Florida Bar News - Legal aid creates positive client experiences with lawyers and provides a level of understanding of the legal system that builds trust

John Adams’ influence on the judiciary and the role of the law and lawyers is still felt today. His belief that defendants deserved equal counsel under the law directly influenced the Sixth Amendment, and today’s concept of legal aid is a direct result of his thinking.

Adams was deeply committed to equal representation before the law and was willing to place his reputation on the line for his principles. After the Boston Massacre, he defended the British soldiers accused of murdering five American colonists. On that matter, he later wrote, “Council ought to be the very last thing that an accused Person should want in a free Country,” and “every Lawyer must hold himself responsible not only to his Country, but to the highest and most infallible of all Tribunals.” In other words, lawyers must be committed to make the legal system work as intended.

Adams believed fairness for the litigant, regardless of their background, was fundamental to maintaining justice in society. For defendants facing legal proceedings for the first time, being represented by qualified counsel raises the comfort level for all parties and builds trust in the legal process. When litigants are informed about how court proceedings unfold, the possibility of a fair and just outcome increases. As attorneys, recognizing this fundamental tenet is an essential step in solving our profession’s most serious challenges.

ABA Journal - Each year, our organization, Community Legal Services, provides legal assistance to thousands of individuals who otherwise could not afford counsel. Our work, and that of the volunteer attorneys who support us, is essential in helping people navigate matters as simple as signing a lease or as complex as obtaining an injunction against an abusive spouse.

The vast majority of those we help are female (74%), and more than half of the households have a minor child at home. The issues they face are those that have the greatest impact on families—housing, safety and income stability. In these times, when both schedules and budgets are stretched thin, it is more important than ever to remind our communities, both professional and personal, of the overwhelmingly positive impact legal aid has on society.

Families face daunting challenges
To understand the impact, though, we must first look at the unique challenges families face, as reported by the National Women’s Law Center and other sources:

Federal Trade Commission - Have you gotten a call that looks like it’s from your local police department? Scammers are faking caller ID to impersonate local law enforcement, hoping to get you to pay. Learn how this scam works so you can avoid it.

The call comes from someone claiming they’re a sheriff or deputy at your local police department. They say they’ve confiscated a package with your name on it. It’s filled with money, illegal drugs, or weapons — and you’ll be arrested unless you pay a fine. To avoid being arrested, they might tell you to send cash, deposit money at a Bitcoin ATM, buy gift cards and give them the numbers, or send money over a payment app like Zelle, Cash App, or Venmo.

Even if the caller uses the name of a real officer, has a real number show up on caller ID, or has information about you (like your address), that’s not a real officer calling. It’s a scammer trying to steal your money. Here’s what to know: