Tenikka L. Jones, Esq.
Congratulations to Tenikka L. Jones, Florida Bar President’s pro bono award recipient, 11th Judicial Circuit
Over the past decade, Tenikka L. Jones has dedicated more than 800 hours to children’s pro bono cases. She has served on a pro bono basis as attorney ad litem in Juvenile Dependency Court through Dade County’s Put Something Back Program and mentored youth through the Women of Tomorrow Program. Jones’ dedication and commitment to the foster children she represents set her apart. In one case, Jones was assigned to represent a child who was on the cusp of turning 13. Despite the complexities of the issues and length of time involved in handling the case, coupled by the demands of working at a private firm, Jones dedicated hundreds of hours of her time to the case and continued to support and advocate for the youth until she reached age 18. Jones, an experienced commercial litigator, is currently a full-time faculty member at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law.
DLA Director Karen Ladis celebrates 33 years at Dade Legal Aid
In 1991, Ms. Ladis joined the nonprofit public interest law firm as coordinator of the Put Something Back Pro Bono Project. As coordinator, Ladis conducted extensive outreach to assist low-income clients in need of civil legal assistance at branch courthouses located throughout the county. Those that were income-eligible and in need of further representation were expeditiously assigned to pro bono attorneys. Due to its innovative recruitment, training and mentorship efforts, Put Something Back became the official pro bono arm of the circuit garnering local and national recognition by the courts and bar. After serving on the ABA and Florida Bar Pro Bono Committees and in numerous leadership roles for 23 years, Ladis became the executive director of Dade Legal Aid in 2014. Admitted to the bar in 1990, she has since served on numerous committees including the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Attorneys Division, the University of Miami Law Alumni Association, and the Dade County Bar Association, ex officio. She is actively involved in a variety of local voluntary bars and currently serves as a co-chair of the Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers Pro Bono Committee. In 1998, she received The Florida Bar YLD Pro Bono Public Service Award, in 2006, she received the DCBA inaugural Robert L. Shevin Public Service Award, and in 2012, she received the inaugural Eleventh Judicial Circuit Family Division Above & Beyond Award, and was awarded it again in 2015 for her service to the bench, bar and community. In 2019, she received the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Program’s Outstanding GAL Award for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. According to Ladis, it is a privilege and honor to work with dozens of dedicated colleagues who are truly tireless heroes helping those in need of civil legal assistance with nowhere else to turn for help.
DLA Welcomes Class VIII of it's Leadership Academy
Dade Legal Aid Class VIII Fellows include:
