Low-income and at-risk residents and families in Nassau County now have local access to free and reduced-fee civil legal services through a dedicated office of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid operating as Nassau County Legal Aid.
JALA is operating the office with support from the Nassau County Board of Commissioners and Nassau County Council on Aging, as well as increased Interest on Trust Accounts funding from Funding Florida Legal Aid.
Jon Pridgeon, the office’s full-time attorney, has 30 years of experience working in government, corporations and private law firms and lives in Nassau County.
Nassau County Legal Aid provides a range of legal services focused on the needs of people of limited means, particularly Nassau’s elderly population.
Services include legal assistance with housing issues (fair housing, landlord/tenant), elder law (advance health care directives, wills, elder abuse concerns) and consumer issues (foreclosures, debt collection, scams).
Pridgeon will coordinate with other JALA staff attorneys who will bring their expertise across many legal issues to the aid of Nassau County residents as well. Local pro bono attorneys can also provide assistance through Nassau County Legal Aid.
In cooperation with the council on aging, which has donated office space and related services, Nassau County Legal Aid can provide in-person assistance at the Fernandina Beach Senior Life Center at 1901 Island Walk Way and the Westside Senior Life Center at 37002 Ingham Road in Hilliard.
Services are offered by appointment, as well as at scheduled clinics focused on specific legal topics and other community outreach events.
If you or someone you know is a Nassau County resident and needs assistance, contact Nassau County Legal Aid at 904-356-8371 or apply online at jaxlegalaid.org/apply/.
If you are a lawyer who would like to provide pro bono services through Nassau County Legal Aid, contact Aaron Irving at [email protected].
Attorneys can also explore pro bono opportunities by visiting jaxlegalaid.org/pro-bono to find available cases, as well as time-limited ways to help, such as through clinics.
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is a nonprofit law firm focused on delivering economic, social and housing justice to low-income and at-risk individuals and families in Northeast Florida.