ORLANDO, Fla. (Nov. 1, 2025) – Community Legal Services (CLS) is pleased to announce that Michelle Saporito, Esq., Senior Staff Attorney and a leader at CLS Helpline, was named to the 2025 Florida Trend Legal Elite Notable Women Leaders in Law list. The award recognizes women in the legal industry who excel both in and outside of the office. Nominations outlined their excellence as legal professionals, demonstrating leadership and dedication to civic and community service initiatives. Honorees have practiced law for a minimum of 15 years and served as mentors or sponsors for fellow attorneys, promoting professional practices in the workplace.
“Michelle has taken her passion to train beyond her immediate team to develop a certified legal intern program and supervise interns/volunteers, providing them a hands-on experience in the legal profession and demonstrating through her example the importance and application of The Florida Bar Rules of Professional Conduct,” said Danielle Harris, chief program officer at CLS. “Michelle exemplifies leadership not only inside CLS but directly in the community through outreach and education, as well as engagement with community organizations.”
Michelle is a Florida- and Georgia-licensed attorney with over 20 years of experience in public service. In her role at CLS, she oversees intake and brief services operations. Michelle concentrates her practice on family, housing, and consumer law, as well as public benefits for those vulnerable populations experiencing crisis. In addition to curating attorney training and development and providing legal support for her team of attorneys and staff, she has helped create programs that foster access to outside pro bono services and drive law student engagement and professional development.
Beyond her practice, Michelle holds leadership roles in a number of professional organizations and leads outreach to schools, civic groups, and local media to ensure strong engagement and impact both for CLS and other volunteer organizations in the community. One of her notable contributions as a leader is her work as a member of Leadership Seminole’s Executive Council where she plays an active role in cultivating engaged leaders across Central Florida. Through her Council service and committee leadership, she helps shape programs and events that connect business, nonprofit, and government sectors to build stronger, more resilient communities within Seminole County. She is a driving force behind Call to Service, an annual community event that brings the public together with 40+ nonprofits to showcase volunteer opportunities. Michelle’s significant community impact through her practice and beyond exemplifies why she was named a Notable Woman Leader in Law.
The full list of the Florida Trend Legal Elite Notable Women Leaders in Law is featured in the November 2025 issue of Florida Trend magazine and can be found here https://www.floridatrend.com/notable/women-leaders/.
About Community Legal Services:
Community Legal Services (CLS) is a comprehensive civil legal aid firm serving 12 counties in Central Florida. CLS provides high-quality legal support to help low-income and vulnerable individuals and families achieve safety, stability, and opportunity. Covering areas such as housing, consumer rights, family law, veterans’ benefits, and public assistance, CLS ensures that all individuals can access justice, irrespective of their financial situation. Learn more at: www.legalaccessforall.org