Shutts & Bowen Lawyers Mobilize Statewide Pro Bono Efforts During October
Shutts & Bowen LLP organized comprehensive pro bono initiatives across Florida during October, demonstrating the legal industry's capacity to address community needs through coordinated volunteer efforts.
Shutts & Bowen LLP mobilized its attorneys and staff across Florida for multiple community service initiatives throughout October in recognition of Pro Bono Month. The firm's coordinated efforts spanned from food drives and educational partnerships to legal advocacy and fundraising events, reflecting the legal profession's broader commitment to public service.
The firm's Pro Bono Committee, co-chaired by Ella Shenhav and Michael Gore, organized statewide activities that leveraged both legal expertise and general community outreach. Shenhav emphasized that every act of service, whether through legal skills or community outreach, has transformative potential for those in need. The initiatives demonstrated how law firms can effectively channel professional resources toward addressing pressing social issues.
In West Palm Beach, attorneys and staff organized a food drive benefiting the Palm Beach County Food Bank, collecting 815 pounds of food that provided more than 679 nutritious meals to local families, children, seniors and individuals facing food insecurity. The Fort Lauderdale office hosted an in-office volunteer event in partnership with Ranger Good Works, assembling more than 50 bags of essentials and treats for underprivileged families from Dillard Elementary School.
The Tallahassee office established a significant legal partnership with the new First Amendment Clinic at Florida State University, founded by former Shutts attorney Denise Harle. This collaboration supports pro bono litigation advancing free speech and religious liberty issues, creating lasting infrastructure for constitutional rights advocacy. Tampa attorneys combined philanthropy with community engagement through a Dunk for a Cause fundraiser on October 16, raising $4,730 for breast cancer research and DIPG advocacy while securing 315 pledged pro bono hours.
Miami hosted an educational Pro Bono Month celebration and panel discussion featuring Chief Judge Laurel M. Isicoff of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida and Stephanie Grosman, Esq., of Dade Legal Aid. Moderated by Shutts attorneys Emma Refuveille and Julissa Rodriguez, the event explored pro bono service opportunities through the Business Law Section's Pro Bono Committee and Dade Legal Aid's Put Something Back Project. The discussion highlighted how legal professionals can learn more about Shutts & Bowen at https://www.shutts.com while emphasizing the importance of sustained pro bono engagement beyond designated awareness months.
As Pro Bono Month concluded, Shenhav expressed gratitude for the collective efforts that demonstrated the firm's year-round commitment to using professional talents for community strengthening. The statewide initiatives illustrate how coordinated pro bono programs can address diverse needs while building sustainable partnerships between legal institutions and the communities they serve.