An Overview of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid
For many in need of legal assistance, finding affordable representation can be one of the biggest challenges. Located in the heart of Jacksonville, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, or JALA, is a non-profit organization that provides free and low-cost legal services to low-income residents, helping citizens navigate a wide range of civil legal issues. Established in 1947, JALA has a long history of advocating for those without the resources to secure representation, and serves as the oldest legal aid in Florida.
JALA’s main mission is to "increase access to the system of justice" for all residents, particularly the underprivileged. They primarily help with civil cases , which include family law matters, housing, immigration, consumer debt, tenant rights, and wills. Their services are free for individuals living below the federal poverty level and only $20 per legal matter above the poverty level. In providing legal aid, JALA helps individuals to remain in their homes, keep jobs, gain new employment, reunite with children, resolve debt, and find relief from domestic violence.
By offering high quality, free legal services, JALA strives to ensure everyone in Jacksonville has access to justice. With a strong team of attorneys, staff, and volunteers, JALA is passionate about helping residents in Jacksonville.
Programs and Services Available through JALA
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid provides a wide array of services to meet the needs of Jacksonville residents. These services include assistance with civil rights issues, domestic violence and home ownership to name a few. One area of focus for JALA is helping residents navigate struggles with civil rights. Whether it’s employment discrimination, denial of social security or government benefits, or education rights issues, JALA helps those who feel beleaguered with social justice matters. Sadly, domestic violence is an issue that has a wide variety of negative impacts on families, and JALA provides necessary services to victims. Legal aid attorneys help with divorce and paternity actions, liability insurance coverage advice, child custody and support matters, spousal support and representation in cases of domestic violence. Home ownership can be a wonderful thing — but there also seem to be plenty of cases where homeowners are simply taking advantage of the American dream. JALA helps homeowners who have been prevented from getting financing, those who are facing mortgage foreclosure and homeowners who are struggling to correct title problems. Insurance and tax problems are also addressed via this service. JALA handles a range of housing-related legal issues, including those that don’t directly involve the resident but can still negatively impact their housing situation. Consumer law may be best known to the public through television commercials for lawyers who specialize in this area. These lawyers are not calling to solicit your business to help you sue a careless driver who caused an injury. Rather, as a Jacksonville Area Legal Aid attorney, you can help people fight for themselves. They won’t have to worry about expensive attorney fees, and you can make sure they keep their consumer rights close at hand to ensure that their rights are not violated. These and other services JALA provides help Jacksonville residents live better lives.
Who Can Get Free Legal Help
Eligible clients are required to present income and asset information at their initial intake visit, as eligibility will be evaluated against the Federal Poverty Guidelines. It is a requirement that you fall within 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, unless you are a victim of domestic violence, in which case, your family’s income must fall within 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. For eligible clients at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid may charge contingent fees on special pro bono cases. You may be required to pay filing fees.
If you own your home, have a bank account, or assets in a trust or managed investment account, or the other party claims that you have assets, such as real estate, you may have to provide financial documents to prove your true net worth. Also, if you are a parent of minor children, even if you are seeking assistance with non-divorce cases, you will be asked to complete the Child Support Guidelines Form & Worksheet to ensure your children are receiving proper support.
If you are applying for representation on behalf of your children, as in the case of guardianship, adoption, foster parent applications, etc., head of household rules will not apply; rather, your children’s combined gross monthly income will be used to assess eligibility. If you have a special legal need that has proven difficult for you to overcome on your own, and that would benefit from legal representation (such as guardianships of the elderly or disabled), you may be awarded full representation, even if you exceed the income guidelines. Any excess income can lead to a sliding scale fee. In some cases, your case may be referred to a volunteer attorney to serve your legal needs.
How to Qualify for Free Legal Assistance
To begin the application process with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, applicants should first ensure that they meet the income and eligibility criteria for legal representation. Once eligibility is confirmed, the application process can be initiated online through their client portal. After completing the questionnaire that will determine eligibility, applicants should gather all relevant documentation, including financial statements, personal identification, and descriptions of all legal matters for which assistance is being requested.
