Dade Legal Aid

What Dade Legal Aid does

Dade Legal Aid (legally Dade County Legal Aid Society) is a Miami-based nonprofit legal aid organization providing free civil legal services to low-income residents of Miami-Dade County. Established in 1939 as a committee of the Dade County Bar Association and incorporated as a standalone entity by 1949, the organization employs 11-50 staff attorneys and support personnel and operates the Put Something Back (PSB) Pro Bono Project, the official pro bono program of the 11th Judicial Circuit. Services span domestic violence protection, family law, guardianship, bankruptcy, child advocacy, real property/housing, consumer matters, probate, and heirs' property protection, delivered directly by staff and through a referral network of 3,500+ volunteer attorneys and 200+ law firm signatories.

The organization runs no proprietary technology platform; intake is conducted through LegalServer-based online applications, phone intake (305-579-5733), and rotating courthouse-based in-person intake four days per week across South Dade Courthouse, Joseph Caleb Center, North Dade Justice Center, and Hialeah Courthouses. Sub-brands include the PSB clearinghouse, the Robert C. Josefsberg Leadership Academy, the Heirs' Property Protection Project, and the Venture Law Project. Services are provided at zero cost to clients meeting the 150% Federal Poverty Guidelines eligibility threshold.

Revenue is generated entirely through non-fee channels: filing fee allocations, Miami-Dade County appropriations, Florida Bar Foundation IOTA funding, Funding Florida Legal Aid grants, law firm sponsorships and 'buy-in' contributions ($350 per attorney under Florida Bar Rule 4-6.1), cy pres awards, United Way giving through the Miami Foundation, Knight Foundation disaster relief funding, and individual donations. Distribution is hybrid: direct staff-attorney delivery plus a clearinghouse referral model that matches screened eligible clients to pro bono volunteer attorneys and law firms across South Florida.

Name

Dade Legal Aid

Legal name

Dade County Legal Aid Society

Website

https://dadelegalaid.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dade Legal Aid is a Miami-based nonprofit providing free civil legal services to low-income Miami-Dade County residents at or below 150% of Federal Poverty Guidelines. It employs staff attorneys and operates the Put Something Back Pro Bono Project, the 11th Judicial Circuit's official pro bono program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Aid Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Defense & Legal Aid Services (BPAIAFAC), Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law (BPAHAAAK), Consumer Rights & Public Interest Advocacy (BPAGAFAK), Victim Services & Witness Assistance (Justice System) (BPAIAFAJ)

Keywords

• Legal aid services
• Pro bono representation
• Civil legal services
• Nonprofit legal assistance
• Family law services

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Pro Bono Legal Services: Free civil legal services provided to qualifying low-income residents across Miami-Dade County. Services are delivered at no cost to clients through staff attorneys and pro bono volunteer attorneys.
2. Government and Foundation Funding: Historically funded through filing fees from cases filed in Dade County Court, County budget allocations, Florida Bar Foundation grants, The Knight Foundation disaster relief funding, and other grant funding.
3. Law Firm Sponsorships and Charitable Donations: Law firms contribute through annual sponsorships, 'buy-in' contributions of $350 per attorney, Cy Pres awards, United Way Charitable Giving through Dade Legal Aid Fund at Miami Foundation, and estate planning designations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dade Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to qualifying low-income residents of Miami-Dade County through experienced staff attorneys handling matters including domestic violence, family law, guardianship, bankruptcy, consumer issues, probate, child advocacy, and real property. The organization also operates the Put Something Back (PSB) Pro Bono Project, which screens and refers eligible clients to volunteer pro bono attorneys and law firms as the Official Pro Bono Program of the 11th Judicial Circuit.

