Dade Legal Aid / Put Something Back - Miami, FL

Essential Civil Legal Aid and Family Advocacy in Miami-Dade

For more than seven decades, Dade Legal Aid and its Put Something Back pro bono project have served as a pillar of justice for South Florida. Headquartered at 123 NW 1st Avenue in downtown Miami, the organization provides vital civil legal services to individuals, children, and families who cannot afford private representation. Backed by dedicated staff attorneys and volunteer lawyers from across Florida, the program ensures financial hardship never prevents equal justice. When qualifying individuals seek to find a lawyer for domestic matters or emergency protection, Dade Legal Aid delivers compassionate legal assistance.

Domestic Violence Injunctions and Victim Safety

Safeguarding individuals and children escaping abusive domestic situations is one of Dade Legal Aid's highest priorities. Working as committed domestic violence lawyers, staff attorneys guide survivors through the court system. This includes filing emergency petitions for temporary restraining orders, preparing evidentiary hearings, and securing permanent protective injunctions. The legal team also connects clients with supportive community resources to establish independent and secure futures.

Family Law, Divorce, and Child Custody Advocacy

Navigating a family breakup without counsel leaves parents and children vulnerable. The organization's dedicated family law division serves as reliable divorce lawyers and child custody lawyers. Attorneys handle marriage dissolution, child support enforcement, paternity establishment, and parenting plans. Through the Child and Teen Advocacy Project, attorneys also act as guardians ad litem for foster youth and minors in circuit court.

Bankruptcy, Consumer Protection, and Debt Relief

Unforeseen medical crises, predatory lending, or economic distress can devastate families. Serving as consumer and bankruptcy lawyers, the organization assists low-income debtors with Chapter 7 bankruptcy filings to stop wage garnishments, halt creditor harassment, and eliminate unmanageable financial burdens. Attorneys also provide guidance on consumer debt relief, mortgage foreclosure defense, and preserving family homes through targeted property protection initiatives.

Probate, Guardianship, and Elder Law Services

Managing the care or estate of an incapacitated or deceased relative presents severe hurdles for indigent families. Serving as compassionate probate lawyers, the organization provides assistance with summary administration, small estate transfers, and adult guardianship proceedings. These services ensure that family assets, such as inherited residential property, pass lawfully to legitimate heirs rather than falling victim to clouded titles or property forfeiture.

The Put Something Back Pro Bono Initiative

In addition to full-time staff attorneys, Dade Legal Aid operates Put Something Back, the official pro bono initiative of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit and the Miami-Dade Bar:

• Extensive Volunteer Network: Matches thousands of eligible clients with top private law firms and independent attorneys across South Florida.
• Statewide Honors: Repeated recipient of The Florida Bar Pro Bono Public Service Award and the Miami-Dade Bar Circle of Excellence.
• Multilingual Accessibility: Offers client intake and case advocacy in English, Spanish, French, German, and Haitian Creole.
• Leadership Development: Fosters the next generation of public interest champions through the Robert C. Josefsberg Leadership Academy.

Access Free Civil Legal Services in Miami

If you or your family are facing an emergency legal challenge, do not face the court system alone. Qualifying residents can consult an attorney or apply for assistance through Dade Legal Aid to receive professional legal representation when it matters most.