Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association

What Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association does

The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc. is a Florida-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in the early 1960s and formally incorporated in 1967, headquartered at 100 E. Robinson St., Orlando. It provides free civil legal services to low-income residents of Orange County, Florida, with approximately 90 staff members (per the homepage) including 27 attorneys, augmented by a network of 3,200+ pro bono volunteer attorneys recruited through the Orange County Bar Association. The organization was designated by the State of Florida in 1978 as the administrative agency for the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program in Orange County and operates a unique attorney-led GAL model paired with trained lay Volunteer Advocates for Children (VACs), a structure that distinguishes it from the layperson GAL model used in other Florida counties.

Its service portfolio spans direct civil legal representation (family law, housing, consumer law, guardianship, estate planning, sealing/expungement, social security), the GAL Program serving dependent children, the VALOR Project (medical-legal partnership with the Orlando VA Hospital for veterans), EPIC eviction prevention program, VITA Tax Clinic, and nine specialized pro bono projects. The underlying technology is the LegalServer case management system, which supports client intake (including an online application portal at lasocbaoi.legalserver.org), case tracking, and a self-serve pro bono attorney portal at lasocba.legalserver.org for case selection and time records. The organization does not offer a commercial software product.

The business model is donation- and grant-funded rather than revenue-generating: services are 100% free to qualifying clients, with operating support coming from a diversified mix of attorney contributions (~$400,000 annually), Heart of Florida United Way (30+ year partner), The Florida Bar Foundation IOLTA grants, City of Orlando and Orange County Government appropriations, Dr. Phillips Charities, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, court filing fee add-ons (one of the first legal aid programs to use this mechanism), and event-based fundraising (annual Breakfast of Champions, OCBA Law Day 5K, vehicle donations, stock gifts). The go-to-market motion is community-led: referrals from courts, United Way, government agencies, and community organizations, complemented by phone, walk-in, online, and on-site VA clinic intake channels.

Name

Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association

Legal name

Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc.

Website

https://legalaidocba.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association is a Florida nonprofit, founded in 1967, that provides free civil legal services to low-income residents of Orange County, Florida, with approximately 90 staff including 27 attorneys, a network of 3,200+ pro bono attorneys, and the state-designated Guardian ad Litem Program for dependent children.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Legal Aid Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (54111), Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAM

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAGAEAE

Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

Keywords

• Civil legal aid
• Pro bono services
• Guardian ad litem
• Family law assistance
• Nonprofit legal services

Headquarters

HQ city

Orlando

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Financial donations from individuals, law firms, and community members. Attorney contributions provide about $400,000 annually.
2. Foundation and Government Grants: Grants from The Florida Bar Foundation (IOLTA program), City of Orlando, Orange County Government, Dr. Phillips Charities, and Bob Woodruff Foundation.
3. United Way Funding: Heart of Florida United Way has provided funding for over 30 years as a major funding source.
4. Court Filing Fee User Fee: One of the first legal aid programs to receive financial support through a user fee add-on to court filing fees in civil cases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Legal Aid Society provides free civil legal representation and advice to low-income residents of Orange County, Florida, covering family law, housing, consumer law, guardianship, estate planning, small claims, social security, sealing/expungement, and related areas. It also administers the Guardian ad Litem Program, pairing licensed attorneys and trained Volunteer Advocates for Children to represent dependent children, and operates specialized pro bono projects such as the VALOR veterans clinic, VITA tax clinic, mediation, and re-entry clinic.

Product overview

The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association is a nonprofit civil legal aid organization operating as a single unified program (not a multi-product platform) in Orlando, Florida. Its core offering is free civil legal services for low-income residents, children, and disadvantaged groups, delivered through an integrated service model combining staff attorneys (approximately 50 staff, 18 attorneys), a network of 3,200+ volunteer pro bono attorneys, and trained lay volunteers. The primary programs include direct legal representation (family law, housing, consumer, immigration, guardianship, estate planning), the Guardian ad Litem Program for dependent children, and nine specialized pro bono projects (VALOR veterans clinic, VITA tax clinic, Teen Court, mediation, re-entry, and more). Supporting infrastructure includes free CLE training for volunteers, an online intake/application portal, a community education hub (Know Your Rights resources in multiple languages), and annual fundraising events. The organization does not offer a commercial software product; all services are direct-delivery legal aid.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Guardian ad Litem Program: A program that provides best interest representation for dependent children in Orange County, pairing licensed attorneys with Volunteer Advocates for Children (VACs).
• Guardian ad Litem (GAL)
• VALOR Project
• VITA Tax Clinic
• EPIC Program

