A Joint Pro Bono Project of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit  and the Dade County Bar Association
"PRO BONO": Latin term meaning "for the public good".
 

ATTENTION ATTORNEYS! Click here to download application to volunteer your valuable pro bono services for the less fortunate, indigent residents of our community.
(Adobe Acrobat File/get it here)

The Put Something Back Pro Bono Project is the official program for providing pro bono, or free legal assistance to the needy population of Miami-Dade County. It is designed to increase access to the civil legal system by serving as an umbrella agency for referral to all other legal service providers and as a clearinghouse for attorneys who volunteer to help the indigent of the community.

Through this project, clients are referred to volunteer attorneys experienced in a wide range of legal matters, including: family cases; children's matters requiring Guardians Ad Litem in juvenile dependency, probate and civil court; consumer and housing concerns; domestic violence permanent injunction matters; AIDS and other health crisis issues; social security and veterans benefits; employment matters; the preparation and processing of Wills; and, non-fee generating civil court cases where damages at issue are greater than $5,000. Since its inception in 1992, the program has handled nearly 34,000 cases and recruited more than 7,000 attorneys, including 210 law firms who have signed up 100% of their membership.It is the largest and most comprehensive pro bono project in Florida.

Frequently Asked Questions
Put Something Back

• How does the program work?
• Who can receive free legal assistance through  Put Something Back?
• What type of legal matters are and are not handled by this program?
• Where do I go to apply for the program's services?
• What should I bring with me to the intake center to apply for the program's services?
• If I qualify for the program's free legal services,  will I be responsible for paying any costs?
• When is an interpreter needed if a person does not speak English?
• If I don't qualify for the program's free services,  who may I contact for legal assistance?
• For further information about Put Something  Back, who do I call?
• If I am a person with a disability and need  assistance, who do I call?
  
   

How does the program work?

At intake centers at the North Dade Justice Center, Joseph Caleb Center, South Dade Justice Center and Hialeah Neighborhood Center, experienced staff screen you for income eligibility and initially determine if your case qualifies for the program's free services. A limited number of persons will be seen on a first come, first serve basis and as most legal problems have time limits, you should act quickly. No case which requires attention within 21 days of your applying for this program's services will be accepted, except a domestic violence permanent injunction matter.

Who can receive free legal assistance through Put Something Back?

You may be eligible for free legal assistance through Put Something Back if: 1) Your household income is not greater than 125% of the federal poverty guidelines, and 2) You have a civil legal matter that is handled by Put Something Back's volunteer attorneys.To find out if you qualify for free legal assistance through this program, you must be screened by program staff at one of several intake centers throughout Miami-Dade County.

What type of legal matters are and are not handled by this program?

In general, the following civil court matters are handled by Put Something Back's volunteer attorneys: family cases; children's matters requiring the appointment of Guardians Ad Litem in juvenile, probate and civil court; consumer and housing concerns; domestic violence matters for persons seeking permanent injunctions for protection; AIDS and other health crisis issues; social security and veterans benefits; employment matters; the preparation and processing of Wills; and, civil lawsuits greater than $5,000 where you are the party being sued. Although the program generally does not handle small claims cases (lawsuits up to $5,000), several Small Claims Clinics are presented throughout the year in which the public can learn how to proceed through court without an attorney, in minor civil matters.Put Something Back also coordinates a "Wills on Wheels" Program, which assists the incapacitated elderly of our community who need help in the preparation of their Wills, but are unable to travel.

Cases that are not handled by the program include:Criminal, juvenile delinquency and traffic cases; civil cases where you are suing for money; small claims court cases (lawsuits up to $5,000), unless unusual circumstances exist; cases that can be settled by existingcourt mediation programs, such as landlord/tenant mediation; child support enforcement cases processed by the State Attorney's Office; any case, except a domestic violence permanent injunction matter, for which you need emergency legal attention within 21 days of your applying for the program's services; and, cases that can be handled by the Legal Aid Society or Legal Services of Greater Miami. To find out if your particular case qualifies, you must be screened by program staff at one of several intake centers throughout Miami-Dade County.

