- April 19, 2024
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For Raven Sword, it’s not about the award – it’s about doing something with the gifts you’re given.
“So it’s a given that when you’re given gifts, like a law degree from a top 25 university, that you better doggone do something useful with it,” Sword said.
And she does.
On Sept. 12, Sword was surprised by Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida with the Flagler County Pro Bono Attorney of the Year award. Sword will be further honored on Oct. 20 in Lou Gardens in Orlando alongside the other counties’ winners.
Alongside her own private practice, Sword said she balances her family life, volunteering at church and her pro bono work with CLS.
Martha Pardo, senior manager of pro bono development at CLS, said they consider a variety of things in nominees – hours of pro bono cases worked, training provided pro bono – but for Pardo and others at CLS, it was Sword’s work for their piloted peer program that really cinched it.
“Raven was very, very instrumental,” said Lena Hopkins, manager for pro bono services. “And it was really the main reason this year that we wanted to recognize her work.”
Sword doesn’t volunteer her time for the awards: It’s about helping improve the lives of others, she said.
“And sometimes a simple question and answer,” Sword said, “that means all the world to that person.”
