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Step 1
The Orange County Bar Association provides free legal advice and free legal services to residents of the area via the Legal Aid Society. The legal services they provide are intended for low income residents, and one must be financially eligible for their legal help. You never know whether or not you will be eligible so do not second guess your own qualifications. Contact Legal Aid and let them take you through the steps to qualify, you may be surprised to find that you are elibigle to receive their legal services. But, first you will need to know which legal services they handle. *Contact information can be found beneath this article.
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Step 2
The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association offers free legal advice and legal services for issues dealing with the following: Housing Law, Family Law, Employment Law, Public Benefits (TANF, Food Stamps, SNAP, Medicare, Social Security, etc.), Consumer Law (Debt Collection, Bankruptcies, Warranty Issues, etc.), and Immigration Law. If any of these situations apply to you, you may be eligible for their help. Legal Aid also offers a specialized Guardian Ad Litem program, but it must be court appointed.
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Step 3
It is important that you understand that Legal Aid does not offer free legal advice for cases involving Personal Injury Law, Medical Malpractice, Criminal Law, Worker's Comp, etc. Usually, most of these cases are handled on a contingency basis with fee based attorney (you won't have to pay up front). And, if you are involved in a criminal case and your income is low, you will be assigned a public defender at no charge to you. If you are in any of these situations it is best to consult your local Orlando yellow pages as there are a host of attorneys waiting to offer you their legal services.
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Step 4
If you are in any of the above situations for which Legal Aid does offer free legal services you should know a few things up front. You must call them first and explain your situation. They only take telephone calls during certain hours and days. Currently (and for years), they only accept legal client calls from 9:30 - Noon and 1:30 - 3:00 Monday through Thursday, and from 9 - Noon on Saturdays. These days and times are subject to change, contact legal Aid to get the most current information.
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Step 5
Once you contact them, they will make an appointment if they feel that you may qualify for their services. The Legal Aid Society operates on a budget, and they cannot guarantee that everyone will receive free legal advice and legal services, but they do try to help. The attorneys who offer their services to the public all provide their legal services on a pro bono basis (free), and they wouldn't do it if they didn't care. Remember, do not pre-judge your situation, if your legal issue is one in which they may be able to help, contact them today.
Comments
Zibahrose said
on 4/8/2009 Well done...I couldn't wait to read this article. I have resided in Orlando and your info is right on! Thanx for writing How to Get Free Legal Advice in Orlando.
sonni57 said
on 3/26/2009 Good info on how to get free legal advice in Orlando.
georgelarson said
on 3/24/2009 Great information to know for those living in Orlando. I used to work for the MN State Bar Association and they had information about legal advice, also. Thanks.