Beyond the Verdict: The Faces Behind the Cases
Beyond the Verdict: The Faces Behind the Cases
When you think of a trial, you picture courtrooms with ornate fixtures, judges with robes and gavels, lawyers with expensive suits, and the plaintiff and defendant awaiting the verdict. But what about the stories behind the trial? Who is the attorney passionately defending their client? What brought the parties to the courtroom? How did they fight for justice, and how will it impact their lives? Who are the people behind the cases?
Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida (CLS) serves the people behind the cases. As a nonprofit legal aid organization, CLS enhances the lives of the underserved through accessible legal support, assistance, and education. Our attorneys, assistants, and advocates tackle the civil legal challenges impacting the day-to-day lives of Central Florida residents. By offering free legal aid, we strive to provide legal justice for the disenfranchised members of our community who cannot afford expensive legal fees.
We handle a wide range of cases for people in need including family law, fair housing, financial matters, and violations of personal rights. We provide representation and assistance for a broad assortment of people in their quest for justice.
Take Lisa and Mark, a couple from Volusia County, Florida. With CLS’s help, they won a $20,000 settlement after a handyman working under a fraudulent license left their home in disarray. Or Mrs. Johnson, the wife of a veteran from Brevard, who secured $187,000 in back pay benefits with our help when the VA refused to honor her husband’s disability status for over a decade. These stories are just two examples of the thousands of individuals who obtain assistance from CLS annually to help them fight for justice.
CLS’s mission is to provide “Legal Access for All.” While it may sound like CLS offers exclusively legal services, CLS is much more than a law firm. CLS offers an assortment of legal and nonlegal clinics and services. Attend the Wills clinic on March 20 to receive legal advice for your Will from an attorney. Join a financial wellness clinic on March 21 to learn the best practices for buying a home and taking out a loan. Tune into one of our podcasts to hear practical advice on topics ranging from fair housing to cybersecurity scams. CLS’s offerings are constantly changing to meet the needs of its Central Florida Community.
This blog series will highlight the stories of people like Lisa, Mark, and Mrs. Johnson who achieve justice through our dedicated attorneys and advocates. It will also showcase the work of CLS outside of the courtroom, featuring the volunteers, attorneys, and events that implement CLS’s vision of “Legal Access for All.” To hear our CEO, Jeff Harvey, describe what CLS is and how it serves its Mid-Florida community, check out the video below!
To donate to the charitable cause of CLS, please follow the link below!