FAQs About JALA

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JALA attorneys and advocates handle cases involving community development issues, consumer issues, education issues, family law issues, elder law issues, employment and unemployment issues, fair housing issues, housing issues, health issues, public benefits issues, mental health issues, veterans issues and immigration issues. JALA also provides a variety of legal services for those persons having HIV or AIDS.

To apply for services, please call one of our office locations to begin our intake process. If you reside outside of our service area, you must contact your local legal aid agency and request they send a referral to our office. Please address referrals to the intake department.

Downtown Jacksonville Office
126 W. Adams St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: (904) 356-8371
Toll-Free: (866) 356-8371
Fax: (904) 356-8285

St. Johns County Legal Aid
222 San Marco Avenue
St. Augustine, FL 32084
Phone: (904) 827-9921
Toll Free: (877) 827-9921
Fax: (904) 827-9978

Clay County Legal Aid
Located inside the Clay County Courthouse
825 N. Orange Avenue, Rm 308
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
Phone: (904) 284-8410
Toll Free: (866) 284-8410

Many of JALA’s programs and services are offered only to those that meet our financial eligibility guidelines. Generally, JALA will consider representation of clients that are within 200% of the poverty line. Clients are financially qualified for our services during their confidential intake interviews. Income is calculated based upon the gross income household earnings of the applicant, and the number of persons in the household. Non-exempt assets may also be considered in qualifying applicants for our services.

There are however many of our program units that are not income sensitive. The units that are not income sensitive are the fair housing unit, Ryan White unit (HIV/AIDS), Immigration unit, and our Title III unit that helps our elderly citizens that are age 60 and older.

JALA’s grants and programs may change, so please call our office where we’ll better be able to determine your eligibility for legal assistance.

There is no charge for the legal services rendered here at JALA. However, you may be asked to pay other costs associated with litigation such as filing fees, deposition fees, transcript fees, or other court costs. Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. may also request attorney’s fees be paid by the opposing party in your legal issue.

Please click here to see our office locations.

Even if we cannot take on your case, there are other avenues to receive help:
If you are over-income, you may call the Lawyer Referral Service at (904) 399-5780. There you will be directed to a local attorney who handles the type of problem you have. For $50 you will receive a thirty minute consultation from that attorney about your legal issue.

“Ask-A-Lawyer” events. These events are free of charge. Individuals have the opportunity to speak with an attorney, one-to-one, for 10-15 minutes to get insight and guidance on a specific legal matter. The attorneys are not opening cases for representation but are providing legal information on options for resolving an issue and opinions on whether a case has legal merit. For information on the next Ask-A-Lawyer event, click here.

Also, JALA is fortunate to have many volunteer pro bono attorneys who take cases we are unable for some reason to handle. In many situations your case may be referred to one of those private pro bono volunteers.

In addition, although JALA handles many family law cases either through our Veterans Service Project, Domestic Violence grant or our Family Law at a Reduced Expense Program, there are instances when due to a lack of resources JALA is unable to help with a divorce, paternity or child custody case. In those instances you may call Family Court Services at the Duval County Courthouse at (904) 630-7682 for assistance and guidance in how to handle the case yourself.