Latest News & Updates from the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc.

Happy New Year!

It's been such a wonderful year for us here at the Legal Aid Society. We hope this new year brings you joy and everything else you desire. Our only wish is that you continue to support our organization so we can continue providing legal aid to those in need. We can't wait to see what the year 2024 has in store! Happy New Year everyone!

Brand New Episodes

Beginning in January, three new episodes of the Domino Effect will air. It will focus on the legal aid we provide to the homeless community, services for veterans, and assistance for individuals with mental health struggles. We have some special guests lined up, including attorney Michael Barber, Eric Gray from the Christian Service Center for Central Florida, and Norris Henderson from Mission United.

The Domino Effect series was created to help inform the Orange County community on updates and resources available to help them combat civil legal issues. During the series, host Jessica Thomas sits with Orange County’s government officials and community partners to discuss various topics regarding housing, human trafficking, consumer debt, elder law, veterans’ affairs, and more. Make sure you follow us on social media to catch the latest episodes.

Why Sponsor the Domino Effect? Here are a few benefits.

• Verbal Thank You message will be provided by the show host during the program (Note: Amount of Sponsorship will not be advertised). This will also include a 30-second commercial created by our Marketing and Communications department to be viewed in between each segment of each episode.

• Every episode will be aired on television and the radio: (Orange TV, Channel 488 on Spectrum, formerly Bright House, Channel 9 on Comcast, 1081 CenturyLink Prism TV, 10.3 Digital Over the Air, Vision TV(Channel 492 on Spectrum, formerly Bright House, Channel 98 on Comcast, 1082 on CenturyLink Prism TV, 10.3 Digital Over the Air.)

• Every episode will be posted on social media & and linked on our website as well as Orange TV's YouTube channel with over 8,000 subscribers!

• Every episode will be featured in The Monthly Docket Newsletter. (Sent to community partners, government officials, and media contacts).

For more information about sponsorship opportunities, contact Donna Haynes at [email protected].

Recently, the United States has extended Temporary Protected Status to Venezuelans. This includes temporary work permits and temporary relief from deportation. Ana Roberts, an immigration staff attorney at Legal Aid, has provided a detailed explanation of this TPS, along with important deadlines and instructions to follow below. If you need legal assistance regarding immigration, don't hesitate to contact us at 407-841-8310 or visit our website at www.legalaidocba.org.

Welcome Andrew Rodriguez to LAS!

Our Legal Aid family is growing. We are excited to have Andrew Rodriguez join our team as the new pro bono outreach assistant. Drew is motivated by a desire to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate and transitioned to the Legal Aid Society, where they continue to channel their expertise and knowledge to support individuals in need within our community. Welcome to the team Drew!

Legal Aid Society Lunchtime Trainings

The Legal Aid Society will be hosting a series of trainings providing in-depth insight to various legal issues. These Lunchtime trainings are reserved for Lawyers, Paralegals, & Law Students. These trainings are virtual requiring registration via Zoom.

To register, please contact Janis Mason ([email protected]) or Michelle Erazmus ([email protected]). All trainings will be uploaded on the Legal Aid Society website here.



Upcoming Trainings:

VIRTUAL ONLY -  January 23, 2024 “Looks Can Be Deceiving”

By: Case Coordinator Jackie Alvarez & GAL VAC Coordinator Kamia Taylor Guest Speaker: Kutara Wilford, Crisis Counselor

In this training attendees will learn how intersectionality affects the resources and opportunities provided to foster youth.

If attending in person, please make sure to register with Jmason@legalaidocba.org OR [email protected].

FREE LUNCH AND SPACE ARE LIMITED FOR IN PERSON TRAININGS

We have sponsorship opportunities for these informative trainings. Want exposure for your business within the legal community? Please contact Donna Haynes at [email protected] for more information. Thank You!

Save the Date

The Breakfast of Champions Fundraiser is all set for the next year! Keep an eye out for sponsorship and donation opportunities. Registration will be available from January. As you are aware, the Legal Aid Society heavily depends on donations and support from our community. Let's continue to collaborate to provide necessary legal assistance to our Orange County community.