History

The quality of justice in America should not depend on how much money a person can pay. The Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County (LASPBC), founded 75 years ago, stays true to its roots and mission – To provide equal access to justice for all. Legal assistance is often the only help available to people facing life-altering consequences, such as losing their homes, employment, or custody of their children.

Unlike the Sixth Amendment right to counsel in criminal proceedings, there is no right to a lawyer in most civil cases. This puts justice out of reach for low-income people and undermines a fundamental principle of our nation: the amount of money a person has should not determine the quality of justice they receive.

LASPBC has grown along with Palm Beach County

From its humble beginnings with one attorney in a corner office, the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County has blossomed into a thriving nonprofit law firm. With over 160 dedicated employees and 21 impactful programs, we now serve over 8,000 clients annually in Palm Beach County and beyond.

In 1949, a group of local attorneys recognized the need for Pro Bono (free) services for the community and employed one attorney with office hours from 2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, whose purpose was to give free legal advice to the poor on matters regarding domestic relations and probate. Court litigation was referred out to Palm Beach County Bar Association members who took cases on a voluntary, no-fee basis.

Through the 50s and 60s, the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County not only grew its staff but also adjusted its hours to better serve the community. We moved into a larger office building, a testament to our commitment to expanding our reach and impact.

By the late 1970s, with the completion of Interstate 95 connecting Miami to Palm Beach County and beyond, the building of high-rises, hotels, and malls brought retirees, workforce employees, and children needing improved schools. This population influx created an emerging impact on health and legal issues for seniors, domestic violence, gender inequalities, civil rights, fair housing, and access to education. Legal Aid recognized the needs of the new residents and continued to expand their reach.

Enter Bob Bertisch

In November 1980, the LASPBC Board of Directors hired Robert A. Bertisch as the Executive Director, a post he still holds today. At the time, Legal Aid had a team of 12 fighting for the county’s most impoverished. Under Bob’s leadership, LASPBC started receiving grant funds from The United Way of Palm Beach County and the Area Agency on Aging to address the needs of the growing senior population.

Bob has always positioned himself and Legal Aid to meet emerging needs head-on. One example of his insight was during the 1987 AIDS crisis. Belle Glade was the epicenter of AIDS cases in the United States. Those affected were not receiving appropriate care, and many were facing employment discrimination, harassment, and worse. LASPBC was one of the only nonprofits to receive funding to address the crisis.

Bob’s heart for the underdog is an intertwined thread in the daily work of his now 160 employees.

During the 90s, the reputations of both Bob and Legal Aid became one to trust and rely on. Therefore, the agency was asked to expand its reach to help increasingly marginalized community members.

By 1992, there was an influx of children in the foster care system. These children often languished in state care, and Legal Aid was tasked with creating the Juvenile Advocacy Project to provide attorney ad litems to children and youth aged 12 to 22. Soon after the Juvenile Advocacy Project was created, a critical need was identified for the younger children entering shelter care in Palm Beach County to be provided with legal representation. In response, the Children’s Services Council asked Legal Aid to get involved, and the Foster Children’s Project was created.

When working with their young clients, Legal Aid’s staff saw the need to include social workers and support staff to safeguard the rights of the children they represent. By adding social workers to the team, they were able to make an impact by ensuring that children who are at risk are provided with the evaluations, treatment, community services, and legal representation they require.

Legal Aid’s Children’s Projects provide holistic legal representation by addressing the child’s issues in all forums, including educational, immigration, and criminal courts. These award-winning programs have been named two of the best children’s law offices in the nation and have been nationally studied and proven to get children better outcomes.

In 1994, LASPBC started the Ryan White HIV/AIDS project with funding from the Federal Government. That same year, the Public Guardianship Project was started in which LASPBC is the legal guardian for community members who have no one else to ensure they are safe, healthy, and receiving their benefits. Both projects are still assisting the community today.

In 1996, Legal Aid began the Immigrant Advocacy Project (IAP) to assist immigrants with a myriad of legal issues. IAP prioritizes people facing compelling personal circumstances, child abuse and abandonment, violent crime victims, human trafficking victims, and individuals facing severe health challenges or life-altering disability with limited access to health insurance and medical care. Often clients have incurred terrible events and circumstances through no fault of their own. Legal Aid’s representation helps clients find security and access, hopefully allowing them to overcome compelling life challenges.

Legal Aid addresses emerging needs

Legal Aid has been at the forefront of many emerging issues. An example was in 2013 during the country’s shift to the Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obama Care.” The program’s rollout included a time-sensitive application that required a website. This created many barriers for citizens who lacked computers, internet access, and the ability to read. Florida Governor Rick Scott was against the program and barred navigators from state health offices. Recognizing the importance and significance of health care, Legal Aid started a Navigator program, employed seven navigators, and assisted thousands in securing the needed insurance.

