News

Kandace Rudd received the FSU College of Law, Public Interest Law Center, Community Advocate of the Year Award. This award is for outstanding pro bono services to the clients and clinical programs of the Public Interest Law Center.

Kandace E. Rudd, JD, MSW, will speak on April 16 (8:30am, FSU Tallahassee Senior Center) at the Capital Area Coalition on Aging. Ms. Rudd will discuss long-term planning for in-home, assisted living and skilled nursing care.

Kandace E. Rudd, JD, MSW, will speak on February 15 (8:30am, FSU College of Medicine) at the Annual Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Training Conference.  During her session “Elder Law for Everyone” she will discuss basic estate and incapacity planning documents,  guardianship proceedings, and long-term planning for in-home, assisted living and skilled nursing care.

Breakfast and lunch will be included with the ticket and a respite room will be available for those who need support. Tickets are free, but registration is required.  Please visit the Alzheimer’s Project website for additional information.

Jana McConnaughhay has been awarded the 2025 Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Services Award for the Second Judicial Circuit. This Circuit includes Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, and Wakulla counties. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding attorneys across Florida’s 20 judicial circuits for their pro bono contributions. The award ceremony takes place in January 2025, hosted by Florida’s Supreme Court Justices.

Each year Florida Bar members report donating millions of hours and dollars towards civil legal matters, for which many Floridians could not afford representation otherwise. These hours provide services to children, the elderly, the poor and countless others. Waldoch & McConnaughhay’s attorneys are proud to be a part of this good work each year.

Jana McConnaughhay has been named a Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters in the area of Estate Planning. Fewer than 5% of the licensed attorneys in Florida achieve this designation. Jana has been named to this list each year since 2011.

Kandace E. Rudd recently graduated from the Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy – Class XI, a training program administered by The Florida Bar. This honor is bestowed upon a select group of lawyers who demonstrate exceptional promise as future leaders in the legal profession. The Leadership Academy is designed to enhance the professional development and leadership skills of its participants. Each year, a new class is chosen from a competitive pool of applicants, and Kandace’s selection is a testament to her commitment to personal and professional growth and her readiness to take on more prominent roles within the legal community.

Kandace E. Rudd recently achieved the distinguished status of board certification in the field of Elder Law from the Florida Bar, a significant accomplishment in the legal profession. This voluntary program, administered by The Florida Bar and officiated by The Florida Supreme Court, was established in 1982 to help the public identify lawyers who are experts in particular areas of law. The rigorous and thorough certification process ensures that only highly qualified lawyers receive this distinction, marking Florida’s official recognition of a lawyer’s expertise in a specialty field.

As of 2023, fewer than 5,000 lawyers, or about 5% of eligible Florida Bar members, have achieved board certification in one or more of the 27 specialty areas. Kandace’s board certification not only represents a significant personal achievement but also provides her clients with the assurance that they are receiving the highest level of legal expertise and professional standards. Her commitment to excellence and her specialized knowledge will undoubtedly continue to benefit her clients and the legal community at large.

Attorney Sarah Halsell received the FSU College of Law, Public Interest Law Center, Community Advocate of the Year Award. This award is for outstanding pro bono services to the clients and clinical programs of the Public Interest Law Center. Sarah was also an active participant in the Public Interest Law Center’s programs during her time at FSU College of Law.

https://law.fsu.edu/press-release/outstanding-pilc-students-recognized

Kandace Rudd has been named in the inaugural class of recipients of the 36 Under Thirty-Six Professionalism Awards by The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division. The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division selected young lawyers who display the highest standards of professionalism and ethics, whose character and integrity remain unwavering even in the most trying of times, and whose dedication to raising the bar in the legal profession is unmatched.

Kandace E. Rudd, JD, MSW, will speak on February 8 from 2 – 3 PM at the Dementia Care & Cure Initiative’s Dementia Education Series in Franklin County hosted by George E. Weems Memorial Hospital. Her topic is “Legal Planning and Dementia.” The goal of her presentation is for attendees to develop a basic understanding of the practice of elder law and the importance of legal planning and care for individuals with dementia. She will discuss basic estate planning, incapacity documents, and guardianship proceedings when estate and incapacity planning fail. Finally, she will discuss long-term planning for in-home, assisted living and skilled nursing care.

Presentation are held at Weems Memorial Hospital cafeteria located at 135 Avenue G, Apalachicola, FL 32328.  No RSVP required; the Dementia Education Series is free and open to everyone!  Parking is on the northeast side of the hospital.

DCCI Franklin County Flyer