The Florida Bar will recognize 20 lawyers for their work on behalf of low-income and disadvantaged clients at a January 20 ceremony at the Supreme Court of Florida.

• Okaloosa County’s own C. LeDon Anchors is one of the twenty, and is a senior partner at Anchors, Smith, & Grimsley.

Established in 1981, The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Awards are intended to encourage lawyers to volunteer free legal services to those who cannot afford legal fees.

• The awards recognize pro bono service in each of Florida’s 20 judicial circuits.
• They are presented annually in conjunction with the Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service and other service awards, which are given by the chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court.

For more that 40 years, Don Anchors has served as the attorney for the Emerald Coast Board of Realtors and for South Walton Utility Company, Inc. For the past 15 years, he has served as counsel for American Classifieds, LLC and counsel for the Okaloosa Gas District.

During his professional career, Anchors has served as either lead or co-counsel for some of the largest family law cases in Okaloosa County history. His probate career covers the gamut from small estates and ancillary proceedings to multi-million dollar estates.

But for 56 years, he has offered pro bono services to the community.

• According to The Florida Bar, Anchors is is currently working to help a family that believes its grandmother was duped into signing a will that left everything to the nurse who had been caring for her.

In addition to his pro bono work, Anchors founded the first legal aid organization in Okaloosa County and served as its first president.

Anchors told Get The Coast that being recognized for his work does two main things:

• It helps make other attorneys aware of the importance of offering pro bono services.
• Helps make the public more aware that these types of services are available.

“I’m convinced that the legal system is the best way to resolve a dispute,” he said. “I want to help make sure that everyone who needs legal help has access to it.”

And while the almost 82-year-old attorney does have plans to cut back a bit, he tells Get The Coast that he doesn’t intend to stop completely.

“I’m just glad to be a part of it,” said Anchors.