Partners in Justice Spotlight

FFLA is distributing $33.9 million to 35 Florida civil legal aid clinics, up from the $7.7 million in grants the organization awarded to many of the same organizations last year. The board of directors of FFLA, formerly known as The Florida Bar Foundation, approved the awards on December 8. FFLA is also adding one new program to its award list this year: St. Michael’s Legal Center for Women and Children will receive a $169,555 grant in 2023. “These IOTA grants will enable qualified legal aid providers to serve more clients, pay their legal aid staff salaries commensurate with their experience and increase the availability of pro bono lawyers,” said FFLA President Murray Silverstein. The money originates from interest earned on attorney trust, or IOTA, accounts and the FFLA distributes the income to entities offering free civil legal representation to Floridians in need. The IOTA program brought in more money this year as interest rates rose along with inflation. The Florida Supreme Court also changed the rule governing these accounts in March requiring attorneys to keep their clients’ money in higher-yield IOTA accounts. FFLA’s fiscal year runs July 1 to June 30.

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.