Brief History


Main Office on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Tampa, FL

It all began in 1967, Bay Area Legal Services, formerly known as Law, Inc., began to serve low-income Tampa residents with a staff of four attorneys in neighborhood storefront offices and a shoe string budget.

Today, Bay Area is a non-profit legal organization that delivers free legal services to low-income individuals and families in Hillsborough and Pasco Counties. 

Operating on a $5.9 million dollar budget, with 42 lawyers, 8 paralegals, 1 legal intern, and 37 support staff, Bay Area services more than 16,000 residents a year.  In 2004, Bay Area expanded to provide intake and advice over the telephone to low-income residents of Pinellas, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties. 

Bay Area offices can be found throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties, including the following locations:Dade City, George Edgecomb Courthouse, New Port Richey, Plant City, St. Petersburg, Tampa, The Spring, Wimauma

Mission Statement

Bay Area Legal Services is a regional, non-profit public interest law firm providing the highest quality legal counsel by

ASSISTING individuals and non-profit groups with limited access to legal services;

RESOLVING the legal problems for clients;and

PRESERVING the independence, hope, and dignity of those we serve

We offer Free Interpreters to Applicants and Clients

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES (Click here)

Privacy Policy

We are a 501(C) (3), a copy of the official charitable organization registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free (1-800-435-7352) within Florida.  Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the state.  Registration #CH1969.