Small Claims Court Clinic

Small Claims Court Clinic - 2014
Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc., and
The Put Something Back Project of the Dade County Bar

What is the Small
Claims Court Clinic?

At the Small Claims Court Clinic, private attorneys give free legal advice to people who want to bring or defend a Small Claims Court case. Generally speaking the Clinic is held on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the offices of Legal Services of Greater Miami,Inc. at 3000 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 500, Miami. All clients are seen by appointment.

2014 Clinic Schedule

Regular Clinics

January 9, 23
February 13, 27
March 13, 27
April 10, 24
May 8, 22
September 11, 25
October 9, 23
November 13
December 11

Summer Clinics

June 10
June 19
June 26
August 14

Is Small Claims Court
Right for You?

Small Claims Court can help people quickly and easily fix disputes involving $5,000.00 or less without an attorney going to court with them.

Typical Small Claims Court problems include:

Used car dealer rip-offs
unpaid wages;
damages caused by a car accident;
landlord-tenant problems involving money;
car repair problems.

Note: If you only need to pick up forms to file your Small Claims lawsuit you should go to the Clerk's Office at any County courthouse and ask for the Small Claims Packet. Alternately, you can download the forms from the Clerk of the Court's website.

How Do I Get an Appointment
to Attend a Clinic?

Appointments are scheduled starting the Friday morning after each Clinic for the following Clinic. You are given an appointment to attend the Clinic, but not for a specific time during the Clinic. Appointments are limited so you are encouraged to sign up as early as possible.

To make an appointment, call 305-576-0080 then press "0". You may also visit the Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. office at 3000 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 500. Tell the receptionist you wish to make an appointment for the next Small Claims Court Clinic.

Once you have an appointment, come to 3000 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 500 at 5:00 p.m. on the date of your Clinic appointment. At that time you will be asked to sign in. People will be seen by the private attorneys in the order in which they sign in. Typically, everyone is seen by 8:00 p.m.

If you are unable to keep your appointment, call the Senior Intake Paralegal at 305-438-2538,to cancel your appointment. This is important so another person can be given your appointment.

What Do the Attorneys
Do at the Clinic?

Meet with you for about 15 minutes to talk about your case, and help you decide if Small Claims Court is right for you.

Give you information about the Small Claims Court procedure and what to expect when you go to Court.

Tell you how to complete legal forms and papers.

Tell you how to file your lawsuit and serve the other side.

Advise you how to present your evidence to the Court and prove your case.

Talk about possible ways to settle your case.

What Don't the Attorneys
Do at the Clinic?

The Attorneys may or may not complete any forms or papers for you. If not, you must do that yourself.

The Attorneys do not go to Court with you to represent you at your hearing. If you decide you want a lawyer to go to Court with you, call the Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service at Dade County 1-800-342-8011 or Broward County 954-764-8040 for the name of a lawyer in your area. If you are low-income, ask for a lawyer on the low fee panel who will charge you a reduced fee.

The Attorneys do not write or talk to the other side to help you settle your case.

The Attorneys do not provide any legal service other than to advise you during your Clinic appointment.

How to Become a Volunteer
To become a volunteer attorney at the Clinic
contact the following person:

dborrego@dadelegalaid.org

www.dadecountyprobono.org

For More Information

mmills@lsgmi.org

Volunteer Lawyer Orientation Video