Russell E. Carlisle Advocacy Award Honoring Chad Van Horn, Esq.
Founder, Van Horn Law Group, P.A.
See the Award presentation video
The 2020 Annual Recognition Awards were presented on a series of Facebook Live events on August 18th to 20th. Legal Aid Service of Broward County (LAS) is pleased to highlight the recipient of the Russell E. Carlisle Advocacy Award, Chad Van Horn, Esq.
The Russell E. Carlisle Advocacy Award is presented annually to an advocate whose actions exemplify a personal and professional commitment to making justice available to the poor and disadvantaged. The Russell E. Carlisle Advocacy Award is given annually to an advocate whose actions exemplify a personal and professional commitment to making justice available to the poor and disadvantaged. The Award was named after its first (1998) recipient, Mr. Carlisle himself. He is a lifelong champion of the rights of the poor and disadvantaged and was the first chairperson of the LAS Board of Directors in 1974.
Chad Van Horn, Esq., founder of Van Horn Law Group, P.A., is a relentless advocate for people facing financial crisis and has taken on 103 pro bono cases through the Mission United Veterans Pro Bono Project and the Broward Lawyers Care Pro Bono Project at Legal Aid since 2012. Helping people, especially those facing hardship, is a way of life for Van Horn that extends far beyond his law practice into all of his community and civic efforts. He applies his resources and network to helping others through a combination of spirited entrepreneurship, dedicated philanthropy and legal expertise.
Mr. Van Horn is not afraid of the more difficult cases and treats each of his pro bono clients with the same level of attention and respect that he gives to his paying clients. Due to his zealous advocacy, he is able to help our low-income veterans and other community members escape the physical and emotional burdens of bankruptcy. He provides hope when many of them have already given up, and provides a holistic approach to practicing law that is invaluable to pro bono clients, especially veterans who often have several legal issues.
Van Horn has been a member of the Mission United Legal Committee since 2016 and served as co-chair from 2017-2018, helping all veterans in need by steering the Committee’s mission with his leadership. He gives generously to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County serving as a board member since 2013, sponsoring and participating in the organization’s events and as a Big Brother mentor to Desmond since 2012, a life-changing experience for both Big and Little Brother. He currently is board chair.
In addition, Van Horn helps children in need by consistently supporting the OJ McDuffie Foundation and provides scholarship funding to Broward College students in need. Van Horn co-chaired the Veterans Pro Bono Project Legal Committee for multiple years. Plus, his firm has been a consistent sponsor of Legal Aid Service’s For the Public Good gala where Van Horn volunteered to serve as emcee.