SEMINOLE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION LEGAL AID SOCIETY INC

We are a not for profit 501(c)3 organization and every year since 1975, we have been providing free legal assistance to the economically disadvantaged in our community so that they can improve their quality of life and enhance their self-sufficiency. These services include providing legal counsel and legal representation to victims of domestic abuse, veterans, the elderly, and others who because of economic challenges cannot afford legal services. Our team works tirelessly to improve low-income families’ financial self-sufficiency; promote their safety and well-being, in addition to improving their economic stability by resolving legal problems that inhibit their ability to meet their basic needs. Over the last year, we were honored to assist 981 families including 1126 children with their legal needs.

We have assisted in a wide range of civil legal matters such as divorce, paternity, temporary custody of minors, adult guardianship for the developmentally disabled, foreclosures, and private landlord tenant disputes. Additionally, we have run workshops and clinics for those in the community to learn essential aspects of the legal field as well as general topics such a disaster preparedness. Our Veterans Free Legal Advice Clinic has been running for six years and our Sealing and Expungement workshop is going on its third year of service.

Our organization provides free quality legal counsel, advice, and representation as well as community education workshops. The attorneys on our staff are experienced in family law matter such as dissolution of marriage, paternity, temporary custody of minor children, and adult guardianships for the developmentally disabled. As many of our clients are survivors of domestic violence, our staff also helps clients to seek injunctions for protection. Beyond that, our office is able to assist tenants in understanding their rights as well as assist in repairs issues, eviction, unlawful detainer, security deposit, and non-renewal of lease.

With our close relationship to the Seminole County Bar Association, we have built a network of Pro-Bono attorneys that are able to assist our clients in a wider variety of legal matters. Our Pro-Bono coordinator connect clients with these volunteer attorneys that are able to assist them further. The Pro-Bono program oversees our community education workshops such as the Veterans Free Legal Advice Clinic, Sealing and Expungement workshop, and Housing clinic. We are excited to introduce a new outreach program through the local universities in which we cover legal matters pertinent to college students such as a “Know Your Rights” educational series, understanding dating violence, and legal assistance in civil cases. Additionally, both our staff and volunteer attorneys teach those in the community about pro-se filing so that they can represent themselves and file responses when necessary.

The Seminole County Legal Aid office was created to help low-income residents, survivors of domestic abuse, veterans, and other vulnerable populations when faced with civil law matters. In the justice system, individuals are guaranteed an attorney if they cannot afford one in criminal matters but are left to their own devices in civil cases. It is because of this; our service has become so essential to the Seminole County community. For many of our clients, we are what stands between them and their abuser. We are what ensures that they will have the money necessary to feed and clothe their family. We are what ensures that their rights are protected when they are incapable of speaking up for themselves.
Our nonprofit legal aid program helps vulnerable residents escape domestic violence, protect abused and neglected children, preserve housing, and aid vulnerable seniors, veterans, and families with disabled children resolve their serious legal problems in order to improve their quality of life. It is our mission to promote the safety and well-being of the residents of Seminole County and improve their financial self-sufficiency by meeting the basic legal needs of those in our community.