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ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Engagement Committee

Andrea Ortiz

Chair

This Committee is responsible for internal and external marketing, public relations, engagement with The Florida Bar, promoting camaraderie among section members, and recruiting new members.

This committee meets every other month at noon on the 2nd Thursday.

Contact Committee/Workgroup Chair to receive meeting link

Thursday, January 8, 2026 – 12:00 PM
Thursday, March 12, 2026 – 12:00 PM
Thursday, May 14, 2026 – 12:00 PM
Thursday, July 9, 2026 – 12:00 PM
Thursday, September 10, 2026 – 12:00 PM
Thursday, November 12, 2026 – 12:00 PM

See PILS Calendar

Learn more about upcoming PILS Feeding Florida Events!

Tampa Bay - PILS - Service Flyer (3).png

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We wrapped up our Strategic Advocacy CLE Series ⚖️ — and it was 🔥

4 sessions.
Incredible speakers.
Real strategies for systemic change.

👏 Huge thank you to:
Viletta Coombs
Robert Jurand
Dr. Amy Wetherby
Judge Anthony Miller
Bradley Butler Jr.
Don Winstead

From test cases ➡️ amicus advocacy ➡️ legislative fixes ➡️ adversarial collaboration — this series was all about how attorneys can think beyond individual cases and drive impact.

🌟 Special shoutout to @vilettacoombs (placeholder) for leading and designing the series

Co-hosted by:
@floridalegalservices
@flabaradminlaw
@publicinterestlawsection

📺 Missed it? You can still catch the full series (recordings + materials + CLE info):
🔗 Link in Bio:
https://www.flpublicinterestlaw.org/post/strategic-advocacy-across-courts-agencies-and-the-legislature-4-part-cle-series

🎓 Full series =
✔️ 4 General CLE
✔️ 4 Admin Law Certification
✔️ 2 Ethics
✔️ 2 Professionalism
✔️ 1 Appellate

Save it. Watch it. Share it.

We wrapped up our Strategic Advocacy CLE Series ⚖️ — and it was 🔥

4 sessions.
Incredible speakers.
Real strategies for systemic change.

👏 Huge thank you to:
Viletta Coombs
Robert Jurand
Dr. Amy Wetherby
Judge Anthony Miller
Bradley Butler Jr.
Don Winstead

From test cases ➡️ amicus advocacy ➡️ legislative fixes ➡️ adversarial collaboration — this series was all about how attorneys can think beyond individual cases and drive impact.

🌟 Special shoutout to @vilettacoombs (placeholder) for leading and designing the series

Co-hosted by:
@floridalegalservices
@flabaradminlaw
@publicinterestlawsection

📺 Missed it? You can still catch the full series (recordings + materials + CLE info):
🔗 Link in Bio:
https://www.flpublicinterestlaw.org/post/strategic-advocacy-across-courts-agencies-and-the-legislature-4-part-cle-series

🎓 Full series =
✔️ 4 General CLE
✔️ 4 Admin Law Certification
✔️ 2 Ethics
✔️ 2 Professionalism
✔️ 1 Appellate

Save it. Watch it. Share it.

⚖️ FINAL SESSION + CLE OPPORTUNITY ⚖️

Last chance to complete our Strategic Advocacy CLE Series and earn up to 11 CLE credits across categories!

✔️ 4.0 General
✔️ 2.0 Ethics
✔️ 2.0 Professionalism
✔️ 2.0 Admin Law Cert
✔️ 1.0 Appellate Cert

🎯 Segment IV: Comprehensive Strategies to Effectuate Change
📅 March 31 | ⏰ 12–1 PM

This final session ties it all together:
✨ Direct advocacy vs. systemic impact
✨ Strategies to drive policy change
✨ Adversarial collaboration
✨ Turning small issues into BIG impact

🎤 Viletta Coombs & Don Winstead

🔗 Register now — link in bio
📺 Watch prior sessions + earn CLE (link in bio)

#CLE #LegalAid #PublicInterestLaw #FloridaLawyers #EthicsCLE #Professionalism #AdministrativeLaw #AppellateLaw #AccessToJustice #Advocacy
@flabaradminlaw @floridalegalservices

⚖️ FINAL SESSION + CLE OPPORTUNITY ⚖️

Last chance to complete our Strategic Advocacy CLE Series and earn up to 11 CLE credits across categories!

