All About BCLA
Services & Needs
BCLA offers services to all of Brevard from its centrally located office in Rockledge. In addition to BCLA's nine-person staff, non-attorney volunteers and student interns assist with a variety of tasks such as intake, research and clerical duties. Our In-house attorneys focus efforts on family law cases with an identified priority for survivors of domestic violence. Our Domestic Violence Project is a partnership with local domestic violence shelters and the Women's Center. BCLA also administers the county's pro bono program, coordinating delivery of service by private attorneys to clients with a wide range of legal problems. In addition to family law cases, BCLA also accepts guardianship cases, consumer cases, and defense of loss of property or money.
National studies have shown that poverty is likely to increase a person's need for legal assistance and that an inability to address legal problems will directly impact essentials of living including: adequate income, food, shelter, and protection of the family unit. Unfortunately, the legal needs of the poor in Brevard County far exceed the resources available to address them. According to Census data, approximately 13% of Brevard County's population lives at or near poverty. In fact, Brevard County's low-income population is greater that the entire population of many Florida counties. Although the number of attorneys available to assist poor persons has grown, the number of requests for legal services from financially eligible clients continues to exceed the attorney resources. Some estimates suggest that up to 80% of the legal needs of the poor goes unmet. Most requests for legal assistance are in the area of family law. Appointments for interviews are quickly filled with many emergency requests for services. Case acceptance criteria are applied so that immediate need cases, such as domestic violence and respondents with children, are given priority.
In addition to family law and domestic violence cases, BCLA staff attorneys represent children in foster care and provide assistance with housing and consumer matters. Other areas of law that are considered for representation are guardianship cases, education, and defense of loss of money, benefits or property. Due to the highly specialized nature of legal advocacy, meaningful access to justice especially within the court system can be particularly burdensome for the poor. BCLA's programs provide clients with the assistance they need to guarantee equal access to our system of justice and protection of important legal rights.
We are a non-profit (501-C3) agency that provides free legal civil service to indigent persons.
Governing Board
A Board of Directors comprised of nine attorneys and six non-attorneys that meet quarterly governs BCLA. Standing committees meet, as needed, to review policies and procedures and to prepare recommendations for the full Board. The members of the Brevard County Bar Association at the BCLA Annual Meeting elect the BCLA Board. To enhance the communication between the two Boards, an attorney member of the Brevard County Bar Association Board of Directors is appointed to serve as liaison on the BCLA Board. BCLA's corporation members are the members of the Brevard County Bar Association.