Products and services

• Free Civil Legal Services Provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents, children, and disadvantaged groups in Orange County, Florida, covering family law, housing law, consumer law, guardianship, estate planning, social security, and sealing/expungement matters.
• Guardian ad Litem Program Trained attorney and lay volunteers (VACs) advocate for abused, abandoned, and neglected children in dependency, delinquency, and domestic relations proceedings in Orange County juvenile, criminal, and domestic relations courts.
• Pro Bono Attorney Program Recruits and supports Florida Bar attorneys to handle pro bono civil cases in family, housing, consumer, expunction, and other legal areas, placing over 1,000 new pro bono cases annually through a 3,200+ volunteer attorney network.
• VALOR Clinic (Veterans Advocacy, Legal Outreach & Representation) Provides free civil legal services to veterans and their families through a medical-legal partnership with the Orlando VA Hospital, with monthly on-site intake clinics at Baldwin Park and Lake Nona VA locations.
• VITA Tax Clinic IRS-sponsored free tax preparation program assisting low-income taxpayers with filing tax returns, offered both virtually and in-person during tax season.
• Citizen Dispute Settlement / Family Law Mediation Free mediation service for Orange County residents provided in partnership with the Orange County Bar Association to resolve civil disputes and family law matters without going to court.
• Volunteer Advocates for Children (VAC) Program Trains and deploys non-attorney community volunteers to work alongside attorney GALs in gathering records, interviewing witnesses, meeting children, and monitoring case progress for dependent children in dependency proceedings.
• EPIC (Eviction Prevention in the Community) Eviction prevention program offering financial assistance, budget counseling, referrals, and housing support to Orange County families at risk of homelessness with minor children and court-filed evictions.
• Online Application Portal Secure online intake application system allowing prospective clients to apply for legal services electronically across family law, housing, consumer, guardian advocacy, small claims, estate planning, social security, and sealing/expungement matters.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 clients assisted annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Orange County Bar AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner organization. Volunteer attorneys from OCBA provide pro bono legal services. OCBA provides Citizen Dispute/Family Law Mediation Service. Jointly hosted fellowship program for law students. Organization incorporated in 1967 through OCBA attorney volunteers.
• Plaza Live OrlandominorOthersEvent venue for Breakfast of Champions annual fundraiser held at Plaza Live Orlando on October 15, 2026.
• Orlando VA HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical-legal partnership with Orlando Veterans Hospital for the VALOR Project providing on-site legal intake clinics for veterans.
• Careasy.orgminorOthersVehicle donation partner enabling donors to contribute cars, trucks, boats, RVs and other vehicles. Net proceeds support Legal Aid Society programs.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Three Rivers Legal Services: A nonprofit legal aid organization serving low-income residents across North Central Florida (Gainesville, Lake City, and surrounding counties). Comparable as a Florida civil legal aid provider with similar funding sources, pro bono model, and practice areas including family law, housing, and consumer issues.
• Florida Rural Legal Services: A nonprofit legal aid organization serving low-income residents across rural Florida counties. Comparable as a Florida legal aid society providing free civil legal services in family, housing, consumer, and public benefits areas with similar IOLTA, United Way, and government funding sources.
• Southern Legal Counsel: A Florida statewide nonprofit providing impact litigation and advocacy on behalf of low-income individuals and people with disabilities. Comparable as a Florida legal aid organization with overlapping practice areas but differentiated by an impact-litigation rather than direct-services model.
• Bay Area Legal Services: A Florida-based nonprofit legal aid organization serving the Tampa Bay area and surrounding counties. Comparable as a regional civil legal aid provider delivering free services across family law, housing, consumer, and public benefits, with a similar volunteer-attorney-driven model and IOLTA/United Way funding mix.
• Jacksonville Area Legal Aid: A nonprofit civil legal aid organization serving low-income residents of Duval, Clay, Nassau, Baker, and St. Johns counties in Northeast Florida. Directly comparable as a Florida legal aid society offering free civil legal services across similar practice areas, with a comparable pro bono model and GAL-adjacent advocacy programs.
• Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida: A nonprofit legal aid organization serving Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties. Comparable as a regional Florida civil legal aid society with similar funding base and service offerings, though operating in the more urban South Florida market with higher client volumes.
• Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County: A nonprofit legal aid organization serving Palm Beach County, Florida with free civil legal services. Closely comparable in legal name, mission, funding model (United Way, IOLTA, local government), and service breadth including family law, housing, and consumer matters.
• Mid-Florida Legal: A nonprofit legal aid organization serving Central Florida including Polk, Highlands, Hardee, and surrounding counties (formerly Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida). Most direct geographic comparable to LAS — operates within commuting distance of Orlando with overlapping service areas and similar practice-area mix for low-income residents.

Broad incumbents

• Florida Legal Services: The statewide support center for Florida's civil legal aid programs, providing training, technology, and resources to local legal aid providers. Comparable in mission but operates as an umbrella/back-office organization rather than direct client services; LAS is one of its member programs.

Others

• The Florida Bar Foundation: The largest statewide funder of civil legal aid in Florida through its IOLTA grant program. Comparable not as a service peer but as a major funding partner relationship; has been a core funder of LAS since the 1980s and is referenced across multiple program descriptions.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalaidocba.org%2Fhistory-of-the-legal-aid-society-vac-program%2F&t=History%20of%20the%20Legal%20Aid%20Society%20VAC%20Program
• Xx.com/lasocba
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/legal-aid-society-of-the-orange-county-bar-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association