National Celebration of Pro Bono Month ~ Why Pro Bono Matters at Crossroads

October is National Celebration of Pro Bono, a time to recognize the attorneys who use their skills to serve youth who might otherwise face the legal system alone. At Crossroads For Florida Kids, pro bono service is central to our mission.

Crossroads assists youth in dependency and delinquency matters. Whether a youth is in foster care or facing the juvenile justice system, they are at the center of decisions that shape their lives: where they live, who they live with, what services they receive, and what their future looks like. Those decisions are made in courtrooms, often by adults who have only met the youth briefly. A committed attorney makes sure the youth’s voice is heard and their rights are protected.

Crossroads supports that work by recruiting, training, and supporting volunteer attorneys, including Attorney ad Litems, who give their time and expertise to young people who often have no one else speaking up for them in court. Our staff, and “Army of Pro Bono Attorneys”, is here to support them along the way.

Pro bono work is also a chance to make a difference in a way that few other opportunities offer. A volunteer attorney may be the one steady adult who listens, takes a young person’s goals seriously, and fights for a safe and stable future. For many attorneys, it becomes some of the most meaningful work of their careers.

This month, thank you to every attorney who has taken a case, answered a call, signed up for the on-call calendar, or attended a training because a youth needed an advocate. We could not do this work without you.

If you are an attorney considering giving back, October is a good time to start. Learn more about volunteering with Crossroads and the support we provide along the way. If you’d like to learn more about Crossroads or become an Attorney Ad Litem, please contact us here: https://www.crossroadsfloridakids.org/get-involved/