Family facing eviction while they wait for Our Florida to approve rental assistance
If you are having trouble with Our Florida or are facing eviction, we have information on who can help you. JACKSONVILLE, Fla
Jacksonville Bar Association Podcast – featuring James A. Kowalski, Jr.
Jacksonville Bar Association Podcast Episode 12 features James A. Kowalski, Jr., President & CEO of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, an organization that
Jacksonville University president says new law school answers Fortune 500 demand
Jacksonville University President Tim Cost said Feb. 28 the institution’s decision to launch a College of Law meets demand from Fortune 500 companies to recruit talent and leadership with a legal background. At a news conference at City Hall, Cost and Mayor Lenny Curry announced JU’s plans to open a law school in Downtown Jacksonville in the fall with $5 million in city backing. The JU president said Jacksonville-based companies, including Fidelity National Information Services Inc., Florida Blue and Black Knight Inc., look for leadership with a legal education. Cost said about 10% of Fortune 500 CEOs have a Juris Doctor degree.
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.
JALA helps man with respiratory problems resolve mold issue in his unit
“Jaquan,” who has a disability and lives in public housing, was having problems with the conditions of his apartment and that of his neighbor as the result of faulty air conditioning units. His own air conditioning unit filled up with mold and mildew, and his neighbor’s leaked down into his apartment through the ceiling and walls, causing further mold and mildew.
Demand is growing for civil legal aid in Northeast Florida
Business is booming at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid. With offices in Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties, JALA employs about 70 attorneys and support staff to provide representation for low-income residents who have civil legal issues but cannot afford to hire a lawyer. “We’re just like any other big law firm,” said attorney Jim Kowalski, JALA president and CEO. The number of people asking for help from JALA is rising dramatically. In 2019, the total intake was 5,591 cases. In 2020, it grew to 6,471 cases and last year, 7,991 people asked for help with a civil legal problem. Domestic violence and other family law matters lead the list each year, increasing from about 1,300 cases in 2019 to more than 1,800 in 2021.
JALA helps Navy veteran with custody issue to enable her to reenlist
Navy veteran Brianna Rebecca Brown sought to reenlist in the U.S. Navy, but due to a Department of Defense policy for single parents, she was required to have a parenting plan and guardian for minor children while on deployment or mobilization. Specifically, the U.S. Navy Recruiter told Brown she was going to need a Single Parent Waiver to reenter the military. Her daughter’s father was listed on the child’s birth certificate, so the Navy required her to have an official document indicating she had the sole authority to make decisions for daughter, even though the father had not been involved in the child’s life.
Man with disabilities gets permission to make needed modifications to his apartment
“Jonathan” was displaced from his home after it was destroyed in a fire. Through his insurance, his family was placed in an apartment complex while they decide whether to rebuild or move. Jonathan has physical disabilities, including quadriplegia, so he needed a number of modifications to the new apartment, including a keyless entry door lock, a Wi-Fi-capable thermostat, and a door handle to replace the knob on his back patio door. Unfortunately, he and his wife were unable to get permission from the property management to make the necessary modifications to the apartment.
St. Johns County Legal Aid Honors its Volunteers
St. Johns County Legal Aid presented its 2021 Pro Bono Awards via zoom to the following attorneys and “Most Helpful Clerk” of the year. On the top row from the left are legal aid staff Megan Wall, Savannah Stevens and Elizabeth Teelon. In second row from the top are honorees Vincent Sullivan and Pam Holcomb, staffer Michael Pelkowski, and Judge Kenneth Janesk. In the next row down are Jim Kowalski, director of Jacksonville Legal Aid, Judge Howard McGillin, and honorees Tania Schmidt-Alpers and Carol Daniels. On the bottom are honorees Tom Pycraft, Jay Grife, Christina Collins (winner of the Most Helpful Clerk of Court Award), and Jim Middleton. Others recognized but not pictured are Donato Ronaldi and Eva Paulk.
Freed to Run Raises Millions for Pediatric Legal Needs for Five Years Running
Jacksonville attorney Mike Freed was motivated in 2016 to find a purpose that would bring together individuals in a positive effort focused on doing good. Raising money for indigent populations that were unable to obtain legal services was a logical choice for a lawyer, and Freed knew he wanted to go big to make an impact. But how? “I decided I would run across the state,” said Freed, a business litigation shareholder at Gunster. “But I wasn’t a runner! I taught myself over the next two months to run long distances, then ran a marathon. Eight months later, I ran six marathons in six days from the Supreme Court in Tallahassee to the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville and raised $67,000 for Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA).”