Jacksonville Area Legal Aid attorney April Charney (left) was recently recognized by the National Association of Consumer Advocates as its 2006 “National Consumer Lawyer of the Year.” Charney (with JALA Executive Director Michael Figgins) is an attorney in JALA’s “Predator Free Zone” the Consumer Unit of the nonprofit legal aid agency. During fiscal year 2005-06, JALA’s Consumer Unit defended more than $10 million worth of homes from foreclosure in the Northeast Florida area.