The Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Recognizes Tampa Office for Outstanding Pro Bono Service
Zuckerman Spaeder is pleased to announce that its Tampa office has received the “Outstanding Pro Bono Service by a Law Firm” award from the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. The honor, given as part of the Circuit’s 2024 Pro Bono Service Awards, acknowledges the firm's unwavering commitment to serving the community and advocating for those in need in Hillsborough County, Florida.
In 2012, Zuckerman Spaeder partner Sandy Weinberg and his wife, Rosemary Armstrong, founded Crossroads for Florida Kids, a nonprofit organization that provides pro bono legal services for disadvantaged Hillsborough County's children in dependency, delinquency, truancy, and some criminal cases. Since that time, the firm’s Tampa attorneys have represented over 30 children, and in 2023 alone, Zuckerman Spaeder attorneys spent 780 hours representing seven children in need, demonstrating exceptional dedication and legal acumen in their representations.
Partner Sandy Weinberg emphasized the impact of the team’s work, saying, "As volunteer lawyers, we are making a difference in the lives of some of the most vulnerable children in our community. Our representation goes far beyond just representing the child in court. We visit with the child at their homes or wherever they are staying and try to help the child deal with difficult challenges in their lives."
A representative for Crossroads for Florida Kids praised the dedication exhibited by Zuckerman Spaeder attorneys, saying they are “possessed with keen legal skills, and seemingly endless compassion for their young clients many of whom have suffered severe trauma in their short lives."
Attorneys in Zuckerman Spaeder’s 10-lawyer Tampa office devoted nearly 1,000 hours to pro bono engagements in 2023. In addition to their work with Crossroads for Florida Kids, the attorneys provided services involving advocacy in a special juvenile immigrant case, a voting rights case, litigation concerning illegal ICE detention, and representing a church in aiding refugees from Afghanistan.