✔️ 4.0 General
✔️ 2.0 Ethics
✔️ 2.0 Professionalism
✔️ 2.0 Admin Law Cert
✔️ 1.0 Appellate Cert

🎯 Segment IV: Comprehensive Strategies to Effectuate Change
📅 March 31 | ⏰ 12–1 PM

This final session ties it all together:
✨ Direct advocacy vs. systemic impact
✨ Strategies to drive policy change
✨ Adversarial collaboration
✨ Turning small issues into BIG impact

🎤 Viletta Coombs & Don Winstead

🔗 Register now — link in bio
📺 Watch prior sessions + earn CLE (link in bio)

#CLE #LegalAid #PublicInterestLaw #FloridaLawyers #EthicsCLE #Professionalism #AdministrativeLaw #AppellateLaw #AccessToJustice #Advocacy
@flabaradminlaw @floridalegalservices

2 down, 2 to go ⚖️

Our Strategic Advocacy Across Courts, Agencies, and the Legislature CLE Series is halfway through.

Missed the first sessions?
🎥 Recordings are now available on YouTube.

Visit the link below (or in bio) to access:
• YouTube recordings
• CLE codes
• Materials
• Registration for upcoming sessions

🔗 https://www.flpublicinterestlaw.org/post/strategic-advocacy-across-courts-agencies-and-the-legislature-4-part-cle-series (link in bio)

Attend or watch the full series and earn up to:

⚖️ 4.0 General CLE
⚖️ 2.0 Ethics
⚖️ 2.0 Professionalism
⚖️ 2.0 Administrative Law Certification
⚖️ 1.0 Appellate Practice Certification

Co-hosted by the Florida Legal Services Statewide Training Initiative and the Administrative Law Section of The Florida Bar.

Upcoming sessions:
📅 March 17
📅 March 31

Attend live or catch the recordings!
@floridalegalservices @flabaradminlaw

2 down, 2 to go ⚖️

Our Strategic Advocacy Across Courts, Agencies, and the Legislature CLE Series is halfway through.

Missed the first sessions?
🎥 Recordings are now available on YouTube.

Visit the link below (or in bio) to access:
• YouTube recordings
• CLE codes
• Materials
• Registration for upcoming sessions

🔗 https://www.flpublicinterestlaw.org/post/strategic-advocacy-across-courts-agencies-and-the-legislature-4-part-cle-series (link in bio)

Attend or watch the full series and earn up to:

⚖️ 4.0 General CLE
⚖️ 2.0 Ethics
⚖️ 2.0 Professionalism
⚖️ 2.0 Administrative Law Certification
⚖️ 1.0 Appellate Practice Certification

Co-hosted by the Florida Legal Services Statewide Training Initiative and the Administrative Law Section of The Florida Bar.

Upcoming sessions:
📅 March 17
📅 March 31

Attend live or catch the recordings!
@floridalegalservices @flabaradminlaw

Serve With PILS This April! 🌟

In recognition of National Volunteer Month, the Public Interest Law Section (PILS) of The Florida Bar is hosting volunteer opportunities across Florida as part of a statewide month of service supporting Feeding Florida.

Join fellow attorneys, law students, and advocates for a hands-on opportunity to help fight food insecurity while connecting with the public interest legal community.

Two upcoming volunteer opportunities:

📍 Tampa – Feeding Tampa Bay Mobile Pantry
📅 Saturday, April 18, 2026
⏰ 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM

📍 Orlando – Second Harvest Food Bank
📅 Saturday, April 25, 2026
⏰ 8:15 AM – 11:30 AM

Come serve, connect, and strengthen the impact of public interest lawyers across Florida.

🔗 Registration links for both events are available in our bio.

#PILS #PublicInterestLaw #NationalVolunteerMonth #FeedingFlorida #LawyersWhoServe #ProBono #CommunityImpact #FloridaLawyers

Serve With PILS This April! 🌟

In recognition of National Volunteer Month, the Public Interest Law Section (PILS) of The Florida Bar is hosting volunteer opportunities across Florida as part of a statewide month of service supporting Feeding Florida.

Join fellow attorneys, law students, and advocates for a hands-on opportunity to help fight food insecurity while connecting with the public interest legal community.

Two upcoming volunteer opportunities:

📍 Tampa – Feeding Tampa Bay Mobile Pantry
📅 Saturday, April 18, 2026
⏰ 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM

📍 Orlando – Second Harvest Food Bank
📅 Saturday, April 25, 2026
⏰ 8:15 AM – 11:30 AM

Come serve, connect, and strengthen the impact of public interest lawyers across Florida.

🔗 Registration links for both events are available in our bio.

#PILS #PublicInterestLaw #NationalVolunteerMonth #FeedingFlorida #LawyersWhoServe #ProBono #CommunityImpact #FloridaLawyers

Join Us for a Day of Service! 🌟

The Public Interest Law Section is proud to participate in a statewide month of volunteerism supporting Feeding Florida in recognition of National Volunteer Month.

Come join fellow attorneys, law students, and advocates for a hands-on volunteer opportunity helping fight food insecurity while building community with public interest professionals.

