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Impact
In 2023, Dade County's Legal Aid served over 5,000 clients via direct staff representation, pro bono representation and legal clinics directly impacting over 20,000 low-income individuals, children, families and the elderly. Services were provided by a dedicated team of experienced staff attorneys, pro bono volunteers, 100% law firm stakeholders, law schools, clinics and community education clinics:
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Impact
Securing Safety for Victims of Domestic Violence
The premier provider of free legal services across Miami-Dade to victims of domestic violence from Homestead to Hialeah to Miami Beach serving thousands of victims of abuse and sexual assault providing advice, representation, and enforcement of restraining orders impacting the lives of innocent victims and countless child victims/witnesses.
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Impact
Providing Stability to Children and Families
The oldest provider of free civil legal services in Miami-Dade representing thousands of clients in increasingly complex divorce, custody and paternity cases directly affecting innocent minor children and continues to be the only agency holistically representing older teens aging out of foster care providing utmost safety and security to foster youth.
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Impact
Protecting Aging Adults and Other Vulnerable Populations
The largest provider of free legal services to thousands of clients as the only agency offering assistance to those who are willing to serve as guardians for elderly, physically or mentally incapacitated family members/loved ones/aging adults in Miami-Dade. Guardianship services include representing medically fragile teens aging out of the foster care system.
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Impact
Preserving Home Ownership
Protects clients from unlawful evictions, represents individuals in return of security deposit and other landlord tenant cases, defense of foreclosure cases, preserving homes, protecting individuals from collection, and filing bankruptcy proceedings. Services include partnerships with the Bankruptcy Bar Association, the Miami-Dade Bar Real Property Committee, Habitat for Humanity to assist first time homeowners with closings and wills, Jewish Health Systems, Hialeah Housing Authority, The Miami VA, Mission United and Leave a Legacy Housing Program to assist Elderly Homeowners throughout Miami-Dade in need of representation with real estate and tax matters.
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Impact
Advocating for Consumer Rights and Educating on Fiscal Responsibility
Educate thousands of clients and vulnerable populations annually about basic fiscal concepts, such as rudimentary budgeting, credit processes, rights under consumer protection laws, identity theft, predatory lending schemes, taxation, bankruptcy, estate planning and more. Partnerships with American College of Bankruptcy and American College of Bankruptcy Foundation, Bankruptcy Bar Association of the Southern District of Florida, Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association, South Miami Kendall Bar Association and Miami Dade Bar and its Young Lawyers Section to coordinate clinics, workshops and presentations educating students, parents, staff and social service agencies. Click here for Small Claims Clinics information.
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Impact
Put Something Back Pro Bono Project
The pipeline to pro bono opportunities in Miami-Dade County's Eleventh Judicial Circuit matches thousands of attorneys with clients in need of an attorney in all areas of civil law including Probate, Wills, Name Change, Bankruptcy, Collections, Contracts, Insurance, Real Property and Unfair Sales. Over 5,000 private, government, in-house and corporate attorneys are involved and 200+ Law Firm Stakeholders (100% Firms) provide over 20,000 hours of their time annually, at a value of over $4.5 million dollars in free legal services locally. Mobilizes the private bar in record time following disasters and crisis to prevent further devastation across South Florida.
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Impact
Children’s Legal Collaborative
With generous support from the Statewide Office of the Guardian ad Litem Program, Funding Florida Legal Aid (formerly The Florida Bar Foundation), and private donations, the Children's Collaborative addresses the most critical issues facing dependent youth and teens in foster care, disabled foster youth, and other vulnerable children in crisis by providing cutting-edge legal advocacy impacting countless children's lives. The staff attorneys review case management reports, draft motions on behalf of clients and in their best interests, attend all hearings, staffings, meetings and depositions for our clients, advocating zealously for child clients who are victims of sex trafficking, sexual assault, abuse, abandonment, and neglect to protect them and keep them safe. The project also handles guardianships for children and young adults with no other suitable alternatives.
36,000 +
Clients Served
15,000 +
Connected Attorneys
30
Staff Attorneys
Donations to Dade Legal Aid
Dade Legal Aid is grateful for the donations of our numerous supporters. Your donations are vital to our efforts to provide greater legal services to our most vulnerable residents who are elderly, disabled, veterans, foster youth, victims of domestic violence and others with nowhere else to turn for help. If you are an attorney, you may make a gift in lieu of pro bono work. The suggested minimum "buy in" contribution is $350 per attorney. When you make a donation to Dade Legal Aid, 100% of your donation goes to providing stability to low-income clients.
