by: Max Marbut Associate Editor, Daily Record & Observer
Business is booming at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.
With offices in Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties, JALA employs about 70 attorneys and support staff to provide representation for low-income residents who have civil legal issues but cannot afford to hire a lawyer.
“We’re just like any other big law firm,” said attorney Jim Kowalski, JALA president and CEO.
The number of people asking for help from JALA is rising dramatically.
In 2019, the total intake was 5,591 cases. In 2020, it grew to 6,471 cases and last year, 7,991 people asked for help with a civil legal problem.
Domestic violence and other family law matters lead the list each year, increasing from about 1,300 cases in 2019 to more than 1,800 in 2021.