Feeding Tampa Bay – Hillsborough Mobile Pantry

📍 All People’s Community Park & Life Center
6105 E. Sligh Ave, Tampa, FL

📅 Saturday, April 18, 2026
⏰ 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Let’s come together to serve, connect, and strengthen the impact of public interest lawyers across Florida.

🔗 Registration link available in our bio.

#PublicInterestLaw #PILS #NationalVolunteerMonth #FeedingFlorida #FeedingTampaBay #LawyersWhoServe #ProBono #CommunityImpact

Join Us for a Day of Service! 🌟

The Public Interest Law Section is proud to participate in a statewide month of volunteerism supporting Feeding Florida in recognition of National Volunteer Month.

Come join fellow attorneys, law students, and advocates for a hands-on volunteer opportunity helping fight food insecurity while building community with public interest professionals.

Feeding Tampa Bay – Hillsborough Mobile Pantry

📍 All People’s Community Park & Life Center
6105 E. Sligh Ave, Tampa, FL

📅 Saturday, April 18, 2026
⏰ 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Let’s come together to serve, connect, and strengthen the impact of public interest lawyers across Florida.

🔗 Registration link available in our bio.

#PublicInterestLaw #PILS #NationalVolunteerMonth #FeedingFlorida #FeedingTampaBay #LawyersWhoServe #ProBono #CommunityImpact

Thank you to Viletta Coombs, Robert Jurand, and Dr. Amy Wetherby for helping launch our Strategic Advocacy Across Courts, Agencies, and the Legislature CLE Series this week!

Segment I generated great discussion on how attorneys can align litigation, administrative, and legislative advocacy to drive systemic change. We also received great feedback from attendees during the session.

Missed it? Watch the recording:
https://youtu.be/0ST6y33R3Os

Next up 👇

Segment II: Purpose and Utility of Test Cases
📅 March 10, 2026
⏰ 12–1 PM

This session explores how attorneys can develop test cases to clarify and challenge existing law, including analysis of conflicting Florida DCA decisions in appeals from the Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission (RAAC).

Speakers:
Viletta Coombs
Judge Anthony Miller

Register:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IVkJi3O-T-KKgwhG1pj6BQ

Learn more about the full series at the link in our bio.

#CLE #LegalEducation #LegalAid #FloridaBar #AdministrativeLaw #AppellateLaw #SystemicAdvocacy #PublicInterestLaw

Thank you to Viletta Coombs, Robert Jurand, and Dr. Amy Wetherby for helping launch our Strategic Advocacy Across Courts, Agencies, and the Legislature CLE Series this week!

Segment I generated great discussion on how attorneys can align litigation, administrative, and legislative advocacy to drive systemic change. We also received great feedback from attendees during the session.

Missed it? Watch the recording:
https://youtu.be/0ST6y33R3Os

Next up 👇

Segment II: Purpose and Utility of Test Cases
📅 March 10, 2026
⏰ 12–1 PM

This session explores how attorneys can develop test cases to clarify and challenge existing law, including analysis of conflicting Florida DCA decisions in appeals from the Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission (RAAC).

Speakers:
Viletta Coombs
Judge Anthony Miller

Register:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IVkJi3O-T-KKgwhG1pj6BQ

Learn more about the full series at the link in our bio.

#CLE #LegalEducation #LegalAid #FloridaBar #AdministrativeLaw #AppellateLaw #SystemicAdvocacy #PublicInterestLaw

🚨 New 4-Part CLE Series 🚨
Strategic Advocacy Across Courts, Agencies & the Legislature

📅 Kicks off March 3 | 12–1 PM (ET)

Not every legal problem can be solved in just one forum. This lunch-and-learn series explores how litigation, administrative advocacy, and legislative strategy intersect — and how to use them ethically and effectively to create real impact.

⚖️ Case-study based
📚 Ethics & Professionalism credit included
🤝 Presented by FLS Statewide Training Initiative in partnership with the Administrative Law Section & PILS

Register for each session:
🔗 Link in bio / register online

March 3 – The Advocacy Nexus

March 10 – Purpose & Utility of Test Cases

March 17 – Law vs. Legislative Intent

March 31 – Strategies for Systemic Change

Join us and sharpen your strategic advocacy toolkit.

@flabaradminlaw

#FloridaBar #CLE #AdministrativeLaw #LegalAid #ImpactAdvocacy #Professionalism

🚨 New 4-Part CLE Series 🚨
Strategic Advocacy Across Courts, Agencies & the Legislature

📅 Kicks off March 3 | 12–1 PM (ET)

Not every legal problem can be solved in just one forum. This lunch-and-learn series explores how litigation, administrative advocacy, and legislative strategy intersect — and how to use them ethically and effectively to create real impact.

