(FLORIDA) – When it comes to volunteering her legal skills to assisting low-income clients at no cost to them, private attorney Kristianna Soto has a clear mind and a full heart. “What inspires me to take on pro bono legal work is knowing how expensive it can be accessing justice in some areas of law, especially for those who are hardworking and struggling,” says Soto, Managing Partner at her private law office in Fort Myers, Florida.
Soto’s practice centers on the areas of family, juvenile, and criminal law, professional passions she carries into her volunteer work as a Pro Bono attorney at Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS). 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.
“I have a heart for children and want to contribute to making their parents' lives better by helping when I can,” says Soto, whose experience allows her to help low-income families struggling with civil legal issues in family law.
With her commitment to volunteer work, Soto believes her impact is far-reaching, positively reverberating throughout the broader community: “Pro bono service is rewarding because I know that the skills and experience I have obtained over the years with hard work will pour back into my local community. My hope is that Pro Bono clients who are helped, then are inspired to be helpful towards others.”
Importantly, the dedicated family attorney is focused on more than the immediate results of her legal assistance. Rather, Soto strives to help clients help themselves. The effects of individuals “taking ownership of their own lives and choices,” such as through their collaboration with Pro Bono attorneys, are cascading. To this end, Soto notes that, “if I can encourage others to enhance their own life, then I believe that provides value to the community as a whole.”
Ultimately, Soto has a deep awareness of the profound, yet latent, material impacts Pro Bono service can have on low-income clients. “The financial impact that pro bono service offers is unseen. When you break the financials down, pro bono client's save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in legal and related fees and costs.” These are significant figures for clients who face fiscal burdens through all aspects of their lives.
Against this backdrop, Soto wishes for more attention to be brought to the need for and impact of Pro Bono service. “My hope is that this becomes more visible and appreciated so service can continue.”
From Hope to Help: Pro Bono at FRLS
Whether you are a current law student, a private attorney, or a retired or inactive legal professional, there are ample volunteer opportunities for you at FRLS. Our Pro Bono Program endeavors to match volunteers with cases that suit their burgeoning legal interests or lifelong strong suits. Moreover, Pro Bono work can mean anything from assisting a client with limited advice via a phone call to taking on full legal representation, and everything in between.
Ultimately, our mission is the same: to provide high quality civil legal assistance and representation to low-income and vulnerable communities across our state.
Start your Pro Bono journey at FRLS. Call 1-888-582-3410 or sign up for an active case 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.