Danny Federico
reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com
On Thursday, Jan. 16, the Florida Bar honored 21 lawyers for their work on behalf of low-income and disadvantaged clients. The Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Awards, held at the Supreme Court of Florida, were established in 1981 as a way of encouraging lawyers to volunteer free legal services to those in need. This year's awards were presented by Florida Bar President Roland Sanchez-Medina Jr. The ceremony recognized pro bono service in each of Florida's 20 judicial circuits, along with one Florida Bar member participating outside the state. These awards were presented alongside the prestigious Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service Award and other service recognitions from the Florida Supreme Court's chief justice. According to the Florida Bar, during the most recent reporting period, spanning from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, Florida attorneys collectively contributed over 1.7 million hours of pro bono service and donated $11.6 million to legal aid organizations. Among this year's honorees is Gainesville attorney William Galione, who has dedicated himself to addressing access to justice issues in rural areas. With 1,073 attorneys eligible to practice in Gainesville compared to just 190 in the entire 3rd Judicial Circuit, which covers Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee and Taylor Counties, Galione has taken on numerous referrals from the resource-strapped region. Since 2001, he has worked on more than 160 cases in partnership with Three Rivers Legal Services, assisting clients with issues ranging from housing and consumer matters to torts and wage claims. "Galione treats every client with compassion, dignity and respect, and goes above and beyond to meet clients where they are -- even going so far as to learn new areas of practice that stretch well beyond the scope of his practice," the Florida Bar announcement reads. For more information about the awards or pro bono opportunities, contact the Florida Bar at (850) 561-5670.