⚖️ Case-study based
📚 Ethics & Professionalism credit included
🤝 Presented by FLS Statewide Training Initiative in partnership with the Administrative Law Section & PILS

Register for each session:
🔗 Link in bio / register online

March 3 – The Advocacy Nexus

March 10 – Purpose & Utility of Test Cases

March 17 – Law vs. Legislative Intent

March 31 – Strategies for Systemic Change

Join us and sharpen your strategic advocacy toolkit.

@flabaradminlaw

#FloridaBar #CLE #AdministrativeLaw #LegalAid #ImpactAdvocacy #Professionalism

🎓✨ Last week, the Public Interest Law Section (PILS) of The Florida Bar was proud to be present at Careers in the Law & Career Expo 2026 at FAMU College of Law!

PILS Executive Council Member Andrea Ortiz represented the Section on February 19, connecting with law students eager to explore public interest career pathways and opportunities to serve their communities.

Students stopped by to learn about:
⚖️ Public interest practice areas across Florida
🤝 Pro bono and leadership opportunities
📚 PILS subject-matter workgroups
🌱 How to get involved early in access-to-justice efforts

We were inspired by the energy, curiosity, and commitment to service shown by FAMU Law students!

📣 Law students: PILS membership is FREE for you.

Learn more and get involved:
🔗 www.flpublicinterestlaw.org/about-us
@famulaw @andrea_d_ortiz

#PILS #PublicInterestLaw #FAMULaw #FutureLawyers #AccessToJustice #FloridaBar #LawSchoolLife

🎓✨ Last week, the Public Interest Law Section (PILS) of The Florida Bar was proud to be present at Careers in the Law & Career Expo 2026 at FAMU College of Law!

PILS Executive Council Member Andrea Ortiz represented the Section on February 19, connecting with law students eager to explore public interest career pathways and opportunities to serve their communities.

Students stopped by to learn about:
⚖️ Public interest practice areas across Florida
🤝 Pro bono and leadership opportunities
📚 PILS subject-matter workgroups
🌱 How to get involved early in access-to-justice efforts

We were inspired by the energy, curiosity, and commitment to service shown by FAMU Law students!

📣 Law students: PILS membership is FREE for you.

Learn more and get involved:
🔗 www.flpublicinterestlaw.org/about-us
@famulaw @andrea_d_ortiz

#PILS #PublicInterestLaw #FAMULaw #FutureLawyers #AccessToJustice #FloridaBar #LawSchoolLife

SEE YOU SOON!!

We arw hosting our annual networking event:
June 20, 2024 | 6-9 PM

Come join us at: @summerhouseonthelake

RSVP: rsvp.pils.hh@gmail.com

SEE YOU SOON!!

We arw hosting our annual networking event:
June 20, 2024 | 6-9 PM

Come join us at: @summerhouseonthelake

RSVP: rsvp.pils.hh@gmail.com

CONGRATULATIONS!!! To one of our Winners!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! To one of our Winners!!

Link in the Bio!!!

Link in the Bio!!!

📣 Announcement!!!
PILS is offering law school students a $1,000 scholarship and an affiliated membership for 2024-2025
DEADLINE: April 1st, 2024
-
Link in the bio for more information.

📣 Announcement!!!
PILS is offering law school students a $1,000 scholarship and an affiliated membership for 2024-2025
DEADLINE: April 1st, 2024
-
Link in the bio for more information.

Happy New year!!’ Let’s start 2024 with joining PILS!!!

Happy New year!!’ Let’s start 2024 with joining PILS!!!

Link in the bio!!!

Link in the bio!!!

Link in the bio!!!!

Link in the bio!!!!

If you are interested in public interest law, come join this section!!!

Click link in the bio for more info!!!

If you are interested in public interest law, come join this section!!!

Click link in the bio for more info!!!

The Public Interest Law Section's Executive Council invites you to: Happy Hour at Yard House
Thursday, June 22, 2023
5:30pm.

Complimentary appetizers and drink tickets will be provided. RSVPs are encouraged!!!

See you there!!!

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=gznJMD5hWEiXT7W4omuzlNW9jJb9kwpDlcCvOU8r1YdUMFMwQVFMMDQ3OVc3NUs2Skc5OTdRNEIwQy4u

The Public Interest Law Section's Executive Council invites you to: Happy Hour at Yard House
Thursday, June 22, 2023
5:30pm.

Complimentary appetizers and drink tickets will be provided. RSVPs are encouraged!!!

See you there!!!

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=gznJMD5hWEiXT7W4omuzlNW9jJb9kwpDlcCvOU8r1YdUMFMwQVFMMDQ3OVc3NUs2Skc5OTdRNEIwQy4u

Nonprofit Management 101 - Online via Zoom
- CLE Credit Approved

LINK IN THE BIO

Nonprofit Management 101 - Online via Zoom
- CLE Credit Approved

LINK IN THE BIO

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@publicinterestlawsection

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