Product overview

Dade Legal Aid is a nonprofit organization providing free civil legal services to qualifying low-income residents of Miami-Dade County. The organization operates two primary programs: direct legal services delivered by staff attorneys covering domestic violence, family law, guardianship, bankruptcy, child advocacy, real property, and consumer matters; and the Put Something Back (PSB) Pro Bono Project, a clearinghouse that screens and refers eligible clients to pro bono volunteer attorneys. Supporting services include the Venture Law Project for entrepreneurs and small businesses, the Heirs' Property Protection Project, and various self-help and educational resources. The organization has operated since 1949 and partners with the 11th Judicial Circuit and the Dade County Bar Association.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Put Something Back Pro Bono Project (PSB): Official Pro Bono Program of Miami-Dade in partnership with the 11th Judicial Circuit. A clearinghouse that screens and refers eligible clients to pro bono attorneys in all areas of civil law.
• The Robert C. Josefsberg Leadership Academy
• Heirs' Property Protection Project
• Venture Law Project

Products and services

• Free Civil Legal Services Free civil legal representation provided to qualifying low-income residents of Miami-Dade County (at or below 150% of Federal Poverty Guidelines) by experienced staff attorneys. Covers matters including domestic violence, family law, guardianship, bankruptcy, consumer issues, probate, child advocacy, and real property/housing.
• Put Something Back Pro Bono Project (PSB) A clearinghouse referral service that screens low-income clients for income eligibility (150% Federal Poverty Guidelines) and matches them with volunteer pro bono attorneys and law firms across all areas of civil law. Operates as the Official Pro Bono Program of Miami-Dade's 11th Judicial Circuit in partnership with the courts and bar. Includes the 100% Law Firm Project and provides training, mentors, and materials to volunteer attorneys.
• Domestic Violence Legal Services Free legal assistance for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and human sex trafficking, including help obtaining temporary and permanent restraining orders, safety planning, divorce, custody, and related protections for qualifying low-income clients.
• Family Law Services Free legal representation in uncontested and contested family law matters including divorce, paternity, custody, adoption, name change, child support, and visitation for qualifying low-income individuals.
• Bankruptcy Services Pro bono referrals and free legal assistance for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases for qualifying clients throughout the Southern District of Florida, including telephone consults and referrals to virtual and in-person bankruptcy clinics.
• Guardianship Services Free legal representation for indigent residents serving as guardians for elderly, physically or mentally incapacitated family members, including services for children aging out of foster care.
• Child Advocacy Project Critical legal representation and support for vulnerable children in poverty, foster care, or aging out of dependency, including teen victims of human trafficking. Provides representation in dependency, delinquency, family, probate, and domestic violence courts.
• Real Property and Housing Services Free legal representation in housing and real property matters including deeds, foreclosure defense, liens, and contracts for qualifying low-income residents of Miami-Dade County.
• Venture Law Project Free legal services for emerging artists, arts groups, early-stage entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and small businesses in South Florida. Covers taxation, 501c3 incorporation, lease agreements, contracts, intellectual property, patent, and estate planning matters.
• Heirs' Property Protection Project Free legal aid to clear titles, draft wills (living wills and last testaments), and protect generational wealth for qualifying residents in Overtown and Liberty City whose homes may be titled in names of deceased relatives without clear ownership.
• Small Claims Court Assistance Step-by-step guidance and pro bono attorney assistance for small claims cases up to $8,000, including help with landlord-tenant problems, unpaid wages, and car repair disputes.
• Patent Pro Bono Project Intellectual property legal services for qualifying low-income inventors and artists in Florida and Puerto Rico, providing patent assistance through partnership with the USPTO.
• Court Self-Help Program Assistance for self-represented litigants in Family Court at the Family Courthouse and South Dade Justice Center, providing help with forms, guidelines, and procedural navigation for those handling their own family law matters.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 Miami-Dade residents receive free legal assistance annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• 11th Judicial Circuit Court of FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 11th Judicial Circuit partnered with Dade Legal Aid to create the comprehensive pro bono project in 1991, originally called 'Dade County Comprehensive Pro Bono Project.' The Circuit created its Pro Bono Committee and filed the first Pro Bono Plan in Florida with the Supreme Court. The program serves as the Official Pro Bono Program of the 11th Judicial Circuit.
• Arts Business Council, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership spanning over 25 years for the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts program. Also collaborates on the Venture Law Project supporting emerging artists, arts groups, and creative collaborations. Topics include Taxation, Employment, Intellectual Property, Formation, and By Laws.
• United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Patent Pro Bono Project serving as the official patent pro bono program for Florida and Puerto Rico, providing intellectual property legal services to qualifying low-income inventors and artists.
