Download Magazine - Levin College of Law - University of Florida

Pro bono pays offJason Lazarus (JD 81)BY SPENSER SOLISFor one UF Law graduate, thephrase “And Justice for All,”rings especially true in thecourtroom. Throughout his legalcareer, Jason D. Lazarus (JD 97), adouble Gator from Miami, Fla. andan attorney for Holland & KnightLLP, has racked up more than 200hours of pro bono service.“I knew that I would want to usemy law degree to the extent I couldto help people,” he said. “Includingthose who were less fortunate.”Lazarus was recently honoredfor his service to those in need atthe Legal Aid Society’s 20th AnnualPro Bono Recognition Evening. ForLazarus, an interest in serving thepublic runs in the family. His father,grandfather, stepmother and sisterare all attorneys.“My grandfather meant a lot tome,” Lazarus said. “He always tookpride in being a lawyer.”Although Lazarus graduatedfrom UF with a finance degree, hequickly decided that he was destinedfor the legal profession, he said.At UF Law, Lazarus was in thetop 10 percent of his class and servedas a senior editor of the Florida LawReview. Before working at Holland &Knight, Lazarus served as an assistantstate attorney for the Fourth JudicialCircuit in Jacksonville.“To me it was much moreappealing to help victims than torepresent criminal defendants.”In the State Attorney’s Officefelony unit, Lazarus was exposedto serious crimes, including grandtheft, burglary, armed robbery andattempted murder. Lazarus thenmoved on to the Special AssaultDivision at the State Attorney’sOffice, where he prosecuted manyof the most serious crimes in theoffice, including child abuse, felonydomestic violence and sex crimes.“The most horrific crimes inthat unit were the sex crimes againstchildren,” he said.In his current position in thelitigation department at Holland &Knight LLP, Lazarus has continuedto serve those in need by providingrepresentation to those who cannotafford it. While many attorneyssimply write a check to the LegalAid Society, Holland & Knight LLPactively encourages its attorneys todo pro bono work, Lazarus said.Lazarus typically takes onbetween two and three cases a yearfrom the Legal Aid Society. He isalways handling at least one case forthe society, he said.“There have even been timesthat I have called Legal Aid myselfasking for cases.”In one of his most recent probono cases, Lazarus representedan elderly couple in a constructiondispute. The pro bono clients hireda roofing company to replace theirroof. The roofer failed to completethe job as contracted but continuedto demand full payment, Lazarussaid.“After several months of presuitnegotiations with the roofer’sattorney, the roofer filed a lawsuitagainst the pro bono clients,” hesaid. “I represented the clientsduring the months of litigation thatfollowed.”The roofing company ultimatelydropped the lawsuit.Lazarus developed a goodrelationship with the clients, whowere extremely thankful, he said.“They praised me in letters toLegal Aid and to my superiors hereat the firm.”Throughout his legal career,the pro bono clients Lazarus hasrepresented have been genuinelydeserving of quality legal help, hesaid.“These are people that withoutgood legal representation wouldhave nowhere to turn,” he said. “Onmany occasions, they have beenon the right side and have had verylegitimate complaints.” ■Lazarus“I knew thatI would wantto use mylaw degreeto the extentI could tohelp people.”Chaires, Brooderson & Guerrero. Thefi rm represents health care practitionersand entities and focuses in theareas of health law, business law andadministrative law.Lauren Heatwole was sworn in asthe Young Lawyers Section secretaryof the board of directors for 2008-2009 for the Orange County BarAssociation.John and Ashleigh (Bartkus) Merchantwelcomed their daughter, ElleElizabeth, into the world on Aug.23, 2007. John is an attorney withthe Atlanta, Ga., offi ce of GreenbergTraurig, LLP in the litigation/productsliability group and Ashleighis an attorney with the FultonCounty Offi ce of the Public Defenderin the complex felony trial division.The Merchant family resides in Marietta,Ga.Arnstein & Lehr LLP has announcedthat Gilda G. Romano has joined thefi rm’s Fort Lauderdale offi ce as anassociate. She is a member of thefi rm’s litigation group and will focusher practice in the area of complexcommercial litigation.2005The law firm Broad and Casselannounced the addition of AngelaLipscomb, who joins the fi rm’s Ft.Lauderdale offi ce as an associate inthe commercial litigation practicegroup.2006Dustin N. Dailey, of Freeport, Fla.,has joined Burke Blue HutchisonWalters and Smith. He is maintainingoffi ce hours in both the BurkeBlue Downtown Panama City offi ceLipscomb 05Dailey 06FALL 2008 55