Legal aid programs don’t just support the democratic principle of justice for all, bar leaders said Thursday — they also provide $7 in economic impact for every dollar spent.
That’s according to a new study commissioned by the Florida Bar Foundation, which found that $83 million in funding for 33 Florida nonprofit civil legal aid organizations in 2015 produced $600 million in economic impact. Legal aid helps avoid costs associated with catastrophic events such as foreclosure and homelessness, puts dollars into Florida’s economy and buoys the productivity of workers who face legal issues, according to the study.
