We believe that access to justice is fundamental to strong, safe communities. Our lawyers, paralegals, and support staff are dedicated to providing free civil legal services to qualified and low-income residents and nonprofits throughout the Tampa Bay area. Last year, we helped and educated more than 18,500 individuals, families, and community groups.

If you need legal assistance, please use this site to learn about our services. Then, take the first step and call us today. If you are interested in volunteering your time or making a donation to help us accomplish our mission, this site is your guide.

At Bay Area Legal Services, we are here for one reason: To help.

• Free Bankruptcy Seminar for Volunteer Attorneys

  The Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association is hosting a "Bankruptcy for Beginners" seminar on Thursday, October 20th, from 9 am to 4:30 pm, at the Chester Ferguson Law Center. The CLE seminar is free for any attorney willing to take a pro bono bankruptcy case or participate in a TBBBA bankruptcy clinic. For more info about the seminar, click here.

• iLawyer

  NEW Pro Bono Project for Attorneys! Provide legal advice and brief services to clients via Skype from the comfort of your own home or office one evening a month from 5pm to 7pm. This project is ideal for attorneys looking for after hours volunteer opportunities that require no travel and little to no follow up. To volunteer or for more information please e-mail or call iLawyer Project Manager Linda Anderson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

• Expanded Pro Bono Opportunities and Services in N. Pinellas and Pasco Counties

  The Bay Area Volunteer Lawyers Program-Northwest (BAVLP-NW) has partnered with several bar associations, including the Clearwater Bar Association, to increase pro bono opportunities and free legal services for low-income residents in the Pinellas-Pasco region. For more information about this successful collaboration, click here to read BALS’ attorney Nery Alonso’s article in the Clearwater Bar's bi-monthly publication Res Ipsa Loquitor.

• More Than 100,000 Served Through BALS’ Legal Information Center

  On June 1st, the Legal Information Center reached a very significant milestone when BALS’ attorney Susan Miles Whitaker provided legal information to the 100,000th person to walk in for help. Since opening its doors in October 2000, the Center has provided free legal information about family law matters to area residents who are representing themselves in court. For more information about the Center, located in the George Edgecomb Courthouse in Tampa, click here.

• Tampa Bay Times Recognizes Bay Area Legal Services' "Culture of Empathy"

  For the third consecutive year, the Tampa Bay Times selected BALS as one of Tampa Bay's Top Workplaces in 2016 in its small business category. Click here to read why.

• Florida Veterans Support Line

  The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay has launched a helpline for veterans living in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee, and Polk counties, who are transitioning to life after the military. Their new Florida Veterans Support Line, 1-844-MYFLVET (693-5838) is a free service for veterans to speak with other veterans about their problems and where they can get support. Click here for an ABC Action News story highlighting the program, and information about what veterans can expect when they call.

• Our Sustaining Law Firm Campaign is going strong!

  Thank you to all of the attorneys and firms who have supported us. Click here to see our Sustaining Law Firms.

• ATTENTION ONLINE SHOPPERS!
   Bay Area Legal Services has recently joined AmazonSmile as a recipient charity. Choose Bay Area Legal Services as your charity and AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of the eligible purchase price to Bay Area.

   
  Click here for more information about the AmazonSmile/BALS donation program.