• Statewide Office of the Guardian ad Litem ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Children's Legal Collaborative/Child Advocacy Project, championing children's cases in Dependency and GRACE Court. Generously supported by Funding Florida Legal Aid (FFLA).
• Association of Corporate Counsel AmericasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration for the Venture Law Project and pro bono attorney matching for corporate counsel volunteer opportunities.
• Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of FloridasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Bankruptcy Project providing Chapter 7 & 13 bankruptcy assistance, including hosting virtual bankruptcy clinics and referring matters to pro bono attorneys.
• Miami Dade Bar AssociationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing partnership for lawyer referral services, co-hosting events including the annual Awards Luncheon and professional development programs.
• Volunteer Lawyers for the ArtssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram assisting struggling artists, emerging arts groups, and creative collaborations with legal expertise including taxation, employment, and intellectual property.
• Business Law Section of the Florida BarsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional association partnership for pro bono initiatives and attorney recruitment for business law matters.
• Law Schools (Florida International University, University of Miami, St. Thomas University)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with law schools for student involvement, certified legal interns, and clinic programs including St. Thomas University Bankruptcy Clinic.
• Veterans AffairssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for projects serving veteran clients needing civil legal assistance.
• Miami-Dade FACDL (Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerVoluntary bar association partnership for pro bono attorney recruitment and professional development.
• Miami-Dade FAWL (Florida Association of Women Lawyers)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerVoluntary bar association partnership for pro bono initiatives and women attorney involvement.
• Law Firm Supporters (Morgan Lewis, Podhurst Orseck, Greenspoon Marder, Shutts & Bowen, and 30+ others)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 30 law firm sponsors support Dade Legal Aid through annual sponsorships, law firm projects (100% Law Firm Project), pro bono case acceptance, and clinic staffing.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County: A Florida-based nonprofit legal aid organization delivering free civil legal services to low-income residents of Palm Beach County. It operates a similar staff-attorney-plus-pro-bono model for comparable practice areas (family, housing, consumer, DV) and competes with Dade Legal Aid for the same Florida Bar Foundation and IOTA funding pool.
• Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida: A mid-Florida legal aid society providing free civil legal services to low-income residents through staff attorneys and volunteer lawyers. Highly comparable mission, funding mix (Florida Bar Foundation, IOTA, county funding), and service line-up (family, housing, consumer, elder law).
• Bay Area Legal Services: A Florida nonprofit legal aid provider serving the Tampa Bay region with a comparable mix of staff attorneys and pro bono volunteers across civil practice areas. Operates a similar intake, funding, and volunteer recruitment model within the same statewide legal aid ecosystem.
• Atlanta Legal Aid Society: A long-standing nonprofit legal aid organization serving low-income residents of metropolitan Atlanta with a similar staff-and-pro-bono model across family, housing, consumer, and public benefits law. Comparable scale, mission, and reliance on court, bar, and foundation funding.
• Three Rivers Legal Aid (Jacksonville Area Legal Aid): A Florida-based legal aid nonprofit serving Northeast Florida with a similar staff-attorney-plus-pro-bono model for low-income civil legal needs. Directly comparable as a peer legal aid society operating under the same Florida Bar Foundation and IOTA funding umbrella.

Others

• Miami-Dade County Bar Association: The county bar association that originally founded Legal Aid as a committee in 1939 and remains a long-standing partner. It is not a service competitor but is the principal professional association through which Dade Legal Aid recruits volunteers and conducts outreach in the Miami legal community.
• Pro Bono Net: A national nonprofit that builds technology and infrastructure to support pro bono legal services. While not a direct competitor, it is a complementary ecosystem participant providing case-management and volunteer-matching tools used across the legal aid sector, including by Florida-based programs.

Regional players

• Florida Rural Legal Services: The statewide legal aid provider for rural and migrant farmworker communities in Florida. Comparable nonprofit mission and funding sources, but serves a distinct geographic constituency outside Miami-Dade.

Broad incumbents

• Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles: One of the largest nonprofit legal aid organizations in the United States, serving Los Angeles County. Comparable service model (staff attorneys plus pro bono) and practice mix, with materially greater scale and broader funding base.
• Legal Services Corporation: The federal funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans. Not a direct service competitor, but the principal national backbone funder of the legal aid ecosystem in which Dade Legal Aid operates and a primary reference point for funding, scope, and policy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DadeLegalAidPSB

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dade Legal Aid