Florida Justice Center - Fort Lauderdale
Florida Justice Center is the state of Florida's premier criminal legal aid organization, headquartered in Fort Lauderdale. Authorized by the Supreme Court of Florida as the first legal aid entity licensed to practice criminal law, the organization delivers holistic legal defense, criminal record sealing and expungement, early termination of probation, and voting rights restoration to justice-involved individuals across South Florida.
Trailblazing Criminal Legal Aid and Second Chance Defense in Fort Lauderdale
A criminal arrest or conviction creates barriers that restrict employment, housing, and civil rights. Located at 2598 E Sunrise Blvd in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Justice Center is the only legal aid organization in the state authorized by the Florida Supreme Court to practice criminal defense. Led by Director of Legal Services Alex Saiz, Esq., the center combines legal defense with behavioral health services. Believing everyone deserves a second chance, the organization helps thousands annually lift justice-related burdens. When you need to hire a criminal defense lawyer or find low-cost legal aid in Fort Lauderdale, this team provides dedicated advocacy.
Supreme Court Authorization and Groundbreaking Holistic Representation
Florida Justice Center is pioneering an innovative, compassionate approach to criminal justice and reentry legal support:
- Historic Supreme Court Certification: Approved in 2020 as Florida's first criminal legal aid organization, authorized to employ staff attorneys and represent clients in court.
- Holistic Legal and Behavioral Care: Pairing trial defense with social services, mental health counseling, and addiction support to address root causes and reduce recidivism.
- Award-Winning Legal Leadership: Directed by veteran criminal defense attorney Alex Saiz, recognized as a 40 Under 40 honoree by the Miami-Dade Bar Young Lawyers Section for outstanding contributions to public defense.
- Multilingual Accessibility: Staff attorneys and legal advocates provide comprehensive legal services in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole, ensuring accessible representation for underserved communities.
Core Criminal Defense and Rights Restoration Practice Areas
The legal team delivers targeted assistance across vital criminal law and post-conviction areas:
- Criminal Record Sealing and Expungement: Petitioning Florida circuit courts to seal or expunge eligible arrest records, removing public access so clients can secure employment, education, and housing without stigma.
- Early Termination of Probation: Partnering with probation officers in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties to file motions for early termination and modification of supervision for compliant individuals.
- Criminal Defense Legal Representation: Defending qualifying indigent defendants, first-time offenders, and peaceful protesters facing misdemeanor and felony charges in Florida criminal courts.
- Voting Rights Restoration: Verifying voter eligibility and guiding returning citizens through legal channels to restore voting privileges pursuant to Florida Amendment Four.
- Executive Clemency Applications: Preparing detailed petitions to the Florida Board of Executive Clemency for restoration of civil rights, firearm authority, and official pardons.
- Driver License Reinstatement: Helping clients clear court debt suspensions, failure-to-appear holds, and administrative penalties to regain valid Florida driving privileges.
Empowering Communities Through Accessible Justice
At Florida Justice Center, quality legal representation is not reserved solely for those with extensive wealth. By providing free and sliding-scale criminal legal services, community expungement workshops, and direct courtroom advocacy, the organization tears down structural barriers and rebuilds lives. If you need assistance with an arrest record, probation termination, or need to find an expungement attorney in Fort Lauderdale, contact Florida Justice Center today to request legal assistance.
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Location & Access
Primary Address
Located in the bustling Galleria area [2.1.8], nestled between Victoria Park and the scenic Middle River in Fort Lauderdale.
Building Location
This is a contemporary multi-tenant commercial office space located within The Galleria office building, connected directly to The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale mall. The property is positioned on East Sunrise Boulevard, just steps away from world-class shopping and premier dining options.
Parking Details
Visitors can utilize the large covered mall parking garages or the on-site surface parking lots. Valet parking services are also available at the main mall entrances.
Public Transit
Served by Broward County Transit Route 36 (Sunrise Blvd Local); nearest stop is at Sunrise Boulevard/Northeast 26th Avenue.
Accessibility / Suite Access
Enter The Galleria office building from East Sunrise Boulevard. Take the passenger elevators to the second floor and proceed to the Regus executive suites corridor to find the office in Suite 2104.