More recently, the crisis in Ukraine after the Russian invasion brought an influx of new community members needing help, and the staff of Legal Aid responded in force, having gained experience from the Bahamas crisis after Hurricane Dorian. During that time, the Port of Palm Beach welcomed evacuees by the thousands. Legal Aid was tasked with addressing the emerging needs of the Bahamians who were now temporary residents of our country. Attorneys met with the displaced and offered legal advice and support during their temporary stay. LASPBC set up a hotline that allowed the Bahamians to reach out with questions and provided guidance on avoiding scams and navigating their new and temporary living and work environment.

Today, the agency is a thriving nonprofit with a $15 million budget. It employs subject matter attorneys and support staff and operates 21 unique and impactful programs.

Legal Aid members have led groundbreaking investigations and litigation involving the juvenile delinquency system, child welfare system, healthcare administration, plus many more.

The systematic work of their Education Advocacy Project (EAP) demonstrates an ongoing commitment to legal access for all students. For instance, Legal Aid’s EAP filed a federal Office Of Civil Rights complaint regarding unlawful barriers to enrollment for English Language Learner families and the misuse of school police. Additionally, Legal Aid successfully litigated a federal class action complaint about the solitary confinement of youth and the lack of access to educational services. Legal Aid also joined with local, state, and national organizations in a federal action regarding the inappropriate involuntary mental health commitments of students with disabilities in Palm Beach County schools. Each of these actions solidified the rights of marginalized students.

For people facing civil legal challenges, such as unlawful evictions, foreclosure, domestic abuse, or denial of government assistance, navigating the justice system without a lawyer can be daunting and nearly impossible. In times of uncertainty, Legal Aid has positioned itself to be the first place to turn. Legal Aid programs help ensure fair representation in the justice system.

Meeting clients where they are

LASPBC goes well beyond the courtroom. Legal Aid employees can be found at various community centers, festivals, parades, the Veterans Administration, and more. Providing education to the community on legal rights and teaching individuals how to prevent becoming a victim is a large part of the mission of Legal Aid. “We want to prevent our community members from becoming a statistic or a victim. To that end, we are involved in our community and educate our neighbors on their rights,” said Supervising Attorney Tequisha Myles.

Looking toward the Future

Today, when visiting the Legal Aid office on Fern Street in downtown West Palm Beach, you may see a mix of clients: grandparents in the Relative Care Project, Seniors needing assistance, parents seeking access to educational services, and LGTBQ+ residents needing support.

Emerging issues such as housing security, wage disputes, veterans affairs, domestic violence prevention, and advocacy on behalf of children in the foster care system remain at the forefront of the mission.

New projects continue to be created. One of the most recent programs, the Heirs Project, assists residents with legal documents to ensure they have the right to their family homes. Additionally, the well-respected Veterans’ Advocacy Project promotes veterans’ financial stability and long-term self-sufficiency. Legal Aid also continues to prioritize protecting the rights of marginalized community members, such as LGBTQ+ people and the undocumented.

With over 21 programs and growing, the Legal Aid Society is not slowing down anytime soon. One of the critical components to the success of Legal Aid is the involvement of volunteers as pro bono attorneys and fundraisers.

Legal Aid started as a Pro Bono project, and Pro Bono continues to be a cornerstone of the agency’s success. Pro bono assistance from private attorneys is an invaluable adjunct to the services provided by Legal Aid Staff. Pro bono attorneys allow LASPBC to serve more community members and accomplish change. Over 11,000 pro bono hours are donated each year, directly serving clients. Pro Bono attorneys can volunteer in various ways: at a clinic, taking a case, reviewing notes, or creating a new project. In 2022, a Pro Bono case spearheaded by local attorneys at Holland and Knight went as far as Federal Court and impacted the Fair Housing Act.

Volunteers also help raise much needed funds for the Legal Aid budget. There are two signature events: The Justice For All Celebration every May and the Cup of Justice Golf Tournament in October. Community members also host small fundraising events throughout the year, and the voluntary bar associations often hold fundraising events to benefit LASPBC.

“The need for our services is unrelenting, and some of our projects have waiting lists that we will never see the end of,” said Bob Bertisch. “What we really need is more funding and more volunteer attorneys. The more money we have to hire attorneys, the more people we can serve.” Every dollar raised at Legal Aid stays local. By helping our residents improve their lives, we are genuinely helping the whole community. Legal Aid relies on donations from individuals, grants from foundations, and a few government agencies. Legal Aid has a volunteer Board of Directors and Board of Trustees. Learn more about how to volunteer or support the mission of Legal Aid.