Pro Bono
Shutts & Bowen has a longstanding commitment to service for the public good, pro bono publico, by providing free legal services to the poor and to organizations that primarily serve the poor. Shutts & Bowen also provides pro bono legal services to not-for-profit educational, cultural and other civic organizations that could not otherwise afford representation.
Attorneys in all of Shutts & Bowen's Florida offices are regularly engaged in pro bono representation of organizations and individuals in a variety of matters as diverse as the firm's core practice areas, including tax, corporate, real property, probate, contract and litigation. To recognize and encourage such public service, the firm gives the same credit to its attorneys for pro bono matters as for the handling of billable matters for paying clients.
- In 2022, our attorneys provided 1,991 pro bono services hours, amounting to the equivalent of $918,854 in billable hours.
- In 2021, our attorneys provided 2,600 pro bono services hours, amounting to the equivalent of $1,180,731 in billable hours.
- In 2020, our attorneys provided 3,740 pro bono service hours, amounting to the equivalent of $1,619,189 in billable hours.
Over the years, Shutts & Bowen attorneys have been recognized by various organizations for their work on behalf of indigent clients. Recently, the firm's Fort Lauderdale office was recognized by Legal Aid of Broward County as "Law Firm of the Year" for its continuous financial support to Broward Lawyers Care (BLC), Legal Aid's Pro Bono Division. Additionally, the Miami office received an award for supporting the Small Claims Clinic run by the Dade County Bar Association.
Shutts & Bowen recognizes the outstanding commitment of its attorneys and staff on pro bono matters in various ways, including instituting the “Outstanding Pro Bono and Community Service Awards” in the Tampa office. Tampa attorneys and staff have been recognized by the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit for their work in Project H.E.L.P. (Homeless Experience Legal Protection) and in general pro bono matters at the Annual Pro Bono Service Awards.
Additionally, Shutts & Bowen handles a number of Hague Convention Child Abduction matters each year, referred to the firm by the U.S. State Department. The cases proceed on an expedited basis through federal court, typically lasting a few months.
In 2019, the firm stood by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as he announced “Lawyers Assisting Warriors,” a military pro bono project. This initiative, of which Shutts is a proud member firm, aims to offer free legal help to active-duty service members statewide, addressing one of the most critical areas of concern for Florida’s military population.
As Counsel for United Way of Palm Beach County, Shutts meets the day-to-day legal needs of this local non-profit organization which provides invaluable service to the Palm Beach County community.
Other pro bono matters we have handled include representation of veterans; serving as counsel to the guardian organization Seniors First in Orlando; Legal Aid and Legal Services cases; representation of One Nation, a voter registration project; and many other matters to assist various civic, religious and educational organizations. Shutts & Bowen attorneys also staff the Small Claims Clinic run by Put Something Back in Miami.
For a detailed list of representative pro bono matters handled by the firm, please click here.
