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By Isabella Roman-Secor, 2L, FSU Law
Francisco (Frank) Digon-Greer, a leader in pro bono work in the state of Florida, has been a cherished employee of The Florida Bar since 2007. Mr. Digon-Greer’s passion for law developed at a young age. He attended St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami, Florida, where he intended to pursue a legal career in the music industry. Mr. Digon-Greer desired to have a corporate career, but an opportunity arose where he was able to open his own practice with his twin brother.
While he was a solo practitioner Mr. Digon-Greer developed a passion for pro bono work. His practice was quite small with just him, his brother, and one legal assistant. The majority of cases he obtained were “low bono” meaning he charged a significantly reduced price for his expertise. Some clients were only charged $100 because they could not afford anything more. Being a solo practitioner launched Mr. Digon-Greer’s career in pro bono work.
In 2007, he began working for The Florida Bar in the lawyer regulation division where his passion for pro bono work expanded.
Mr. Digon-Greer then became the assistant director of the Bar’s Programs Division. In this position he administers The Florida Bar’s Free Legal Answers Program. The program is a means for members of the public to obtain quick answers to questions about the everyday legal issues they face. This program is his “baby.” Mr. Digon-Greer is responsible for working with the ABA to provide pro bono opportunities to Florida lawyers and has championed the program and rallied volunteers to complete over 500 questions a month. With more than 1,000 volunteer attorneys, Florida has the highest percentage of overall questions answered among similar programs across the country at 87%. The active work of Mr. Digon-Greer has launched a pro bono movement in Florida.
“No one person or single entity, private or governmental, acting alone can truly resolve the challenges low-income individuals face in gaining equitable access to Florida courts.” This statement from Mr. Digon-Greer illustrates the importance of pro bono work. He is advocating to convince Florida lawyers that there are volunteer opportunities everywhere and that fear should not prevent pro bono work.
In 2022, Mr. Digon-Greer was honored with the Marshall R. Cassedy, Sr., Award for Work to Advance Pro Bono Service because of his outstanding commitment to pro bono work. The biggest piece of advice Mr. Digon-Greer provides to lawyers seeking to do pro bono work is for them to just give it a shot. Mr. Digon-Greer gave it a shot when he was a solo practitioner, and it sparked a passion. Without his initial step he would have never joined the pro bono movement, which is the backbone of justice.