Crossroads Volunteers Honored at the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Awards
On May 14, 2025, the 18th Annual Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Service Awards honored Hillsborough County lawyers, law firms, and organizations for their 2024 pro bono contributions. Crossroads For Florida Kids reported 3,266 pro bono hours, with 38 volunteers recognized for contributing 20 or more hours, and the organization submitted nominations spotlighting those who demonstrated extraordinary service.
Crossroads is pleased to report that three of its nominees were honored with awards:
Sandy Weinberg, co-founder of Crossroads For Florida Kids, received the Outstanding Pro Bono Service by a Lawyer Award. In 2024, he contributed 152 pro bono hours representing two youth in complex delinquency, dependency and truancy cases. He secured foster care and supported the education, employment and basic needs of an autistic child in an unstable home and helped a 15-year-old girl facing truancy by working with her family and school to provide stability, shelter, and medical care. Over his distinguished 50-year legal career, Sandy has led in white collar criminal defense and complex civil cases and founded the Tampa office of Zuckerman Spaeder LLP, whose attorneys have contributed nearly 4,000 pro bono hours to Crossroads, including winning the Outstanding Pro Bono Service by a Law Firm Award in 2024.
Samantha Tomlin received the Outstanding Pro Bono Service by a Young Lawyer Award. In 2024, she contributed 225 pro bono hours representing four youth in delinquency, dependency, and criminal cases. She helped a 13-year-old girl facing serious felony charges access mental health treatment, stable housing, and a safe home while guiding her toward high school graduation and employment. She also represented a homeless 17-year-old boy, securing permanent placement with his father and successfully completing probation. Over her seven-year legal career, Samantha began as an Assistant Public Defender and now is a partner in the General Liability group at Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A., where she supervises young lawyers and manages pro bono and summer associate programs, demonstrating exceptional commitment to vulnerable children in the community.
Holland & Knight LLP received the Outstanding Pro Bono Service by a Law Firm Award. A global, full-service firm with over 2,200 lawyers in 34 offices, its Tampa office has 65 attorneys and has made pro bono work a cornerstone of its culture for more than 20 years. As Executive Partner, Brad Kimbro notes, “…Pro bono work and community service is woven into the fabric of our practice.” In 2024, Tampa attorneys contributed 2,457 pro bono hours on 96 matters, including Hague Convention litigation, real estate work for a non-profit community center, the American Bar Association’s legal advice clinic assisting domestic violence victims, the Middle District of Florida’s re-entry program for non-violent offenders, and representing Afghan asylum seekers. Since 2012, 14 Tampa attorneys have represented 29 Crossroads clients in dependency and delinquency cases.
