lives of vulnerable Florida residents..

TRLS  VOLUNTEERS

 

The Pro Bono Legal Assistance Program of Three Rivers Legal Services provides these support services to volunteer attorneys:

  • Clients are pre-screened for eligibility;
  • Cases are referred in your area of expertise;
  • Mentors are available to assist volunteer attorneys in specialized areas of poverty law.
  • Malpractice insurance coverage is available for referred cases, secondary to the attorney’s own malpractice coverage;
  • Legal research provided by volunteer law student interns and Westlaw® access for pro bono cases;
  • Free training opportunities and resource materials;
  • Recognition for the provision of pro bono legal services;
  • Accounting of your Three Rivers’ pro bono hours for reporting to the Florida Bar.

There are pro bono opportunities to match all skills, interests and availability!

Volunteer in a Three Rivers Legal Services office and work with a highly experienced team of staff attorneys and advocates assisting eligible clients in north Florida.

Join the panel of volunteer pro bono attorneys who supplement the delivery of legal services by either accepting direct referral of eligible clients, assisting clients in a clinic and/or serve as co-counsel or mentor in such areas as:

  • Domestic Violence Prevention: Assisting domestic violence survivors escape the violence and create a safe and stable environment for themselves and their families through Family Law, Protective Order, and Immigration assistance;
  • Housing Preservation: Assist clients access and preserve housing free of discrimination, with specific focus on Eviction, Foreclosure defense, Fair Housing, and Probate;
  • Economic Security: Assisting clients secure public benefits and eliminate barriers to employment and self-sufficiency;

 

For more information on volunteer opportunities for attorneys, call our Pro Bono Director at 352-415-2315 or email us at  [email protected].

Three Rivers Legal Services offers periodic training in a wide variety of practices and specialties that are of vital assistance and interest to the attorneys who represent our clients.

For a schedule of upcoming seminars and events, see our Upcoming Training classes.

Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc. (TRLS) hires volunteers year-round. For students, there are standing application deadlines:

Spring term – Application deadline is COB on the first Friday in November

Summer term – Application deadline is COB on the first Friday of March

Fall term – Application deadline is COB on the first Friday of June

For Law Students & Law School Graduates

Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc. (TRLS) has on-going volunteer opportunities for law students. Students may volunteer at TRLS or seek a field placement/externship (for academic credit).

Law students will assist staff attorneys in all aspects of their work including, but not limited to: conducting legal research and drafting memos; interviewing clients; attending hearings; and drafting client letters.

Students may work in any of our offices (Gainesville, Jacksonville, Lake City) and should specify their preference in their cover letter. Students are expected to volunteer at least ten (10) hours per week.

Law students interested in volunteering with TRLS should submit a completed application form, cover letter, resume, writing sample (10 page max), and transcript to [email protected].

NOTE: Applicants must pass a background check to volunteer.

For Non-Law Student Volunteers

Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc. (TRLS) has on-going volunteer opportunities for non-law students. Students may volunteer at TRLS or seek a field placement/externship (for academic credit).

Non-law students will assist staff attorneys and support staff in all aspects of their work including, but not limited to: reviewing and filing documents; conducting research and drafting memos; and, as available, will attend hearings, depositions, interviews, and other in-person events.

Students may work in any of our offices (Gainesville, Jacksonville, Lake City) and should specify their preference in their cover letter. Students are expected to volunteer at least ten (10) hours per week.

Non-law students interested in volunteering with TRLS should submit a completed application form, cover letter, resume, writing sample (10 page max), and transcript to [email protected].

NOTE: Applicants must pass a background check to volunteer.

For Law School Student Organizations

If your organization is looking for a pro bono project, please contact us at [email protected] and our pro bono staff will work with your organization to design a project for your members.

NOTE: These volunteer opportunities are based on our program’s time and space availability.

Volunteer Spotlight

Three Rivers salutes Lake City attorney John Kendron, who has been volunteering with us for more than 15 years. On Thursday, January 25th, he received the Florida Bar’s Pro Bono Award for the Third Judicial Circuit of Florida, at a ceremony at the Florida Supreme Court in Tallahassee.

During the past few years John has provided more than 100 hours of services to 15 clients with probate and guardianship matters. These clients were mostly low-income and elderly homeowners trying to clear title to their property so they would be eligible for funding to make their homes safe and habitable. John also volunteers with numerous other organizations, such as the Office of the Public Guardian, Columbia County Senior Services and St. James Episcopal Church. He is a very active member of the Third Judicial Circuit Bar Association, currently serving as President.

Mr. Kendron has been active in support of his community by serving as the Teen Court Judge for Columbia County and on the Board of Directors of Columbia County Senior Services, Inc. In addition, Mr. Kendron has dedicated pro bono representation to firm clients and clients of Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc., having estate planning, probate and real estate needs. Mr. Kendron has been recognized by the Florida Bar for his pro bono service when he was presented the Florida Bar’s President’s Pro Bono Service Award for 2005 and 2008.

Thank you to William “Bobby” Brown, Jr. of Foley & Lardner, LLP, for his exceptional work representing low income tax payers before the IRS on behalf of Three Rivers Legal Services.  Between three clients, Mr. Brown recently reduced tax debts totaling $140,422 to only $1,082.

Bobby Brown is a real estate business lawyer with the law firm of Foley & Lardner LLP, focusing his practice on retail, commercial and multi-family acquisitions, dispositions, development, leasing and finance, while also assisting clients with real estate, title, and survey issues that arise in the development, construction, financing, and disposition of wind and solar energy projects throughout the U.S.  Prior to joining Foley, Bobby served as a senior attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel for the IRS.  He continues to utilize his experience at the IRS to assist clients with their federal tax issues – including the pro bono clients that he’s met through Three Rivers Legal Services, helping them resolve their cases with the IRS both administratively and within the U.S. Tax Court.  During Foley & Lardner’s 175 year history, the firm has always been dedicated to providing quality pro bono legal services to ensure every person and organization, regardless of financial means, has access to equal justice under the law.  Most critically, the attorneys, paralegals and staff of Foley & Lardner are grateful for the strong and lasting relationships that they have with all of the firm’s clients and remain dedicated to helping them achieve their goals and aspirations.