Van Horn Law Group, P.A. Partners with NSU Shepard Broad School of Law to Enhance Pro Bono Honors Program

Van Horn Law Group, P.A. stepped up to partner with Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad College of Law by committing to $50,000 over five years to enhance its Pro Bono Honor Program, which recognizes students who are committed to serving the community and who believe the improvement of our community starts with giving all citizens equal access to the legal system.  The program now will be known as the Van Horn Law Group Pro Bono Honor Program.

Led by NSU Shepard Broad College of Law graduate Chad Van Horn, Van Horn Law Group will fund the Pro Bono Honor Program to ramp up the law student experience at NSU Law, maximize opportunities for students to provide pro bono services in the community, and increase the number of overall pro bono hours provided.  The program provides a variety of programs for students to fulfill pro bono hours and maintains records of the students’ pro bono work.

“I am extremely committed to offering quality, pro bono legal services to our underserved, lower-economic neighbors,” said Van Horn, Founding Partner Attorney.  “Van Horn Law Group has never turned down a pro bono case, because we believe the legal system should be open to everyone, not just those who can afford it.  We have handled approximately 200 pro bono cases, simply because we believe it’s the right thing to do.”

Van Horn Law Group, among the top five bankruptcy firms in the state based on number of cases filed in the last 12 months (pacer.gov), is dedicated to restoring peace of mind to individuals in financial distress by providing first rate, affordable legal services with compassion, understanding and respect.  Its efforts on behalf of NSU Law’s Pro Bono Honor Program directly align with this mission.

“We are very excited to partner with Van Horn Law Group to bring more awareness and opportunities for our students to engage with the community in addressing their legal needs,” said José Roberto (Beto) Juárez, Jr., Dean and Professor of Law at NSU’s Shepard Broad College of Law.  “NSU Law has always been committed to instilling an ethic of pro bono service in its graduates, and now through our alumnus, Chad Van Horn, we will be able to provide more awareness and opportunities for our students to give back and develop a lifelong commitment to using their education and skills to contribute to the public good.”  

The Van Horn Law Group Pro Bono Honor Program provides recognition to students who have completed a minimum of 50 hours of pro bono service while enrolled in NSU Shepard Broad College of Law. Students are recognized in three levels of distinction:  Bronze for 50 to 124 hours; Silver for125 to 299 hours; and Gold for 300+ hours.  Students who participate in the program will receive a cord to wear at graduation and an awards certificate.

The Van Horn Law Group Pro Bono Honor Program is part of the Public Interest Programs established in 1996 by NSU Shepard Broad College of Law.  It serves as a focal point for all public interest law activities at the law school.  Programs offer many opportunities to encourage students to participate in public interest law while in law school and to encourage a dedicated commitment to the public for life.  NSU Law encourages a culture of giving back, as does Van Horn Law Group.

Van Horn and his firm have received multiple recognitions for extensive community involvement.  In 2022, Van Horn’s company received Florida Trend’s Best Places to Work For Award, and Van Horn received the Spirit of Justice Award from Legal Aid Service of Broward.  In 2021, his firm was named Law Firm of the Year by Legal Aid Service of Broward, and Van Horn was named a Florida Legal Awards On the Rise honoree by the Daily Business Review.  In 2020, he received The Russell E. Carlisle Advocacy Award from Legal Aid Service of Broward, the Up & Comer Award from South Florida Business & Wealth, the National Philanthropy Day Individual Hero Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the Legacy Builder Award from Legacy Lives Here, Inc.  In 2018, he received the prestigious 40 Under 40 award by the South Florida Business Journal and was selected for Leadership Broward Class XXXVII.  In 2017, he was named Florida Big of the Year out of 15,000 mentors statewide and 2017Attorney of the Year by Legal Aid Service of Broward County.  

Van Horn is a longtime board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County and recently joined the boards of Legal Aid Service of Broward County and the American Board of Certification.

Van Horn Law Group, P.A. practices in the areas of personal and corporate bankruptcy, student loan consolidation and litigation, estate planning/asset protection, LGBT estate planning/asset protection, foreclosure defense, corporate representation, debt consolidation, civil litigation, debt relief and consumer law.  The firm ranked on Inc. magazine’s 2019 and 2020 lists of the top 5,000 fastest-growing, privately held companies in the United States.  Van Horn, the author of Everything You Need to Know About Bankruptcy in Florida and The Debt Life, is certified in business and consumer bankruptcy.  

Van Horn Law Group, P.A., is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale with satellite offices in Doral, Miami Lakes, North Miami, Miramar, Orlando and West Palm Beach. For more information about Van Horn Law Group, call (954) 637-0000 or visit www.vanhornlawgroup.com.  For more information about the Van Horn Law Group Pro Bono Honor Program, contact Jennifer Gordon, Esq., NSU Law Director at of Public Interest Programs, at jgordon@nova.edu  or visit https://www.law.nova.edu/jd-program/public-interest-law.html, 

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