Where do I go to apply for the program's services?

A limited number of persons will be seen on a first come, first serve basis at the following intake center locations:

DAY	INTAKE CENTER LOCATION	TIME
1st & 3rd Monday of every month	South Dade Justice Center (Behind the Courthouse) 10710 S.W. 211th Street, Room 1801 Cutler Ridge, Florida	8:30 am
1st Tuesday of every month	Joseph Caleb Center 5400 N.W. 22nd Avenue Miami, Florida * Sign in first at information booth	8:30 am
1st Thursday of every month	Blanch Morton Neighborhood Center 300 E. 1st Avenue, Rm. 109 Hialeah, Florida * Sign in first at information booth	8:30 am
Tuesday & Thursday	Legal Aid Society 123 N.W. 1st Avenue Miami, Florida	8:30 am to 11:00 am

What should I bring with me to the intake center to apply for the program's services?

Please bring the following to verify your total household income and qualify your case for the program:

A picture ID, such as a driver's license, passport or resident card;

If you or other  members of your household are employed, bring copies of pay stubs or letters from employers stating incomes. If you or other members of your household are self-employed,  bring notarized affidavits explaining the nature of the work and income;

If you or other  members of your household receive any public assistance, bring  social security or other documents to verify the amount of benefits;

All persons should bring any legal papers and other documents which will assist program staff in determining the type of legal assistance needed.

If you misrepresent your income or the nature of your case, you may be rejected by the referral attorney. If your economic circumstances change at any time, you must notify the program's staff immediately.

If I qualify for the program's free legal services, will I be responsible for paying any costs?

Although your attorney's services will be free, you may have to pay for depositions, expert witnesses and other costs, depending on the type and complexity of your case.

If a person does not speak English, when is an interpreter needed?

Put Something Back staff who screen clients at the intake centers can assist Spanish and Creole- speaking persons. However, when meeting with an attorney assigned to the case, persons who do not speak English may be asked to bring someone to translate for them. Although program staff try to match non-English speaking clients with attorneys who speak their language, this is not always possible.

If I don't qualify for the program's free legal services, who may I contact for legal assistance?

If you do not qualify under Put Something Back's low income guidelines, or you have a case that is not handled by the program, intake staff will direct you to another program which may be able to assist you. One such program is the Florida Bar's Lawyer Referral Service Low Fee Panel , which provides referrals to private attorneys in all areas of the law who may charge reduced fees based on your household income. The Lawyer Referral Service also has an Elderly Referral Panel, an AIDS Law Panel and a Disability Law Panel for needy clients. For further information, please call 1-800-342-8011. You may also visit the Florida Bar's Homepage at http://www.flabar.org and click on "Consumer Services" for other law-related services and general information for the public.

If you are charged with a crime, the judge may assign an Assistant Public Defender to represent you if your household income (including assets) meets the Federal Poverty Guidelines and the crime you are charged with may result in a sentence of jail time. This generally includes all felony (major criminal) cases, some categories of misdemeanor (minor criminal) matters, and serious traffic cases involving multiple offenses, such as repeat DUI's (Driving Under the Influence). Information for Public Defender clients and their families can be found on the Public Defender's web site at http://www.pdmiami.com

For further information about Put Something Back, who do I call?

To reach Put Something Back, contact the Legal Aid Society at (305) 579-5733 ext. 2252.

NOTE: If you are a person with a disability and need assistance in contacting the Put Something Back office, please call the ADA Coordinator at Florida Relay Services by dialing 1-800-955-8771 (TDD). Ask to be connected to the Put Something Back project at telephone number (305) 579-5733 ext. 2252.

If I am a person with a disability and need assistance, who do I call?

If you are a person with a disability and need assistance in appearing in court or participating in a court program or service, please contact:

Please contact ADA Coordinator, at:

If you are a person with a disability and need assistance in contacting the Put Something Back office, please call the ADA Coordinator  at Florida Relay Services by dialing 1-800-955-8771 (TDD). Ask  to be connected to the Put Something Back project at telephone number (305) 579-5733 ext. 2252.