The Funding Florida Legal Aid board of directors approved the distribution of $33,870,910 of Interest on Trust Accounts funds to 35 legal aid organizations statewide.
Grants were awarded to two legal aid organizations that serve Northeast Florida. Jacksonville Area Legal Aid received $1,895,816 and Three Rivers Legal Services received $764,978.
The grants will be used to increase access to the justice system by facilitating free direct legal services to low-income clients and promoting pro bono public service.
“These IOTA grants will enable qualified legal aid providers to serve more clients, pay their legal aid staff salaries commensurate with their experience and increase the availability of pro bono lawyers,” FFLA President Murray Silverstein said in a news release.
Funding Florida Legal Aid collected $45,547,391 in IOTA revenue during fiscal year 2022-23 with $355,848 in accrued interest added to the collections.
In October, $3,687,158 of IOTA funds were distributed to 20 qualified grantee organizations for pro bono support and enhancement.
An additional $712,162 was used for the Loan Repayment Assistance Program and $800,900 was used to partially fund Children’s Legal Services grants.
Formerly The Florida Bar Foundation, Funding Florida Legal Aid is the designated administrator of Florida’s Interest on Trust Accounts program.
A nonprofit organization, Funding Florida Legal Aid funds civil legal aid providers and projects to improve the administration of justice, increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the legal aid delivery system and develop and expand pro bono initiatives.
Visit FundingFLA.org for more information.