Overview of BCLA History
Past and Present

BCLA was established in 1970 by the Brevard County Bar Association when Bar members recognized the need to provide the county's low-income persons with meaningful access to the civil court system. The program began with one part-time person who performed intake and matched clients with pro bono (volunteer) attorneys. BCLA screened clients for eligibility then referred clients to attorneys who provided representation at no charge. The staff person was housed in a small county government office.

As the client and volunteer base expanded, BCLA hired full-time staff and moved to a building in Cocoa where several other non-profit agencies were located, establishing a relationship and referral system with other community service providers.

In 1985, through a grant from the Florida Bar Foundation, BCLA added a staff attorney position to represent indigent clients and to provide support to pro bono panel members. Also in 1985, Brevaard County adopted an ordinance providing for funding. In 1991, the agency moved to its current location in Rockledge.

We are a non-profit (501-C3) agency that provides free legal civil service to indigent persons.

In 1996, BCLA implemented a weekly advice clinic staffed entirely by pro bono attorneys.

In 1997, BCLA collaborated with the Women's Center and domestic violence shelters to add an additional attorney specializing in representation of survivors of domestic violence in need of protection.

In 2007, BCLA obtained ongoing Foundation funding for a children's program and hired an attorney to represent abused and neglected children in dependency court.

In 2008, BCLA obtained and utilized capital improvement grants to purchase a new office to better meet client needs.

BCLA now has a staff of 9 including four attorneys. The pro bono program has continued to grow and offers attorneys many options to serve the poor. 400 Brevard County attorneys support the pro bono effort through BCLA.