On May 24, 2023, Dade Legal Aid – Put Something Back, held the 31st annual Nuts & Bolts of Divorce Family Law seminar to recruit and train new pro bono attorneys to handle the growing numbers of family law cases in need of representation. The 31st annual seminar kicked off with opening remarks by Chief Judge Nushin Sayfie on the Importance of Pro Bono and the need for attorneys to accept cases, followed by Perspectives from the Bench by the Honorable Samantha Ruiz Cohen, Administrative Judge, Family Division, and a discussion on Mediation by former Judge Sarah Zabel. The seminar included a panel on Professionalism featuring Robert Josefsberg, Esq., Gerald Kornreich, Esq., and Paul Lipton, Esq. Other notable speakers and topics included Ronald H. Kauffman, Esq., Jacqueline M. Valdespino, Esq., Marck Joseph, Esq., Geoffrey Valdes-Alba, Esq., and Cynthia Stafford, Esq., The speakers covered presented on How to Do an Initial Client Interview, The Roles and Responsibilities of the Guardian Ad Litem, Domestic Violence and Family Law, Changes to the Family Law Rules. The event included Put Something Back Pro Bono Awards presented to outstanding Family Law Pro Bono Attorneys: Adrian Acosta, Esq., Patricia Mesa, PA, James Piccolino, Esq., Alex John Saiz, Esq., Peter J. Sautter, Esq., Brian W. Toth, and Francisco J. Vargas, Esq., who have provided over 2,000 hours combined on a variety of family, domestic violence and guardian ad litem cases. The seminar was free for all attorneys who agree to accept a family law case from Put Something Back. The seminar was generously sponsored by Family Law Software, Foster Morales, PLLC, BLANKROME, Valdespino & Associates, PA, Soberlink, Peak Legal, Accounting & Valuation LLC, Ronald H. Kauffman, PA, MAZE Resolutions, PA, Vasquez de Lara Law Group, OurFamilyWizard, Kornreich & Associates and Truist.
