Jimmy Midyette Jr. has been a staff attorney with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid for two years.
WHAT DOES HE DO?
As director of the Ryan White advocacy program, Midyette conducts outreach for those infected or affected by HIV or AIDS.
IS ASSISTANCE
INCOME-BASED?
“They don’t have to meet the same income guidelines as the other Legal Aid clients. It’s mostly determined case by case, but we tend to take folks that are in need.”
DOES LEGAL AID FOOT
THE BILL?
Who receives the free legal help is partially based on funding issues. “There happens to be a grant that provides for legal services under the Ryan White Care Act. When the epidemic began, people living with AIDS needed to get their affairs in order. There was a much smaller number of issues such as advanced directives and permanency planning for their children after they pass. Now that there are lifesaving drugs, their legal needs have changed. They need assistance with landlord/tenant issues, custodies and bankruptcies.”
EDUCATION
A Jacksonville native, Midyette earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Florida. He attended law school at Florida State University. Midyette worked as a law clerk for attorney Garnett Harrison and interned at Legal Aid during his final year of law school.
WHAT MADE HIM GO
INTO LAW?
“I had a mentor, someone I knew who was an attorney, who taught me that lawyers can be a social engineer to bring about forceful change or become parasites on society. I didn’t go to law school to make a lot of money, but to make a lot of changes. I thought a place like Legal Aid could help me do that, not caddying around some head partner’s briefcase. Plus, JALA has a good reputation around the state and with the Jacksonville Bar Association.”
JOINING THE JACKSONVILLE BAR ASSOCIATION
“I want to see the city change for the better. Through involvement with the bar, I can meet others, share my views and raise awareness. It’s probably one of the most powerful things I could do. JBA programs should be more accessible, that is, cheaper for more attorneys. The dues are cost-prohibitive for small firms, independent attorneys and Legal Aid members.”
DO YOU ANTICIPATE A NEGATIVE RESPONSE TO YOUR IDEAS?
“The JBA is a fairly conservative group, but I don’t think I will encounter much resistance. Certainly, there are attorneys that know I’m gay and have never been anything but respectful. Although it is a professional, competent group, there is still the opportunity to heighten awareness.”
WHERE ELSE HAS HE
BEEN EMPLOYED?
Prior to graduating college, Midyette was a business analyst at America Online. He was also the program director for a non-profit organization, Jacksonville Area Sexual Minority Youth Network (JASMYN ), that builds safe space for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth.
HOW DID HE GET THIS JOB?
“When I first came here, I was a family law attorney. When the director of this position left, I made it clear that I’d like to have his job. My background working with the gay and lesbian population made my chances better.”
WHAT MAKES IT REWARDING?
“The impact you can make on people’s lives. Our clients generally don’t have any money. Money is the key to unlock the legal system. Legal Aid can help clients with no money unlock that system.”
WHAT IS MOST CHALLENGING?
“The most challenging thing for me personally is encountering racism, homophobism or an anti-poverty mindset among professionals. Other professionals have been understanding and sensitive but the challenge is you never know what you’re going to get. A lot of it is so insidious, so underground that there’s not a clear example to point out. Whenever hate and prejudice has a face, we can fight it, like any enemy. Whenever it’s subversive, impossible to nail down, then it’s very difficult to fight that injustice.”
OTHER INVOLVEMENTS?
Midyette is vice president of JASMYN, on the steering committee of the Northeast Florida Safe Schools Coalition and is a member of the National Lawyers Guild.
HIS HERO?
“Attorney Garnett Harrison. She has a private practice in St. Marys, Ga. She was a volunteer at JASMYN when I was coming out myself.”
— by Monica Chamness