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Legal Services For Those In Need of Assistance

The Yulee News considers it important to bring to its readers the many organizations whose services are available to them. We spoke with Jim Kowalski Jr., Esq. who is the President and CEO of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA). Nassau County is one of the 17 counties that are covered by JALA in North Florida. JALA is the oldest legal aid firm in Florida founded in 1937 as a pro-bono outreach of the Jacksonville Bar Association. Through the years it has become a more formal legal aid organization through the process of hiring attorneys and staff. Currently, there are 40 lawyers and staff making it the 8th largest civil law firm in Northeast Florida. The mission of JALA is, “A nonprofit civil legal aid firm focusing on delivering economic, social, and housing justice to low-income and at-risk individuals and families on the First Coast.”

2024-01-04T11:26:15-05:00June 22nd, 2023|Children's Health, Fair Housing, Family Law, News, Pro Bono, Refugee/Immigration, Tangled Title, Veterans Services, VOCA|

Nease High School students organize 5k benefiting St. Johns County Legal Aid’s domestic violence prevention work

Nease High School’s International Baccalaureate students will be holding the End Your Summer Off Right 5k from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. July 29 to benefit St. Johns County Legal Aid, the St. Augustine office of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid. Register or donate at: www.jaxlegalaid.org/endyoursummer5k Sponsored by Nocatee, the event at 400 Nocatee Center Way in Ponte Vedra will raise funds and awareness for two of St. Johns County Legal Aid’s key domestic violence prevention initiatives: injunctions for protection and immigration petitions for abused spouses and trafficking victims. “We are so grateful to these students for supporting St. Johns County Legal Aid in this important work,” said Megan Wall, the managing attorney for the office. “We hope to see a lot of participation from throughout the community.”

2024-01-04T11:28:37-05:00June 13th, 2023|Family Law, VOCA|

JALA helps mother and daughter escape extreme violence at home

“Becky” met the man of her dreams when she was 14 and he was 18. When she was old enough, they got married.  But soon, things changed.  First came name calling, which made her feel worthless. He told her he was the only person who would ever love her, and she believed it. Soon, Becky had to learn how to cover up bruises to more than her ego. She was in a nightmare she couldn't leave, because she had no money or work experience. And she had a baby.

2022-02-25T12:17:57-05:00February 25th, 2022|Client Stories, Family Law, VOCA|

Message from JALA CEO Jim Kowalski

It will be a long time before any of us forgets 2020. While the year has been rough on all of us, it has been especially hard on the low-income population Jacksonville Area Legal Aid serves, many of whom were among the first to suffer the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The effects of the coronavirus were not only evident in our community’s medical facilities, but also its food banks, shelters and yes, at JALA, where we fielded more than 9,000 requests for assistance, a 40% increase over 2019. Two areas where the needs increased the most were in eviction prevention and protection from domestic violence. Our attorneys and staff rose to the challenge of serving thousands of clients while working remotely for everyone’s safety. When we succeed, we stabilize families and thereby the community at large. Your support will enable JALA to serve more of those who would otherwise not have access to civil legal aid, thereby increasing the community’s resilience as we all seek to emerge from the global pandemic and restore our collective prosperity. Best wishes to you and your loved ones for a healthy and happy holiday season, and thank you for your support.

2021-01-04T10:50:48-05:00December 20th, 2020|Fair Housing, Family Law, News, VOCA|

Michelle Broyles Leads JALA’s Family Law and Victim Advocacy Unit

As a child in Kentucky, Michelle Broyles made a little book in school about how she wanted to be a lawyer when she grew up. “My friend actually saved my picture book,” said Broyles, division chief of JALA’s Family Law and Victim Advocacy Unit. “He kept it, and I didn’t even realize it. I actually made that decision in second grade but had forgotten about it by the time I got to law school until my friend called me to congratulate me on having achieved my life’s goal.”

2021-05-10T14:51:34-04:00December 14th, 2020|Family Law, News, VOCA|

Abused young mother reunited with her son with JALA’s help

After experiencing domestic violence that included choking, hitting, punching, stalking and cyberstalking, “LaRon,” 25, turned to JALA for help. At the time, she was in the midst of a paternity case involving her son. After paternity was established, the child’s father, who was also LaRon’s abuser, then withheld her son from her without justification for more than nine months.

2020-10-09T11:24:44-04:00October 9th, 2020|Client Stories, Family Law, VOCA|

Jacksonville Office

Serving Residents of
Duval & Nassau Counties
126 W. Adams St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 356-8371

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St. Johns County Legal Aid

Serving Residents of
St. Johns County
222 San Marco Avenue
St. Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 827-9921

Clay County Legal Aid

Serving Residents of
Clay County
825 N. Orange Avenue, Rm 308
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
(904) 284-8410

Nassau County Legal Aid

Serving Residents of
Nassau County
1901 Island Walk Way
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
(904) 356-8371

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