Farah & Farah Serves Our Community
Are Florida’;s lawyers spending less time helping those who cannot pay?
The Florida Bar, which oversees and accredits lawyers in the state, reports that the number of hours Florida lawyers donate to the poor are on the decline, especially when you consider the growing number of lawyers that schools are churning out.
The average number of hours donated by Florida attorneys was 19.4 per years in 2003-2004, but only 17.2 in 2006-2007.
Young lawyers, eager to please their bosses, are less likely to spend time with clients who cannot pay than with clients who will add to their “billable hours” total. That ultimately is how one is judged in a big law firm.
Legal Aid organizations such as Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, established in 1976, provides legal aid to indigent and low income persons and asks local law firms to lend their expertise to specialty areas of the law and to help with the overload.
Farah & Farah is a proud supporter of JALA in time and resources.
The Florida Bar is commissioning a study to find out lawyers attitudes across the state about Pro Bono, or for the public, hours, but at Farah & Farah we’;ve already found that some of the most satisfying cases are ones that help people have their day in court.
The legal system is not fair to everyone unless it gives equal access to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
At Farah & Farah we are very aware of that concept and for 27 years have held the belief that we serve the community of Jacksonville and surrounding areas as a whole.
You may believe your case is too small and insignificant. Or that a big law firm won’;t give you the time of day because you are behind on your rent. We evaluate a case based on its merits- period.
Our doors are open to the community at Farah & Farah.
