The Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association is the recipient of the 2025 Voluntary Bar Association Pro Bono Award, which will be presented by Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz in a Jan. 16 ceremony streamed live by the Supreme Court of Florida. The award recognizes a Florida voluntary bar that has demonstrated a significant contribution in the delivery of legal services to individuals or groups on a pro bono basis.

Founded in 1982, the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association (JWLA) provides support and networking for its members in Northeast Florida. JWLA’s mission is to “actively promote gender equality and the leadership roles of its members in the legal profession, judiciary, and community at large.”

Among its contributions to the community, JWLA advocates and encourages its members to be involved in pro bono work through Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) and other local legal aid organizations. In October 2023, JWLA’s luncheon, “Breaking Barriers in Our Community: Pro Bono Roundtable,” emphasized the importance of pro bono work and explored the benefits of pro bono service through legal aid organizations. At all JWLA’s monthly luncheons, pro bono opportunities are promoted on each dining table.