On Dec. 8, 2023, the board of directors of FFLA approved the distribution of $33,870,910 of Interest on Trust Accounts (IOTA) funds to 35 Florida legal aid organizations. FFLA is the designated administrator of Florida’s Interest on Trust Accounts program. Under Bar Rule 5.1-1(g), FFLA distributes no less than 85% of IOTA funds collected in its fiscal year no later than six months after the end of its fiscal year. FFLA’s fiscal year runs July 1 to June 30.

“FFLA is pleased to announce that our grantees will benefit greatly from IOTA funding that has grown to four times more than last year’s funding under the 2023 amended IOTA rule,” Murray Silverstein, FFLA president, said. “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 collected $45,547,391 in IOTA collections during fiscal year 2022-23, its second year after the 2021 Bar rule amendment. $355,848 in accrued interest was 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.

A list of grantees and grant amounts is below.