ABOUT US
Why Join PILS?
Substantive Law Workgroups and Committees
PILS offers opportunities to collaborate on critical legal issues through workgroups focused on children’s rights, consumer/tenant advocacy, civil rights, immigration, and more. Participation helps drive real-world impact — such as our recent role in defeating proposed legislation that would have weakened key consumer protections in Florida.
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Exceptional CLE Programming
Over the past year alone, PILS hosted nearly 60 CLE courses — offering members high-quality training across a wide range of public interest topics, including education law, housing law, family law, appeals, consumer protection, legislative advocacy, pro bono engagement, and attorney wellness.
Networking and Community Building
We’ve hosted successful networking events across Florida and continue to expand our outreach to create meaningful opportunities for members to connect with like-minded advocates, law students, and leaders in the public interest field.
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Membership is just $55 per year — and free for law students!
Mission
The Public Interest Law Section of the Florida Bar's mission is to provide an organization open to all who have a common interest in advocacy and enhancement of constitutional, statutory or other rights that protect the dignity, security, justice, liberty, or freedom of the individual or public, and a forum for discussion and exchange of ideas leading to increased knowledge and understanding of the areas of public interest law.
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Membership
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Florida Bar Membership
2025-2026 Term Dues: $55 annually
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Download the application to pay by check
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Law Student and Affiliate Membership
2025-2026 Term Dues: $0.
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Katherine Hanson
Secretary
Disability Rights Florida
2473 Care Drive, Ste 200
Tallahassee, FL 32308
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Melissa Duncan
Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County
423 Fern St., Ste. 200
West Palm Beach, FL 33401-5839
Paul Karasick
Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office
1051 Manatee Avenue West
Hensley Wing, Suite 330
Bradenton, FL 34205
C. Christine Smith
Florida's Children First
333 Camino Gardens Blvd,
Suite 202
Boca Raton, FL 33432
Jennifer Gordon
Nova Southeastern University Shepard College of Law
3305 College Ave
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314-7721
Ashley Kogan Weed, B.C.S
Assistant Public Defender
Juvenile Division
Florida Public Defenders Office
PO Box 1980
Ft. Meyers, FL 33902-1980
Sheena Benjamin-Wise
Sheena Benjamin-Wise, P.A.
1200 S Pine Island Rd Ste 600
Plantation, FL 33324-4465
Alison DeBelder
Disability Rights Florida
2473 Care Drive, Ste. 200
Tallahassee, FL 32308-9803
Walter Honaman​
Legal Aid Service of Broward County
PO Box 120910
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312-0016
Robin Rosenberg
Florida's Children First
333 Camino Gardens Blvd,
Suite 202
Boca Raton, FL 33432
Ashley Daley​
Office of the Attorney General
4575 Via Royale Corporate Center
Fort Myers, FL 33919