(FORT MYERS, Fla.) - Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) is proud to share that FRLS Staff Attorney and Pro Bono Coordinator, Amanda Levy-Reis, has been appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis, to serve as Circuit Judge on the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court.
After graduating cum laude from Stetson University College of Law, Amanda has had an extensive career in the legal field, working for over a decade as a Staff Attorney for the United States District Court, in private practice doing civil litigation, and serving for two years as a Civil Traffic Infraction Hearing Officer primarily in Lee and Hendry counties.
In 2023, she joined FRLS as a Staff Attorney and took on the role of Pro Bono Coordinator in our Fort Myers Office in 2024. During her time at FRLS, Amanda has focused on representing survivors of domestic violence in family law cases involving divorce, paternity, and other issues. Additionally, she has been a pivotal member of FRLS’s Private Attorney Involvement program where she has organized events such as Helping Heroes, prioritizing legal assistance to veterans and first responders residing in Southwest Florida, and the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court’s Pro Bono Committee Family Law Seminar.
As a former resident of Bonita Springs and a graduate of Estero High School, Amanda has come full circle with this new chapter and will be able to serve her home community in her new role in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court.
Amanda says she is grateful for the opportunity to continue her career in public service while on the bench.
While we will certainly miss Amanda here at FRLS, we congratulate her on this achievement and look forward to seeing her bring her talents to the bench.
To read the official news release from the Governor’s office click here.
About Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc.
Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to qualified individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties and to farmworkers statewide. Since 1966, FRLS has pursued justice by providing legal services in housing law, family law, consumer protection, public benefits, elder law, disaster relief, education law, tax advocacy, and more, all at no cost to our clients. FRLS collaborates with community organizations and Pro Bono attorneys to deliver quality advocacy, outreach, and education designed to protect the rights of those in need. For over 50 years, FRLS has been a steadfast advocate for justice.