Legal Services of Greater Miami provides free civil legal services to the neediest individuals in our community. Our clients are primarily women, children, seniors, and the working poor. In many cases, we are the safety net preventing these individuals from becoming homeless or dependent on welfare. On a daily basis, our team of attorneys, who are organized into legal specialty units and projects, provide high quality representation to clients with problems relating to housing, health care, education, disability benefits, family issues, and employment.

Lance A. Harke of Harke Clasby & Bushman says the timing of U.S. District Judge Joan A. Lenard's order for the state to provide medically necessary behavioral services to Florida's low-income autistic children could not have been more fortuitous.

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A $2 million veto by Governor Rick Scott will mean fewer attorneys to represent low-income residents through foreclosure proceedings, domestic violence hearings and consumer fraud cases, legal aid officials and a top Democrat lamented.

After the governor vetoed $142 million from the budget, officials at an organization that provides legal help for low income Floridians said Scott's decision cutting funds from civil legal assistance will mean a 25 percent reduction in the number of attorneys available in the coming year. A year later, the number of available attorneys will drop even further.

At 10:50 a.m., March 26, 2012, U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard ordered the State of Florida to immediately begin providing coverage of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for all children on Florida Medicaid who are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. In issuing an initial oral order from the bench, Judge Lenard said that “The Medicaid population of children diagnosed with autism and/or autism spectrum disorder are deserving and will be given ABA treatment in the State of Florida,” referring to this as “one of the most important cases I have ever heard.

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n Year Three of the Together, We Must Campaign for Justice, our goal is to encourage more individuals to join The Chesterfield Smith Society for Equal Justice.

As a special “thank you”, donors who make three year pledges will receive the benefits described below:

Donors who pledge $1000 per year or more will be our guest at a food and wine pairing in the state-of-the-art Demonstration Theater at Miami-Dade College’s new Miami Culinary Institute, followed by a unique dining experience specially prepared by award-winning Executive Chef Norman Van Aken in his restaurant Tuyo.

Donors who pledge $500 per year will enjoy a one of a kind wine tasting experience with some of the best biodynamic wines in the world accompanied by special food selections.

Click here to learn more about the Chesterfield Smith Society Donor Appreciation Program

The Chesterfield Smith Society for Equal Justice continues the legacy of the great Chesterfield Smith, who during his 55-year law career, served as a beacon of light for the poor. Often called "America's Lawyer" and "the conscience of the legal profession”, Smith was a visionary leader who instilled in other lawyers a strong sense of commitment to provide free legal services to those in need.

Join the Society today and help protect the promise of equal justice. Your support will ensure that access to our nation’s system of justice—a cornerstone of our society-- does not become a luxury.

Click here to download CSS Donor Appreciation Pledge Form

Like several neighbors in her building, Carla Balladares says she hasn’t had hot water in months. The bathroom plumbing is damaged and frequently floods her apartment with sewer water.

When it rains, water leaks in from the ceiling. The electrical system often short-circuits and smells like it’s burning.

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Make no mistake. Public-interest attorneys’ work matters. Afghanistan vet Sgt. Joaquin Tasis could not afford a lawyer, so Legal Services of Greater Miami got him the disability payments he had earned. People like him and the one in six Floridians who live in poverty have a right to representation. There is no rule of law if legal services are not available to all.

The award recognizes Mr. Little’s tireless work furthering community development in low-income neighborhoods, often as a behind-the scenes leader.

Lawyers find Hialeah Housing Authority Wrongly denied federal rental subsidies
Daily Business Review December 12, 2011

Jeff Hearne and Sean Rowley of Legal Services of Greater Miami and Randall Berg, Shawn Heller and Josh Glickman of the Florida Justice Institute were selected by Daily Business Review as Most Effective Public Interest Lawyers 2011. Click here to read more.

Liam McGivern, a 27-year-old Miami Law student from Edmonds, Wash., is one of 28 third-year law students nationally to have been awarded a prestigious Skadden Fellowship, given to remarkable students who have proven their ability and desire to provide legal help to traditionally disenfranchised people.

"I am super excited!" McGivern wrote in an e-mail to Miami Law Dean Patricia D. White, explaining that he will be working at Legal Services of Greater Miami, an agency with which he is intimately familiar.