Dade Legal Aid Fund at The Miami Foundation
You may also donate by Wire Transfer or Stock Transfer - please be sure to indicate that your donation is for the "Dade Legal Aid Fund." Did you know that in 2024 new legislation now allows IRA owners age 70.5 and over to transfer up to $105,000 to charity free-tax? If you need more information about making a gift via appreciated securities or a CyPres Award, please let us know or speak to your financial planner.
Dade Legal Aid Foundation Inc.
A 501(c)(3) dedicated to raising funds to support Legal Aid's mission to justice and stability for all.
Fulfill Your Pro Bono Requirement
To donate by check or credit card. Please make checks payable to "Dade Legal Aid Foundation INC." and mail to Legal Aid 28 W. Flagler Street, Suite 608, Miami, FL 33130. For assistance with online or credit card donations please call 305-579-5733 ext. 2222 or email kmachado@dadelegalaid.org
Available Pro Bono Cases
REPORTING FORMS
PRO BONO REPORTING FORM
Report your Pro Bono Hours HereLAW FIRM REPORTING FORM
Report your Law Firm Pro Bono Hours Here
CASE DISPOSITION FORM
PSB Case Reporting and Disposition Checklist
GAL REQUEST FORM
PSB Pro Bono GAL Request FormFEES/COSTS MEMORANDUM
PSB Pro Bono Service/Costs Request
PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES
To accept a pro bono case from Put Something Back Pro Bono Project, the Official Pro Bono Project of the 11th Judicial Circuit, please email psb@dadelegalaid.org. Volunteers are need to handle: Family Law, Guardian ad Litem, Housing, Child Advocacy, Probate, Real Property, Eviction, Foreclosure, Collections, Bankruptcy, Immigration, Employment and Consumer Law cases for underprivileged children, foster youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, veterans, unaccompanied minor children, persons facing homelessness, and other vulnerable residents. Put Something Back volunteers receive free training, mentors and materials, plus personal satisfaction of giving back to low-income residents in dire need.
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WHAT THEY SAY...
What are our clients are saying about us?
"Thank you very much for your help. After I was screened by Put Something Back's Jason Sotelo, I was assigned to a pro bono attorney and was very happy with my attorney Daniel Alvarez. He and his office did a terrific job and I now I have my Last Will and Testament and other documents. I wish all success to you and everyone at Put Something Back and especially thank Jason Sotelo for being a special person in assisting me."
"As one of the recipients of “Put Something Back,” I feel very blessed and grateful for the opportunity your program provided me. I am so thankful for the assistance that diminished my financial burdens as I proceed to restore my finances. Once again thank you so much for all assistance that the program provided to me."
"I would like to thank your program for all the help it gave me. I have two children and was served with a Foreclosure notice and my husband left me during the pandemic. I applied to government agencies and other legal services providers in town but none of them returned my calls. I tried working with my mortgage company but was unable to do so on my own. I was scared for my children and myself. Someone at church suggested Dade Legal Aid to me and Bruce Levine quickly accepted my case and took the time to explain the process and my options. All of your pro bono staff were very nice and professional. The attorney I was assigned continues to help me and keep me updated and returns my calls if I have any questions. I highly recommend this program that helps people like me. I also want to thank all the wonderful staff on behalf of myself and my children."
A very grateful Housing client of Alexandra Mesa wrote: "Thank you for everything you and Legal Aid did for me and my family. I want you to know that I will be forever grateful for your hard work, and that you and your family will always be in my prayers. If it weren't for you and your hard work, we would have been evicted and lost all of our belongings. I could not be any more grateful for the results in my case! Thank you a million times! You are the best housing attorney!!"
COMING Events...
Join Us at our events!
- 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm, November 1, 2024 – Investiture - Judge Jennifer Hochstadt Azar
- 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm, November 8, 2024 – Investiture - Judge Christine Hernandez
- 8:30 am – 12:00 pm, November 15, 2024 – 39th Annual View from Bench Family Seminar
- All Day – 1:00 am, November 21, 2024 – GIVE MIAMI DAY
BE THE ONE TO PUT SOMETHING BACK
Since 1949, Dade Legal Aid/Put Something Back ("DLA/PSB") has been providing critical legal services to low-income individuals, families, children, teens, elderly, disabled, non-profits and other impoverished persons and populations in Miami-Dade County.
OUR SPONSORS...
We greatly appreciate our sponsors!
