Notable Alumni

Miami-Dade County Court Judge
Legal Services Staff Attorney & Board President, 1966-1972

Judge Adderly, a graduate of Howard University School of Law and part of the original nine trailblazing field attorneys in 1966 when we opened our doors. His unwavering commitment to access to equal justice and his generosity have played a vital role in driving our success and growth over the years. He remained a staunch supporter of Legal Services from its start, including serving as Board President in the early 1970’s. In his memory, Legal Services created the Judge A. Leo Adderly Distinguished Service and Leadership Award for individuals who display exceptional dedication to the community through: commitment to justice, servant leadership, community advocacy, and being an inspiration to others.

Former Staff Attorney

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.Gwendolyn Sawyer Cherry was born in Miami, Florida in 1923. Gwendolyn was a member of the first group of staff attorneys who initially served at Legal Services of Greater Miami in 1966. She was the first Black woman to pass the Florida Bar exam. A true trailblazer, Gwendolyn was Miami-Dade County's first Black female attorney and the first African American woman elected to the Florida House of Representatives. She served four terms advocating for and introducing legislation on behalf of women and minorities before her untimely death in 1979.

Former Executive Director

A native Floridian, Marcia K. Cypen was born in Jacksonville, Florida, and raised in Miami. She came from a family of lawyers--her father, uncle, and three cousins all practiced law together. Yet she was a child of the sixties with a passion for social justice, not private practice. She found her home at Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. in the summer of 1974 after her first year of law school, when Legal Services was only eight years old. Marcia devoted her professional career to Legal Services for more than 40 years until she retired as Executive Director in 2017. She now serves as Executive Director Emeritus and continues to provide leadership for the organization.

Miami-Dade County Court Judge (retired)
Legal Services Managing Attorney, 1974-1981

The Honorable Mary Jo Francis is a distinguished figure in the legal community, celebrated for her unwavering dedication to justice and equality. She was honored with the 2020 Equal Justice Leadership Award at Legal Services’ Heart of Giving in recognition of her significant contributions to promoting equal justice. Before her judicial career, Judge Francis served as a Managing Attorney for Legal Services from 1974 to 1981. In this role, she provided legal assistance to those who could not afford representation, striving to ensure that "equal justice under the law" was not just a phrase but a reality for the underserved.

Miami-Dade County Mayor
Legal Services Staff Attorney, 1982-1986

Daniella Levine Cava was elected Miami-Dade County's first-ever woman mayor in November 2020, after 40 years of advocacy for South Florida families. As mayor, she oversees nearly 30,000 county employees, serves nearly 3 million residents, and manages an annual budget of nearly $12 billion. She is focused on building a more resilient and prosperous Miami-Dade. Her initiatives include combating gun violence, building a future ready economy full of opportunity, tackling the housing crisis, and preserving our precious environment.

Former Staff Attorney

Bruce Rogow, the Founding Professor of Nova Southeastern University Law Center in Fort Lauderdale, began his Florida career as one of the original staff lawyers with Legal Services of Greater Miami in 1966. Rogow came to Legal Services of Greater Miami from Mississippi where, for two years, he was staff counsel for the Lawyers Constitutional Defense Committee in Jackson, Mississippi, representing civil rights workers in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. Rogow became the Assistant Director of Legal Services of Greater Miami and, along with its talented group of young lawyers, created a law office known both for representation of individuals and for “law reform.”