by Richard Prior
Staff Writer
A quick look at the paper-strewn desk where Michael Figgins sits confirms that hunting for funds is never out of season.
“It’s every day,” said Figgins, executive director of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.
“It’s not only every day, but everything renews every year,” he added, shrugging and spreading his hands over all the paperwork involved in applying for a grant. “You can never count on anything.”
An estimated 10,000 people each year come through the doors of the Major B. Harding Center for Justice, looking for help from one of Legal Aid’s 25 attorneys. About 7,000 of them get some sort of service, said Kim Ruotolo, JALA’s development coordinator.
JALA’s annual budget to do all that work is $2.8 million.
“The City asked us when we went to justify our grant what it would cost for the City to pay all of Legal Aid’s lawyers at the rate the City sometimes has to pay when they have to contract,” he said. “I think the figure was like $15 million.”
The reality may be that JALA can’t depend on repeat contributors, but it’s tough to completely shut out expectations.
“You do get in the habit of counting on things,” said Figgins. “When you do that, you get notices that things are being cut. It’s certainly not a reflection on what we do. It’s a reflection of someone else’s priorities.
“A ripple effect is that we have less resources. And it’s very, very hard to make up the difference.”
Every year, JALA — through Figgins and a 21-member board of directors — makes its presentation for a public services grant with the City.
“Every year the City tells us, and rightfully so, that they can’t make any promises; it all depends on how their budget looks,” said Figgins. “Every year, we go up there and give them our best shot. So far, we haven’t experienced any cuts.”
Everyone at JALA helps with ideas and information for grants and becomes part of the ongoing effort to see how Legal Aid may better market itself.
Figgins has been working on a grant to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to allow JALA to conduct housing counseling activities.
The City announced on March 12 that it had given Legal Aid a $250,000 grant to fight predatory lending in Jacksonville. The money is helping pay for three full-time attorneys to work on the project over the next year.
“A lot of people don’t know what we do and how well we do it,” said Figgins. “I’m hoping that relationship with the City (over predatory lending) will grow.
“Predatory lenders are creative. They find new ways to do things. And we have to be on our toes to be able to respond.”
JALA organizes and hosts a number of fund-raisers. Nearly 50 local law firms bought tables for the inaugural Breakfast of Champions, held in April to benefit the Campaign to Maintain Justice.
The guest speaker was Talbot “Sandy” D’Alemberte, former “Mr. Everything”: state representative, dean of Florida State University College of Law, president of the university and president of the American Bar Association.
A “Links to Justice” charity golf tournament will be held Sept. 22 at The King and The Bear in the World Golf Village. Firms may assist by sponsoring individuals, foursomes, holes, lunch and the awards reception.
JALA also got into the car business this year as attorney Howard Dale and his wife, Nancy, donated a 1994 four-door Volvo Turbo to be sold or auctioned.
“I’ve long been a supporter and a volunteer with Legal Aid, and I know what good work they do,” said Dale, with Dale, Bald, Showalter & Mercier, when he made the donation.
JALA received “fair market value” for the car from an anonymous buyer, said Ruotolo.
For additional information about the golf tournament or to donate cars, boats or real property, call Ruotolo at 356-8371, Ext. 316.
Members of the Jacksonville Bar Association have been a reliable source for contributions in money and time. And Figgins likes what he hears from incoming President Reginald Luster.
Members of the local bar “should live up to the lawyer’s oath of admission to The Florida Bar which states: ‘I will never reject, from any consideration personal to myself, the cause of the defenseless or oppressed,’ “ Luster told the JBA on June 10. “We should live up to the mission adopted by this Bar which provides that it is the goal of the Bar ‘to improve access to affordable legal services for all residents of Northeast Florida.’ ”
“I’ve talked to Mr. Luster on more than one occasion,” said Figgins, “and I’m excited and enthusiastic about that. We’ve had a lot of support from the prior presidents of the Jacksonville Bar, but none so verbal and up front as Mr. Luster.
“We’re hoping that translates into, if not additional resources, at least additional awareness of our need for resources and support.”
Maintaining readily accessible legal aid for the “defenseless or oppressed” is a cause that should be nurtured, said Figgins.
“I don’t know where the responsibility for this would be if Legal Aid folded,” he said. “I certainly don’t think the Bar could do it. Whether the City would have to take it up, I don’t know.
“But right now, not only the City but the entire community has the luxury of having Legal Aid here, and they certainly use us when they need us. That need goes both ways.”