About Us
Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, Inc. is a non-profit law firm serving the legal needs of low income and senior Floridians in central Florida.
What is Community Legal Services ?
- A law firm specializing in poverty law.
- A law firm devoted to providing free, high-quality civil legal services to eligible clients.
- An organization helping the poor and elderly achieve and maintain self-sufficiency through legal representation and the provision of information, advice and self-help tools
- An organization providing information about laws and the legal system to those who work with the poor and elderly so that they may better serve their clients
- A non-profit corporation governed by local lawyers, members of the client community and others concerned about equal access to justice.
How can I get a lawyer?
By calling our Helpline Monday thru Friday 8:30 am to 4pm, prospective clients go through a brief eligibility screening process. If eligible, clients are scheduled to speak with an attorney who will discuss their problem with them. Cases needing more than telephone consultation are served at local offices according to our case acceptance criteria.
If you are not able to speak to someone on the Helpline, Click Here For CLSMF’s Online Intake Form
What kind of problems should I call about?
- Consumer law cases including contract disputes, creditor problems, bankruptcies, etc.
- Family law cases including domestic violence, divorce, custody, visitation, etc.
- Housing law cases including evictions and rental problems for both private and subsidized housing; homeownership issues including foreclosure and other home loan problems, etc.
- Health law cases including Medicaid, Medicare and private health insurance issues
- Administrative Law cases including food stamps, child care supplements, SSI, Social Security and unemployment compensation, etc.
- Probate matters including guardianship defense, wills, living wills, small estates, powers of attorney, etc.
Community Legal Services also works with local non-profit groups whose purpose it is to benefit the poor and the elderly.
Does Community Legal Services handle criminal cases or traffic court cases?
No, call the local Public Defender or ask the Court to appoint an attorney for you.
What information will I need when I call or come to Community Legal Services?
To determine eligibility for our services, we will ask you questions about your household income. It is extremely helpful if you bring the papers concerning your legal problem.
Can Community Legal Services interview clients in person at places other than its offices?
Yes, we offer some outreach interviewing sites or home visits when appropriate.
Can Community Legal Services take every case?
No, because of limited staff and resources, we are not able to help everyone who needs us.
What happens if Community Legal Services cannot take my case?
Eligible clients may be referred to our pro-bono volunteer attorney program or to other agencies for assistance. We also offer do it yourself pro-se packages.
Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida complies with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Appropriate legal services are provided to all eligible clients without regard to race, age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, status as a disabled veteran and/or Veteran of the Vietnam Era, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.
If you believe that you have been denied legal services or otherwise illegally discriminated against based on one of the protected characteristics stated above, you may contact any of the following to file a complaint:
Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida
Mr. Robert L. Endsley
128 Orange Ave. Ste 300, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
(352) 552 - 4655 - Phone
(352) 669 - 0030 – Fax
Florida Department of Children and Families
1317 Winewood Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0700
(407) 999 - 5393
http://www.fdcf.state.fl.us
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Ave SW, Washington DC 20201
(404) 562 - 7886
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr
Florida Department of Justice
2005 Apalachee Pkwy, Tallahassee, FL 32399
(800) 435 - 7352
http://www.800helpfla.com
