The latest news and updates |
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A Message From Executive Director Silvia McLain, Esq. |
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I have had the honor to serve as Executive Director for our legal aid program for the last 32 years. I have great appreciation and admiration for the generosity and devotion of Seminole County community. Where can you find a neighborhood legal aid doing work that is deeply rooted in our local community, supported by an excellent board of directors, amazing funding partners, exceptional pro bono attorneys, dedicated college and law student volunteers and exemplary staff working together to help vulnerable residents obtain needed legal support to produce significant and positive outcomes for individuals and families. We help victims of domestic violence, the disabled, the elderly and other vulnerable residents of Seminole County with free legal services. Our clients are able to gain financial stability, secure safe housing, escape domestic violence and improve their quality of life.
It has been a particular challenging year with many members of our community experiencing very difficult times. We appreciate all your support to our legal aid program. Thank you.
Below your will read about individuals that we had the honor to be their lawyer. You will finds statistics and data about our services for the last fiscal year. And you will meet some of our staff attorneys who are supported by an amazing support staff. Through it all you will see the ways that you have helped to bring more justice and less poverty in Seminole County.
- Assisted 956 residents and 1036 children with legal issues
- Helped 701 residents with family law issues
- Assisted 255 residents with housing law issues
- Helped 128 senior clients with legal issues
- Helped 74 military veterans with legal issues
- 192.2 hours donated by pro bono attorneys to the Volunteer Lawyers Program
- Pro bono hours resulted in $67,270 worth of billable attorney hours to our bottom line
- Obtained court orders in the annual amount of $272,740.14 in child support and arrears and alimony
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A retired schoolteacher requested our assistance to obtain temporary custody of her two grandchildren. She explained that her daughter and her husband were addicted to fentanyl and were unable to properly take care of their two young children. The oldest child had been absent 34 days from his elementary school class and was struggling academically. The younger child was not enrolled in the voluntary pre-kindergarten. Both children were present when the father of the children overdosed, and first respondents arrived at the house to revive him. The house was in disrepair and there was limited food in the refrigerator. The grandmother picked up the children and requested our free legal assistance to secure the safety of the children. We immediately accepted the case and filed the necessary paperwork in court to secure the grandmother custody of her two grandchildren. Now the children are regularly attending school and live in a safe and loving home. |
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Upon receiving a referral from our local domestic violence shelter, our office made contact with Carolyn, a mother of five who recently become estranged from her Husband after he physically abused their eldest daughter. Upon witnessing the abuse, Carolyn contacted law enforcement and her Husband was arrested. She also pursued and received a Final Judgment of Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence on behalf of her victim daughter. Our office provided representation to Carolyn in obtaining a dissolution of marriage from her abusive Husband. With our assistance, Carolyn filed for and obtained a Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage which provided for a determination of parental responsibility and timesharing consistent with the best interests of the children and which served to protect Carolyn’s eldest daughter from future abuse. |
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Johnathan lived in an apartment in Altamonte Springs. He was laid off from his construction job in March due to COVID. He quickly obtained another job and was able to work for several months at his new job when again he was laid off. He did not have sufficient funds to renew his driver licenses and had difficulty obtaining another job due to his inability to drive. He would walk and catch busses and rides from friends to try to find another job. He then received an eviction notice. He was in despair when he contacted our legal aid office. No matter what he did he could not get out of his situation. Our staff paralegal forwarded him a flyer for the new CARES money available in Seminole County for tenants affected by COVID and scheduled him an appointment to speak with a staff attorney. Johnathan was approved for the CARES rental and utility assistance and the attorney was able to negotiate with his landlord’s attorney to accept the CARES rental assistance and dismiss the case. Johnathan was so happy and grateful. He now has a new job, a renewed driver license and a place to call home. The staff attorney involved in this case forwarded the information to the county to show how the CARES program and our free legal assistance was able to make a significant positive impact in the life of a Seminole County Resident. It was a happy result just before Thanksgiving holiday. |
