As Consumer Needs Rise, Bay Area Legal Introduces New Consumer & Federal Litigation Services Position
Amanda J. Allen is appointed Director of Consumer and Federal Litigation, leading a new area of practice that was developed directly in response to community demand.
Consumer legal issues are among the top three areas of rising legal needs identified in Bay Area Legal Services’ 2026 Legal Needs Assessment.
From predatory, deceptive, or unfair business practices, to consumer fraud and scams, these are just a few of the issues people in our community are facing, often without anywhere to turn for legal help.
Bay Area Legal Services is meeting this growing need head-on with a new Consumer and Federal Litigation area of practice, led by Amanda J. Allen, who stepped into the role in July 2026.
"When the economy suffers, consumer issues rise," Allen said. "We're seeing that firsthand in the people who come to us for help."
This new practice area will allow Bay Area Legal to take on a broader range of consumer cases, helping individual clients protect their rights and financial security.
[Consumer issues] touch nearly every area of our work, from veterans and seniors, to housing and disaster recovery. Consumer protection is woven into so many of the challenges our clients are facing."
Allen previously served as a staff attorney with Bay Area Legal's Major General Ernest A. and Marilyn Bedke Veterans Law Center and the Veterans Legal Helpline. Before joining Bay Area Legal, she practiced at a large law firm and later co-founded a private law practice. Over the course of her 15-year legal career, she has spent 13 years focused exclusively on federal consumer litigation, and has received national recognition for her work protecting the rights of consumers.
Consumer issues we can help with:
- Deceptive or unfair business practices
- Mortgage fraud
- Home improvement scams
- Debt collection harassment
- Exploitative door-to-door solicitation
- Credit reporting violations
- Predatory lending & financial services abuse
- Junk fees
- Identity theft and more
The new Consumer and Federal Litigation practice area is supported by funding from the Funding Florida Legal Aid (FFLA) Interest on Trust Accounts (IOTA) program.
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