News

Service to others is part of our oath

Most practicing attorneys are aware of the moral and ethical duties we have, as members of The Florida Bar, to “never reject, from any consideration personal to myself, the cause of the defenseless or oppressed,” included in the Oath of Admission. It is no coincidence that this language is specifically placed at the end of our oath. It is that important. Many, myself included, sometimes neglect this part of our oath. That said, I commend anyone that donated their time and energy assisting those in need. We can do better. We as a community must, because pro bono matters. On Sept. 1, I left behind my private practice at Integrity Law P.A., to join Jacksonville Area Legal Aid as its new director of pro bono.

2022-10-07T10:45:31-04:00October 7th, 2022|News, Pro Bono|

Free Legal Assistance Available for Florida Hurricane Ian Survivors

A toll-free legal aid hotline is now available for victims of Hurricane Ian and the resultant damage in Florida.  The service, which allows callers to request the assistance of a lawyer, is a partnership between The Florida Bar, The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

2022-10-03T15:06:57-04:00October 3rd, 2022|News|

Jacksonville City Council finds $66K to make up for shortfall in Article V funding for legal aid

With Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) facing a loss of $66,000 in Article V funding from its share of a criminal court surcharge, the Jacksonville City Council identified an equal amount from elsewhere in the budget in order to avoid cuts to JALA’s valuable services to the community. The Council found the funds after JALA CEO Jim Kowalski met with its finance committee to explain the importance of the funding to JALA’s work in housing stability and other areas important to the city.  These non-taxpayer funds, based on a surcharge on criminal defendants, are steadily decreasing throughout the State.  Unfortunately, Jacksonville is the only large City in Florida that does not provide any general support for civil legal aid, making Article V funds increasing critical.

2022-09-30T13:36:47-04:00September 30th, 2022|News, Partners in Justice Spotlight, Uncategorized|

Aaron Irving to serve as pro bono director for Jacksonville Area Legal Aid

Aaron J. Irving, a Florida native who previously owned and operated his own Jacksonville law firm, Integrity Law, P.A., has joined Jacksonville Area Legal Aid as director of pro bono. “It’s an honor to join Jacksonville Area Legal Aid and to work with the hundreds of attorneys in Northeast Florida who generously give of their time to serve those clients who would otherwise be denied access to justice,” said Irving, who was actively involved with JALA as a volunteer attorney, while in private practice.

2022-09-20T10:22:02-04:00September 20th, 2022|News|

Jacksonville Bar’s Friendly Competition Looks to Clear Final Fundraising Hurdle for Local Non-Profit

With a significant fundraising goal in its sights, the sixth annual Tallahassee-to-Jacksonville Freed to Run 6.0 marathon trek is getting a big boost, plus some extra competition compliments of the Jacksonville Bar Association.

2022-09-13T11:50:11-04:00September 13th, 2022|Children's Health, Freed To Run, News|

Big Law, mediators and solo/small-firm teams enter into three-way Jacksonville Bar Association fundraising showdown for Freed to Run

Members of the Jacksonville Bar Association (JBA) representing Big Law, alternative dispute resolution and solo/small firms are entering into an epic battle to see who can garner the most support for Freed to Run 6.0, which is expected to fully fund an endowment for Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s Northeast Florida Medical Legal Partnership (NFMLP) this November.

2022-09-08T11:43:48-04:00September 8th, 2022|Children's Health, Freed To Run, News|

$10,000 to $20,000 Forgiveness, Forbearance Extension, and a New IDR Plan

The administration announced an extension to the CARES Act forbearance until December 31, 2022. Forgiveness of $10,000 to $20,000 will be available for loans held by the Department of Education. A new IDR plan has been suggested that could really help borrowers with just undergraduate loans. Watch the video to learn more! https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=392915212990644

2022-08-29T13:15:33-04:00August 29th, 2022|News|

Jacksonville launches veterans survey to identify critical needs

A comprehensive survey of First Coast veterans is underway, aiming to identify critical needs in the community for veterans and their families. The anonymous 2022 Northeast Florida Veteran and Family Needs Assessment is the product of Endeavors, a nonprofit that conducts relief programs, including veterans services. Endeavors is partnering with Jacksonville, the University of North Florida and the Combined Arms Institute. Endeavors, which also aims to build a veterans wellness center in Jacksonville using city dollars along with state and federal grants, is funding the survey. Combined Arms is providing metrics and analysis, as well as a public report based on the data to be released in November. The assessment is being conducted and reviewed by UNF's Center for Community Initiatives. Jacksonville officials will help facilitate outreach and potentially use the data for future policy decisions.

2022-08-29T11:21:07-04:00August 29th, 2022|News, Veterans Services|

Struggling to find affordable housing in Northeast Florida? These resources may help

Monthly expenses continue to balloon along with inflation for most Jacksonville families, and even with various fixes working their way down the line, such as the proposed property tax rate cut, some families are worried about how they will pay their bills now. Despite initiatives that are aimed to aid future homebuyers or advocacy for rent increase freezes, no solutions seem to be coming quickly enough. Here are a few options for people are looking for ways to get help now:

2022-07-31T09:28:08-04:00July 31st, 2022|Fair Housing, News|
Go to Top