2023 Pro Bono Awards

The Thirteenth Judicial Circuit 2023 Pro Bono Service Awards

The Sixteenth Annual 13th Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Service Awards recognizes individuals, law firms, and organizations, as well as attorneys who performed 20 or more hours of pro bono service, to honor their outstanding contributions of pro bono legal services to the community in 2022.

The award nominations were submitted to the 13th Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee. The ceremony was hosted by the Committee and the Volunteer Lawyers Program of Bay Area Legal Services. The ceremony was sponsored by Foley & Lardner, LLP, Hill Ward Henderson, and Crossroads for Florida Kids.

Award Recipients

These awards recognize a Hillsborough County lawyer, law firm, or organization that made significant contributions of pro bono legal services in 2022. Pro bono legal services are legal services provided to poor individuals or to charitable organizations whose primary purpose is to provide non-legal assistance to low-income community members.

The Hillsborough County Bar Association’s Jimmy Kynes Pro Bono Service Award

Mark Wolfson
Partner, Foley & Lardner

This award recognizes a Hillsborough County attorney who for many years has made significant contributions to ensure legal services are available to persons who otherwise could not afford them.

Outstanding Pro Bono Service by a Lawyer

L. Carina Cutter
Corporate Legal Advisor, Quorum Software

This award recognizes an individual lawyer who provided outstanding pro bono services in 2022.

Outstanding Pro Bono Service by a Young Lawyer

Nicole Duga Walsh
Shareholder, Hill Ward Henderson

This award recognizes an individual lawyer who is under the age of 36 or has been practicing for five years or less who provided outstanding pro bono services in 2022.

Outstanding Pro Bono Service by a Paralegal

Hannah Schwartz
Paralegal, Prescott Legal

This award recognizes an individual paralegal who provided outstanding pro bono services in 2022.

Outstanding Pro Bono Service by an Organization

George Edgecomb Bar Association (GEBA)

This award recognizes a pro bono organization or any other type of organization, including bar associations or divisions of bar associations and charitable, professional, civic, or religious organizations that provided outstanding pro bono services in 2022.

2023 Florida Bar Distinguished Judicial Service Pro Bono Award

Chief Judge Ronald Ficarrotta
Thirteenth Judicial Circuit

Presented by the chief justice, this award is given for outstanding and sustained service to the public, especially as it relates to support of pro bono legal services.

2023 Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award for the 13th Judicial Circuit

Harley Herman
Law Office of Herman and Herman

This award is given to an outstanding attorney for each of the state’s 20 judicial circuits and to an outstanding attorney among the out-of-state Florida Bar members.