The Jacksonville Area Legal Aid Family Law Group information clinics offered in Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties provide legal advice to those in need throughout Northeast Florida.
The events offer worthwhile volunteer opportunities to attorneys and help to people who otherwise would have none.
Attendance has increased each year since the program was established, from 311 in 2011 to more than 450 in 2012 and nearly 600 in 2013. In 2014, more than 700 people were served.
Now, the number of people served annually is more than 800.
In the clinics, attorneys are able to provide their expertise free of charge, with one or two attorneys leading each clinic. Topics change each month and cover dissolution of marriage; paternity, timeshare and custody; and child support modification.
Clinics have been offered since 2011 in Duval County thanks to the assistance and leadership of attorney Marla Buchanan.
Clay and Nassau counties started clinics in 2012, thanks to attorneys Lisa Dasher and Valerie Faltemier, respectively.
Duval clinics are at the JALA offices Downtown, while Clay and Nassau clinics are at the Clay County Public Library and the Nassau County Courthouse.
In addition to the clinics offered in the 4th judicial Circuit, the St. Johns County JALA office offers assistance to pro se family law litigants in the 7th Circuit.
Each year, JALA receives thousands of family law requests and questions, but staff and volunteer attorneys are not able to represent all meritorious matters.
The Family Law Group information clinics provide education, empowerment and encouragement to people who will resolve their matters while representing themselves.
The clinics provide each participant with a packet that includes pro se forms, information on how to get additional forms and guidance on where and how to file a case.
Sincere thanks are extended to the attorneys who have donated their time to schedule, organize and present information at these clinics: Valerie Faltemier, Lisa Dasher, Rusty Mead, Jonathan Zisser, Aaron Irving, Rachel Rall, Stacey DeVall, Christie Guerrero, Chanda Rogers, Bruce Landrum, Bruce Talcott and LaRae Hendrix.
Also, Laura Gapske, Roger Cruce, Joseph Wiggins, Michelle Sweatland, Jacqueline Green, Damon Pichoff, Kameisha Presley, Winnie Staats, Dyvonnda Thurston, Jennifer Singh, Jeff Totty, Leigh Scales and Laura Giovannetti.
Students from Florida Coastal School of Law and other community volunteers serve as clinic assistants.
Their duties include preparing packets, checking in attendees and assisting with latecomers.
Clinic assistant volunteers include Sandy Connolly, Sonya Cohen, Carolyn Morrison, Ronline Cannady, Jasmine Naziri, Latasha Green, Sarai Morejon and Jade Talley.
The 2016 Family Law Clinic schedulers and organizers in Clay and Nassau counties Valerie Faltemier, Chanda Rogers and Lisa Dasher continue their work and a very special thanks is extended to them for supporting this vital service for those in need of family law guidance.
For information on volunteer opportunities in the 4th Judicial Circuit, contact [email protected].