Boost to legal aid for indigent residents in works [Jeb signs new law: The Civil Legal Justice Act]

The Naples Daily News ^ | July 14, 2002 | Mary Kelli Bridges

[summer]

Boost to legal aid for indigent residents in works [Jeb signs new law: The Civil Legal Justice Act]

Sunday, July 14, 2002

By MARY KELLI BRIDGES, mkbridges@naplesnews.com

Collier and Lee counties are among a few areas that soon will benefit from a new law to help provide civil legal assistance for the indigent.

The Civil Legal Justice Act became effective May 30, when Gov. Jeb Bush signed it into law. It's intended to provide legal services for individuals who can't afford to hire their own attorneys but who are in need of basic assistance, such as receiving veterans services, Medicaid and Medicare.

The act gives $2 million to the Department of Community Affairs for pilot programs in seven areas. One of those areas is the 20th Judicial Circuit, consisting of Lee, Collier, Hendry, Glades and Charlotte counties.

The Florida Bar Foundation, a not-for- profit group, is trying to work out a contract with the department to act as the delivery program to distribute the funds to agencies that are already established to help provide civil legal assistance. That would mean the new money wouldn't be needed to establish a method to dole out the money, said foundation President Bill Thompson.

"The state money is really going to be spent at the bottom level," Thompson said.

In Southwest Florida, those groups are Florida Rural Legal Services, Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, Legal Aid Society of Collier County and Lee County Legal Aid Society. Those agencies are expected to get about $220,000, Thompson said.

The money will be used for specific purposes outlined by legislators. Those purposes will be related to family and juvenile law, entitlements to federal government benefits, protection from domestic violence, elder and child abuse and immigration. The money will go toward providing legal assistance and education.

This is the first time the state will provide money for legal aid. Before the new law, money came from grants.

That's not to say private lawyers didn't help those who couldn't afford their services.

Last year, private lawyers donated almost 120,000 hours, valued at $14.2 million, to pro bono cases. But two out of three people in need were still turned away, said Terry Russell, immediate past president of The Florida Bar.

"This has become more than a voluntary program," Russell said. "It's now a social responsibility."

State Sen. Burt Saunders and state Rep.

Dudley Goodlette, both Naples Republicans, sponsored the bills in their respective houses.

Saunders said both legislators worked hard to make sure the 20th Judicial Circuit would get one of the pilot programs.

"We have a significant population in this community that is underserved in terms of legal services," Saunders said.

He specifically pointed to Social Security issues, veterans' affairs and immigration.

"If there are federal programs available, it's important that the citizens who are entitled to those programs are aware they are there," Saunders said.

[caltrop]

Florida is overrun with lawyers but their pro bono work amounts to only $14.2 million in billable hours. Another program, in addition to the federal Legal Services Corporation, is exactly what I'd expect from Governor Bush. That way we can provide public sector employment for some of the surplus of attorneys graduating from the nation's law schools, create another means of expanding government and the taxes needed to pay for it.

It's a lucky thing Governor Bush and the legislators behind this are conservatives because if liberals had been pushing this I'd have been upset. (sarcasm)

[floriduh voter]

This is good news. Maybe if they had more staff to help seniors who are a special class - many on fixed incomes, they would return people's phone calls at the Senior Legal Outreach Program. They do not return phone calls in the St. Petersburg office. L A Z Y.

I'll be emailing the Governor after his re-election about difficulties seniors and other experience in Pinellas in getting assistance in programs that he supports. The agencies in Pinellas County need to get their act together before they receive more funding.

That being said, I am a Bush-bot and this is not a criticism of the Governor. It's a criticism of the local bureaucrats who have been around for years and aren't subject to merit pay. FV

[floriduh voter]

If you worked with the program, please don't take my comments personally regarding the Pinellas County programs. Seniors oftentimes need help and can't afford high priced counsel. The problem in Pinellas is that whoever runs the program, THEY DO NOT RETURN PHONE CALLS and there are many types of law wherein they state "We don't do that kind of law." So, what is accomplished? Absolutely nothing.

As I said, I will be emailing the Governor after the election regarding the Pinellas problem. Regards, FV

[MeekOneGOP]

Bush bump!

[browardchad]

beyond that, it will help those on welfare

It apparently will also help illegal immigrants fight deportation. But, of course, there are no terrorist cells in Florida, according to the Department of Homeland Security. (Just quite a few people who happen to be involved in terrorist activities.)

[summer]

Now, what if it helps immigrants seeking to become legal citizens? Is that so wrong???

[summer]

Thanks, MeeknMing! :)

[summer]

Thanks for your comments on this, FV. :)

[summer]

This is good news. Maybe if they had more staff to help seniors who are a special class - many on fixed incomes, they would return people's phone calls at the Senior Legal Outreach Program.

I agree that this is good news. Helping the elderly, most of whom live on fixed incomes, is not like handing out money to welfare recipients too lazy to work. The elderly have worked. They deserve some help in their golden years.

[summer]

PS Because, BTW, not all immigrants are terrorists; some are legal immigrants -- and, some do want to upgrade their temp legal status to a permanent legal status. And, lawyers do cost money and do charge for this work.

These immigrants can't win with people like you -- you kick 'em if they're illegal, and, gosh forbid if they're temp legal want to become permanently legal, you kick 'em again. What gives?

[summer]

want to = wanting to

[summer]

Re your post #21 - Now, caltrop, I genuinely disappointed in your reply here. The legislature purposely wrote into the law the kind of people who can receive help from this program -- and, those people include vets. Vets who are entitled by law to benefits they may not even know exist. If you think that is such a terrible thing - to educate vets, and to provide vets with the money already set aside for them - then, I think you are being cynical here. Really.

[summer]

I genuinely = I am genuinely

[mafree]

GO JEB!!

[summer]

Thanks, mafree. :)

[summer]

From article - The money will be used for specific purposes outlined by legislators. Those purposes will be related to family and juvenile law, entitlements to federal government benefits, protection from domestic violence, elder and child abuse and immigration. The money will go toward providing legal assistance and education.

Amore, I don't doubt anything you say about your experience, but I honestly think that this law is an effort to target people beyond the typical welfare recipient, based on the info in this article.

[browardchad]

These immigrants can't win with people like you -- you kick 'em if they're illegal, and, gosh forbid if they're temp legal want to become permanently legal, you kick 'em again. What gives?

It seems you have answered your own post, Summer -- I didn't say anything, as I recall, about legal immigrants, but by all means, use that wide brush that smears, it's very persuasive.

[summer]

With respect to your new mention of legal immigrants - that was my point, exactly. Not a smear. A reminder to you that not everyone is illegal, and not everyone wants to be illegal after their time runs out. Some people want to legally immigrate. I don't think there is anything with reminding you of that. Not at all.

[summer]

is anything = is anything wrong...

[summer]

FYI. :)