Helping is our passion
Southern Legal Counsel (SLC) is a non-profit law firm. We provide free legal help to low-income individuals with civil rights issues. For example, we help children with disabilities obtain needed educational services. We work to ensure that all LGBTQ+ students have access to safe and affirming learning environments where they can thrive and succeed. We advocate at state and local levels of government to challenge laws that infringe on the constitutional rights of persons who are unhoused. We compel the State to provide health services to Medicaid recipients in a fair and efficient manner. For more information, visit Our Work.
We use a combination of litigation, advocacy, and technical assistance to achieve the greatest impact. Our attorneys practice in federal, state and administrative courts. We provide legal representation, trainings and technical assistance, and free legal clinics.
Our services.
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Legal Representation
Do you need legal assistance? SLC provides legal representation in civil legal matters such as education advocacy, disability issues, LGBTQ+ equality, rights of people experiencing homelessness, and other civil rights. We primarily represent low income people.
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Collaboration with Attorneys
On issues in which we have expertise, SLC provides assistance to attorneys on their cases through one-on-one consultations, trainings, co-counsel, and mentorship.
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Community Outreach and Presentations
SLC provides a variety of information to community groups and individuals on issues ranging from navigating the special education process, changing name and gender markers on IDs, driver’s license suspensions, and LGBTQ+ cultural competency.
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Driver’s Licenses
SLC established that it is unlawful for clerks of court to suspend driver’s licenses for not paying fees, fines and court costs for ordinance violations. Learn more about this, and find out if your driver’s license was unlawfully suspended.
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Name Change
SLC tackled a common legal need of transgender people – access to identification documents that accurately reflect their gender identity. SLC revolutionized access to these processes by creating a website with step-by-step, county by county guidance for updating legal names and gender markers on IDs. The site is a tool that all Floridians can use regardless of gender identity.
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Legal Clinics
SLC promotes access to justice by holding in-person and virtual clinics. Participants learn about their rights and how to advocate for themselves, while working with pro bono volunteers to develop strategies for addressing legal issues. SLC holds clinics on special education issues, obtaining legal name and gender marker changes, and general legal assistance for homeless individuals.
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Career Opportunities for Students
Do you want experience working in a civil rights public interest law firm? SLC offers student opportunities for internship/externship or volunteer placements for undergraduates, graduates, law students, and social work students.
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Pro Bono Opportunities for Attorneys
Pro bono counsel can assist low income Floridians in a variety of ways from a higher level of commitment by co-counseling on high-impact, systems-changing litigation to more limited representation on individual matters, brief advice, legal research, and other limited scope litigation assistance.
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Resources
SLC provides a variety of resources such as Know Your Rights pamphets, Legal Notes on LGBTQ+ school issues, manuals and newsletters.