A Pensacola attorney whose pro bono work often happens behind closed courtroom doors has been recognized by The Florida Bar with one of its highest honors for volunteer legal service.
- Douglas Alan Bates, a shareholder at Clark Partington, was named the 2026 recipient of the Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award for the First Judicial Circuit on January 22 during a ceremony at the Florida Supreme Court in Tallahassee.
The award recognizes attorneys whose sustained commitment expands access to justice for people who cannot afford legal representation.
Quiet Service
Bates’s recognition comes primarily from his ongoing work with the Northern District of Florida BankruptcyCourt’ss Reaffirmation Assistance Program, where he provides no-cost guidance to individuals navigating bankruptcy without legal counsel.
- The Northern District has one of the highest rates of pro se bankruptcy filings in the United States, creating a significant access-to-justice gap that volunteer attorneys like Bates help address.
“Often working quietly behind the scenes, Mr. Bates manages multiple pro bono matters at a time,” according to the announcement from Clark Partington, which has offices in Pensacola, Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, and Tallahassee.
Beyond direct legal representation, Bates has committed significant time to financial literacy and education, leading outreach efforts designed to help individuals and families better understand their financial rights and responsibilities. His work has also supported emerging initiatives in elder law education, responding to the growing needs of Florida’s aging population.
In reflecting on the honor, Bates deflected credit to his firm and its culture. “This award represents a small piece of our law firm’s 50-year commitment to the communities in which we live and work,” he said. “Recognitions like this are made possible by the unique law firm culture established by our founders and sustained by team members past and present.”
Background: The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Awards honor volunteer legal work across the state’s judicial circuits. Recipients are selected based on the quantity and quality of their pro bono service, their commitment to increasing access to justice, and their efforts to encourage other attorneys to provide volunteer legal assistance.