Summary of Services
- Civil legal advocacy and representation for low-income and vulnerable individuals and families
- Assistance for low-wage workers and job seekers facing employment-related challenges
- Immigration legal services, including deportation defense and humanitarian immigration relief
- Legal representation for immigrant families, unaccompanied immigrant children, and immigrant victims of crime
- Representation in employment-related cases involving unpaid wages, unsafe working or housing conditions, employment discrimination, and more
- Legal assistance for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and human trafficking
- Free legal guidance through the Florida Domestic Violence Legal Hotline
- Advocacy and support for vulnerable older adults, children with disabilities, and at-risk youth
- Fair housing advocacy and support for affordable housing access and development
- Eviction prevention services, including legal assistance, tenant rights education, and court navigation support
- Legal representation and advocacy for incarcerated individuals, detainees, juveniles, immigrants in custody, and recently released individuals
- Healthcare coverage enrollment and renewal assistance through Florida KidCare and Medicaid programs
Supporting Individuals and Families Through Advocacy
Guided by a mission to promote freedom and justice for all, Florida Legal Services works to serve and empower low-income and vulnerable individuals through respectful, client-centered legal advocacy and support. The organization focuses on services that support low-wage workers and job seekers navigating employment challenges, immigrants seeking legal assistance, individuals and families in need of healthcare access, and survivors of domestic violence requiring protection and advocacy.
Florida Legal Services also assists vulnerable older adults, children with disabilities, at-risk youth, individuals and families seeking affordable housing, those experiencing discrimination, as well as those who are currently or formerly incarcerated and working toward successful reentry into their communities.
Eviction Prevention and Advocacy
Through the Florida Legal Aid (FLA) Eviction Prevention Project, clients receive direct legal assistance to help them respond to eviction actions, understand their rights, and navigate court processes. In addition to eviction defense support, the program connects individuals to resources, including emergency rental assistance, public benefits, and other recovery services.
Florida Legal Services provides legal advocacy and representation for immigrant families, including children separated from their families, and offers representation to individuals facing deportation proceedings. The program provides direct legal representation to unaccompanied immigrant children in shelters throughout the state, as well as immigrant victims of crime seeking humanitarian immigration relief.
Supporting Immigrants and Those Who Were Incarcerated
Florida Legal Services supports migrant and seasonal farmworkers and temporary agricultural workers under the H-2A visa program and temporary non-agricultural workers under the H-2B visa program. They cover cases including matters concerning unpaid wages, violations of working and housing conditions, breach of employment contracts, employment discrimination, and unemployment insurance claims.
The Florida Institutional Legal Services (FILS) Project provides legal representation and advocacy for individuals in state custody and those recently released, including juveniles, immigrants, incarcerated persons, and detainees in state and federal facilities. Through individual cases, class actions, and impact litigation, FILS works to protect rights, address unlawful conditions of confinement, and advance systemic reform within Florida’s criminal and civil justice systems.
FILS also offers targeted legal support for incarcerated survivors of sexual abuse and harassment through its Incarcerated Survivors Project. This includes guidance on the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), assistance with reporting, grievance, and investigation processes, and advocacy related to access to medical care, mental health services, and survivor support resources in collaboration with community partners.
In addition to direct legal representation, FILS develops and distributes educational and resource materials, including the Florida Manual for Incarcerated Parents and reentry information packets.
Assisting Survivors of Domestic Violence
Florida Legal Services operates the Florida Domestic Violence Legal Hotline, providing free legal guidance and support to survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and human trafficking. Through the hotline, attorneys advise callers on a range of civil legal issues and can also offer guidance on navigating aspects of the criminal justice process as survivors seek safety and accountability.
The legal hotline is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (excluding holidays). Survivors can access assistance by calling the statewide hotline at (800) 500-1119 and selecting option 3, or by contacting the legal hotline directly at (850) 385-0611.
Services are provided in English and Spanish. For more information, please visit here.
Housing Advocacy and Application Assistance For Health Coverage
The Fair and Affordable Housing Project works to expand access to safe, affordable housing for vulnerable populations throughout Florida. Services include advocacy to preserve existing affordable housing, support for the development of new affordable housing opportunities, and efforts to promote fair housing practices and equal access to housing.
Lastly, the Connecting Kids to Coverage Project helps eligible families and pregnant women access healthcare coverage through Florida KidCare and family-related Medicaid programs. Services include application assistance, enrollment and renewal support, and outreach and education efforts designed to help uninsured individuals obtain and maintain health insurance coverage.
For more information, please visit here, call (800) 436-6001, or email Coverage4kids@floridalegal.org.