Other Legal Problems Child Support Immigration Divorce Put Something Back Small Claims Court Other South Florida Legal Services Providers Other Legal Problems

SOUTH FLORIDA LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDERS
(addresses and phone numbers are on the bottom of this page)

• AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE
• FLORIDA IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY CENTER
• FLORIDA JUSTICE INSTITUTE
• GUARDIANSHIP PROGRAM OF DADE COUNTY
• DADE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION LEGAL AID SOCIETY
• LEGAL SERVICES OF GREATER MIAMI, INC.

WHO WE ARE

The South Florida Legal Services Providers are private non-profit organizations that work together to address the legal needs of low income residents of Miami-Dade County. The Providers represent people with limited income who have legal problems related to housing, education, family, employment, immigration, public benefits and other legal areas. The South Florida Legal Services Providers are also concerned about systemic issues that affect the individuals they serve as well as the quality of life in the greater community. All legal services are provided free of charge.

BECOMING A CLIENT - You may become a client of any of the Providers in a number of ways:

• American Friends Service Committee -Call 305-665-0022 or 800-765-8875 or walk-in to its offices Monday through Friday.
  

• Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center (FIAC) - Call 305-573-1106 or walk-in to its office Monday through Friday to get an application. Call for more information regarding services for battered women, public benefits, and special projects.

• Florida Justice Institute (FJI) - Call 305-358-2081 to apply for services.

• Guardianship Program of Dade County - Call 305-592-7642 to apply for services, or ask the Probate Court judge to appoint the Guardianship Program to be your lawyer. The Guardianship Program only represents people who need guardians.

• Dade County Bar Association Legal Aid Society (LAS) - Call 305-579-5733 or walk-in to its office Monday through Friday to apply for services.

• Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. (LSGMI)- Call the Main office at 305-576-0080 or the South Dade office at 305-232-9680 to apply for services. In Monroe County call 305-292-3566. You may also walk-in to any office Monday through Friday to apply for services.

CASES WE HANDLE - The South Florida Legal Services Providers handle a variety of civil legal cases. Examples of cases that are handled, and where to go for help are:

• Preserve the Home and Promote Home Ownership
  
• LSGMI handles the following housing cases. Some clients may be referredto the Legal Aid Society.
  
• Public and subsidized housing matters
  
• Preservation of publicly subsidized housing
  
• Private landlord-tenant matters limited to lock outs, bad conditions and retaliation
  
• Home ownership problems including foreclosure and predatory lending
  
• Relocation benefit problems
  
• Mobile home problems
  
• Help for organizations in the development, preservation and rehabilitation of affordable housing
  
• Promote Employment, Economic Security and Health
  

LSGMI HANDLES THE FOLLOWING CASES. Some clients may be referred to the Legal Aid Society:

• Government benefits
• Job training and employment program matters
• Help for organizations creating jobs
• Problems related to transition from welfare to work
• Access to health care services
• Low income taxpayer problems
• Support for Families and Children
• Divorce and related family law problems- LAS
• Custody and paternity -LAS
• Adoptions - LAS
• Relative custody cases - LAS
• Relative care giver benefit cases - LSGMI
• Guardianship - Guardianship Program and LAS
• Special education for students with disabilities - LSGMI
• Immigration Problems
• Representation before INS, immigration court and federal court in immigration cases, including deportation defense
• Representation before the Immigration Court of Guatemalans, Salvadorans and Haitians who are not detained - American Friends Service Committee

SPECIAL PROJECTS

• The South Florida Legal Services Providers also provide additional services to these special populations:
• Domestic Violence Victims - LAS and FIAC
• HIV Positive Clients - LSGMI
• Homeless Clients - LSGMI and FIAC
• Prisoners and other institutionalized persons -  Fla. Justice Institute - primarily concerning conditions of confinement
• Small Claims Court  - LSGMI and Put Something Back Project of the Dade County Bar Association

OTHER SERVICES

• The South Florida Legal Services Providers offer additional services and programs including:
• Community Education - LSGMI, LAS, FIAC
• Referrals to private attorneys who do not charge a fee - LSGMI, LAS, FIAC, FJI
• Self Help Legal Clinics   - LSGMI, LAS

FOR MORE INFORMATION - If you don't see your problem listed here, contact the South Florida Legal Services Provider who handles the problem most closely related to yours to ask for more guidance. For more information about Legal Services throughout Florida visit http://www.floridalawhelp.org. For more information about the South Florida Legal Services Providers visit http://www.lsgmi.org.

CONTACT INFORMATION

AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE
Amada Orendain, Executive Director
1205 Sunset Drive
Miami, FL 33143
Telephone: 305-665-0022 or 800-765-8875

FLORIDA IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY CENTER
Cheryl Little, Executive Director
3000 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 400
Miami, FL 33137
Telephone: 305-573-1106

FLORIDA JUSTICE INSTITUTE
Randall C. Berg, Jr., Executive Director
2870 First Union Financial center
200 South Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, FL 33131-2310
Telephone: 305-358-2081

GUARDIANSHIP PROGRAM OF DADE COUNTY
Frank Repensek, Director
7950 N.W. 53rd Street, Suite 301
Miami, FL 33166
Telephone: 305-592-7642

DADE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION LEGAL AID SOCIETY
Sharon Langer, Executive Director
123 N.W. First Avenue
Miami, FL 33128
Telephone: 305-579-5733

LEGAL SERVICES OF GREATER MIAMI, INC.
Marcia K. Cypen, Executive Director
3000 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 500
Miami, FL 33137
Telephone: 305-576-0080

South Dade Office
10720 Caribbean Boulevard, Suite 400
Miami, FL 33189
Telephone: 305-232-9680