BEDELL FIRM NEWS

How Bedell Firm Attorneys Give Back

Bedell Firm attorneys smile at a chili cookoff

At the Bedell Firm, we believe that our involvement in professional activities and pro bono work is just one part of our commitment to the community. To that end, attorneys of the firm serve a number of community organizations, committing both their time and financial contributions.  The firm is always actively participating in and sponsoring community-driven initiatives and events. Learn more about how our attorneys give back both time and resources to various community and professional organizations.

Ashley Wells Cox 

Attorney Ashley Cox is the head of the Bedell Firm’s family law practice and has a tremendous heart for family organizations. She has served as a Guardian Ad Litem for seven years, representing the best interests of children who are subjects of abuse or guardianship proceedings. Outside of the legal community, Ashley served for three years as the School Advisory Chair for Friends of Atlantic Beach Elementary School and two years as President of Friends of Atlantic Beach Elementary School. In 2020, she was honored as the Volunteer of the Year for Atlantic Beach Elementary. She is currently the Reflections chair for the Duncan U. Fletcher Middle School PTSA and the Vice-Chair of the School Advisory Council. She also serves on the Providence School Parent Council. Lastly, she volunteers weekly at the Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry food pantry in Jacksonville Beach.

Michael E. Lockamy 

Michael Lockamy is actively involved in groups that serve the legal profession and community. Michael was one of the founders of the Ribault High School Future Lawyers Program. The program pairs college-bound students from an underprivileged high school with Jacksonville lawyers and has won multiple awards. For several years he served as a governor on The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors, overseeing programming for Florida’s 26,000 young lawyers. Michael also regularly provides legal services pro bono to caregivers and relatives who seek guardian advocacy over children with developmental disabilities. In 2020, he was honored with The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award for assisting the Office of Public Defender in a case implementing a recent U.S. Supreme Court opinion. 

John G. Woodlee 

Attorney John Woodlee previously served as the Board of Directors President for Jacksonville Area Legal Aid in 2019 and as Vice President in 2018. JALA helps provide free legal services for low-income clients in Jacksonville and the surrounding area, bringing much-needed legal assistance to one of the state’s most vulnerable populations. John has also provided pro bono representation in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Jacksonville Community Coalition, Inc., a nonprofit that serves residents of Kings Ridge Apartments, which is located in a historically underserved area.

Hank Coxe

Hank Coxe serves on the Boards of Directors of the St. Johns Riverkeeper and Volunteers in Medicine. He has also served as past president of the Downtown Rotary Club, Big Brothers & Big Sisters, River Region Human Services and Vice-President of the Police Athletic League. With respect to his commitment to serving the underprivileged, he is a recipient of the Equal Justice Award from Jacksonville Area Legal Aid and the Medal of Honor from the Florida Bar Foundation.

Brian T. Coughlin 

Brian Coughlin serves on the Board of Directors for the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation, whose mission is to help families tackle childhood cancer by providing comprehensive financial, emotional and practical support. Brian is also on the Board of Directors for the Community Hospice & Palliative Care Foundation, as well as the Board of Trustees for Daniel Kids, an organization whose mission is to improve the lives of children and families in the Jacksonville area.

O. David Barksdale

David Barksdale serves on the board of the Sanctuary on 8th Street and the Board of Trustees at Episcopal School of Jacksonville. He coaches youth basketball and flag football.

Bedell Law Firm

As Florida’s oldest law firm in continuous existence, the Bedell Firm carries on a tradition of litigation excellence and community involvement. The legacy of the firm is created by its team of dedicated, community-driven attorneys. Learn more about our attorneys here.

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