Once this necessary information is compiled, applicants need to schedule an appointment to meet with a legal advisor to discuss their case. During this specialized session, the applicant will be asked to provide specific details about their situation and will be required to upload any additional documentation via the client portal. This upload process is intended to be user-friendly and accessible.
It is highly recommended that applicants take this opportunity to go over any questions or concerns during the appointment, as this is their chance to convey their case in detail. If approved, the applicant will receive a legal services agreement outlining the next steps in the process. To maintain continuous access to legal aid services, applicants are advised to keep the client portal updated with any changes regarding their needs.
Testimonials and Client Success Stories
Over the years, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid has assisted thousands of individuals in overcoming legal obstacles. Many clients have expressed their gratitude for the invaluable assistance they received from JALA. Here are a few success stories: B.R. from Jacksonville, a single mother of three whose husband had recently died, was facing eviction from her home. She had fallen behind on her rent due to the loss of her spouse. Through JALA’s Housing and Homeless Services, B.R. received pro bono legal representation at her landlord-tenant hearing and was granted a continuance to obtain public housing assistance. As a result of JALA’s help, B.R. was able to provide a stable and secure home for her children. A.H., a retired U.S. Navy veteran, was facing foreclosure when he contacted JALA’s Community Law Program. The office was able to assist A.H. not only with foreclosure matters but also assisting with his eligibility for VA Benefits. Together with our partner agency , the Housing Partnership of Northeast Florida, a JALA attorney is currently negotiating a loan modification for him through HAMP. Ms. J., a hardworking mother of two, was trying to re-establish herself after being in an abusive relationship. After receiving No Contact orders against the offender, she found herself losing her job due to the time required to attend court. Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, through its Victims of Crime Compensation act, was able to assist her in obtaining Victims of Crime Compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, and property damages. Ms. J. plans to save her benefits and go back to school to obtain her nursing degree. These testimonials reflect the ongoing commitment of the Jacksonville Area Legal Aid to provide comprehensive legal services to those in need. Whether it is a housing issue or a family law matter, their team of dedicated legal professionals and volunteers works tirelessly to aid the vulnerable and underserved in our community.
Community Outreach and Education Programs
An essential aspect of the Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s (JALA) mission is community outreach and education. JALA recognizes that no two communities are alike, and seeks to promote its services in all neighborhoods throughout the Jacksonville area. Through a variety of methods, JALA communicates its message to various groups and organizations and to the public.
During 2014 for example, JALA conducted an impressive range of outreach, including homeownership and foreclosure prevention presentations at various local churches, a Latino Outreach Workshop, a presentation at the Immigrant Welcome Center, a presentation at Lakeshore Elementary School and a tabling at an event sponsored by Springs County League of Women Voters and our Second Harvest Closet. These outreach programs offered individuals and families the opportunity to learn about various legal issues, with a special focus on foreclosure prevention.
Regularly scheduled educational workshops are held in Spanish and English at numerous libraries throughout Duval County. The Community Outreach Team also participates in health fairs, cultural festivals and other events, providing information and being available to answer questions from those in need.
As you can see, community outreach is a very important aspect of JALA’s service. The legal aid organization collaborates with many other community organizations to provide workshops and information.
Helping Jacksonville Area Legal Aid
As a non-profit law firm, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid relies on the generosity of its community to maintain its services. Individuals and organizations can support the organization through events, in-kind donations, or simply spreading the word about the services they offer. According to their website, people can help by donating money, in-kind services or materials, or volunteering to assist with legal advice clinics or pro bono opportunities. Jacksonville Area Legal Aid has a variety of pro bono opportunities for lawyers and non-lawyers, including writing "pro se" divorce papers, providing advice at a Law Help Clinic, or offering various professional services. Volunteering can be a way to help your neighbors and grow your business by meeting potential clients—all while earning CLE credits . In addition to the clinics, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid has held many events to raise funds. May’s Run for Justice and Toast to Justice raised more than $200,000 for their programs. In an effort to raise even more money, the organization suggests attending the events in September and November or getting more involved with the organization. Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is a worthy cause that is not often recognized in our area. Though the government provides some funding, it is not nearly enough to cover the resources needed to provide legal services for those in need. The firm is constantly looking for lawyers or law students to volunteer their time in exchange for CLE credits.