FFLA’s Children’s Legal Services grant program has created positive change throughout communities across the state for decades. The legal services funded by FFLA have provided crucial support to thousands of vulnerable children and families while delivering important economic returns.
“The impact is clear in the numbers: 3,483 clients received direct legal services at an average cost of just $287 per client during our 2023-24 grant cycle,” FFLA President Roberto R. Pardo said. “In addition, these services generated more than $1.9 million in economic impact through judgments, awards, and benefits secured for clients.”
The reach extends far beyond clients, with an estimated 37,488 low-income individuals benefiting indirectly from these legal services last year. The momentum continues to build. In the 2024-25 grant cycle, FFLA awarded ten organizations $1,022,580 in funding. Halfway through the cycle, these grantees have already served 2,816 clients – 147% above their contractual goals. Of these, 890 clients are receiving full legal representation. And, pro bono attorneys accepted Children’s Legal Services cases at a rate of 96% of the cases referred to them.
Behind these statistics are real children and families whose lives have been transformed. Kyla*, a client of Brevard County Legal Aid (BCLA), was aging out of foster care. Initially planning to opt out of extended foster care, she changed course after meeting with a BCLA attorney who explained the benefits of extended foster care.
With help from her legal aid attorney, Kyla opened a checking account and a savings account and secured a credit card. She earned her high school diploma, and with her attorney’s help, enrolled in the Postsecondary Education Services and Support program, allowing her to attend the University of Central Florida this fall.
Similarly, Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society helped Julia* gain custody of her seven-year-old grandson Diego*. Born weighing only two pounds and facing
numerous health challenges and a learning disability, Diego needed stable care that his mother—who struggled with addiction and criminal issues—couldn’t provide.
Julia’s legal aid attorney helped her obtain custody and the necessary legal authority to ensure Diego receives the ongoing medical and educational support he requires.
Children’s Legal Services grants were funded by a combination of donations and IOTA collections. Last year, more than 4,500 lawyers donated $537,209 to Children’s Legal Services through The Florida Bar’s fee statement.
These stories represent just a fraction of the thousands of lives being improved through work funded by the Children’s Legal Services program. By providing targeted legal assistance at critical moments, legal aid lawyers break cycles of instability and create pathways to brighter futures for Florida’s most vulnerable children.
*Client names have been changed to protect their privacy.