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Javier is a combat wounded and disabled veteran who needed assistance with a divorce. His wife was living in his home in Puerto Rico and he had no idea how to start a divorce case in Florida or what he needed to do. He was concerned about his home in Puerto Rico which he purchased before the marriage, and he was paying the mortgage and expenses with the home. He wanted to make sure his divorce papers said that the house was his because he was concerned his wife could continue to live there. The staff attorney agreed to represent him in his divorce and filed the necessary papers. Then the staff attorney was able to locate a process server in Puerto Rico to get the wife served with the divorce documents. When the case was ready to be heard in court, the staff attorney notified the court and a trial was held. The veteran appeared in court for the trial with the staff attorney and the judge granted the divorce. The judge also ordered that the home in Puerto Rico is exclusively the husband’s property. The Veteran was very grateful and appreciative of all the staff attorney did for him, as he said he could not have done it by himself. |
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As we welcome the new year we ask you to please consider assisting our community by accepting pro bono cases or by contributing to pro bono in lieu of service. To complete your preference form through our website please click here or to donate please click the button below. |
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Meet 3 of Our 4 Staff Attorneys |
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Staff Attorney Sue Selsky was admitted to the Florida Bar in October of 2003, after graduating Cum Laude from Barry University School of Law in 2002. She started working for SCBALAS in January 2004. She also took the Connecticut Bar and successfully passed that and was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in December 2004. Sue Selsky is a member of the Florida Bar Family Law Section Domestic Violence Committee, and the Children’s Issues Committee, and she has been actively involved with the Florida Bar Family Law Section committees since 2010. She is also a member of the Seminole County Human Trafficking Task Force and the Seminole County Bar Association, as well as the Central Florida Association of Women Lawyers. |
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Yvonne Alonso joined our legal aid team in June of 2007. She currently handles family law and landlord tenant housing matters and applications for public benefits through the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. During her tenure at legal aid, Yvonne has served as the Affiliate Outreach Chair for the Seminole County Young Lawyer’s Division, Vice and current Co-Chair of the Florida Bar, Family Law Section Domestic Violence Committee and is a past and current member of the Children’s Issues Committee. Yvonne also serves on the Seminole County Domestic Violence Task Force. When not working, Yvonne enjoys spending time with her husband, Brad, and their children. |
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Joanne Desile, Esq. is a Staff Attorney with the Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society. Joanne earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Paralegal Studies from Everest University. She then earned a Juris Doctor from Florida A&M University College of Law.
Prior to joining Seminole County Legal Aid, Joanne was employed as an Assistant State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orlando, Florida, where she prosecuted and tried numerous criminal cases. Attorney Desile now practices in the areas of Family Law and Landlord – Tenant law with Seminole County Legal Aid.
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Monica is a Senior Political Science student at the University of Central Florida. She was born and raised in Cuba. She intends to apply to law school after graduating from UCF so she may continue to give back to her community. |
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Amanda is a junior at the University of Florida studying English and Business. At UF she is involved in the English Society and Pre-Legal Honor Society’s Mock Trial team. She is planning on graduating in the summer of 2021 and hopes to attend a law school in Florida after graduation.” |
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New Administrative Orders |
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In re: Covid-19 Public Health and Safety Precautions for Operational Phase Transition
In re: Comprehensive Cvodi-19 Emergency Measures for Florida Appellate Courts
In re: Workgroup on the Continuity of Court Operations and Proceedings During and After Covid-19
In re: Comprehensive Covid-19 Emergency Measures for Florida Trial Courts
In re: COVID-19 Vaccine Administration/ Protecting Florida's Seniors
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Upcoming Events
January 1, 2021 - New Years Day
January 18, 2021 - Martin Luther King Day
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A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL FREE 1-800-435-7352, WITHIN THE STATE OR ONLINE AT WWW.FRESHFROMFLORIDA.COM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. OUR REGISTRATION NUMBER IS 1944. |
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