JALA President and CEO Jim Kowalski said his organization will use its $4.83 million grant to expand services and hire a full-time attorney.

Local legal aid receives more than $7.7 million in grants
By Max Marbut | January 27, 2025

Two local organizations – Jacksonville Area Legal Aid and Three Rivers Legal Services – will receive a combined $7.72 million in grants from Funding Florida Legal Aid.

The Funding Florida board approved a general distribution Jan. 14 of $89.74 million in Interest on Trust Accounts funds to 35 Florida civil legal aid organizations.

“This funding is transformative for Florida’s network of legal aid providers, allowing them to retain and hire more highly qualified legal professionals, expand facilitation of pro bono volunteerism and ultimately increase the number of clients receiving legal assistance,” Funding Florida Legal Aid President Roberto Pardo said in a news release.

JALA President and CEO Jim Kowalski said the organization will use its $4.83 million Interest on Trust Accounts grant to expand services by hiring a full-time attorney to help JALA clients in Nassau County and also to expand services in St. Johns and Putnam counties.

Kowalski said in addition to the funds, JALA received a $408,000 Pro Bono Support and Enhancement Grant from Funding Florida Legal Aid.

“We will be able to spend every penny of it,” Kowalski said.

Three Rivers received a $2.48 million grant.

“It will enable us to add a wider range of legal staff and do more projects like consumer law, family law, more services for veterans and special needs clients and pro bono,” Three Rivers Executive Director Donna MacRae said.

Read More at the Jacksonville Daily Record