The importance of being earnest about pro bono legal work will be the focus of my commencement remarks May 2. Instead of attempting the impossible task of expressing all that is in our hearts and hopes for Jacksonville University’s trailblazing first class of law students, I will speak mainly about one topic: How in America, our responsibility to voluntarily perform free legal services for the public good, “pro bono publico” in Latin, is emblematic of all that is good and honorable about our graduates’ chosen profession.
It is also a fitting subject on the day this talented cadre of legal guardians are gowned, hooded and receive their juris doctor degrees because of the real pro bono work they already have done in our city.
As law students, they made time for what qualifies for true pro bono service under the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. That includes providing many hours of free legal services to less advantaged people during school vacations and weekends…