history

SLC was created to fulfill a special role.  While some low income people have access to legal aid or to free or pro bono lawyers, many do not. 

And many individuals come upon the same obstacles that they cannot fix so the resolution requires a systemic approach to end unlawful or discriminatory practices.  SLC has focused on the people and issues that are in greatest need of civil legal assistance.

independence

A hallmark of SLC has always been our independence; we receive no governmental funding, allowing us to work on improving local, state and federal systems without fear of repercussions.  While we have developed areas of expertise, SLC’s unique mission is to fill the gaps of unmet legal needs and promote the general public interest.

public interest

In 1977, Jon Mills was the director of the newly formed Center for Governmental Responsibility (CGR) at the University of Florida College of Law, and was heading the school’s Executive Impoundment Project, working with Congress investigating former President Nixon. Mills, Chesterfield Smith, then-law school Dean Joseph Julin, Michael McIntosh and Joseph Onek formed SLC as a separate entity to be able to litigate independent of the law school. A former stand-out CGR law clerk, Albert J. Hadeed was selected as SLC’s first Executive Director to spearhead the new public interest law firm.

positive impact

From the beginning, SLC made a positive impact on its service areas.  Its efforts on behalf of the environment, for example, led to the creation of 1000 Friends of Florida, with SLC serving as its first general counsel.  Grants from the Governor’s Commission on Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities (now Disability Rights Florida) allowed SLC for many years to focus on significant issues impacting individuals with disabilities.

Leadership

In 1996, when Congress passed restrictions on Legal Services Corporation (LSC) programs, The Florida Bar Foundation was a national leader in developing a “companion system” and funded programs like SLC to pursue the kind of work that LSC programs no longer could, e.g., class actions and claims for attorneys’ fees.  As a state leader on special education issues, SLC began receiving a grant in 1999 from the Foundation’s newly established Children’s Legal Services program.  The goal was to mentor legal aid lawyers to increase the number of lawyers and improve the representation of low income children with special education needs.