The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, in conjunction with the ABA Young Lawyers Section and FEMA, operates the Disaster Relief Hotline, which is activated following a hurricane or other natural disaster.

Serving those in need, at a time when they need it the most, is a fundamental part of our role and commitment to the public.

All Florida Bar members eligible to practice may volunteer to provide basic civil legal services for people who cannot otherwise afford legal representation in non-fee generating cases. Volunteers must complete the sign up form and review the Disaster Assistance Manual for Legal Services Advocates before participating. The manual explains what you need to know to assist victims.

Volunteers can help by answering hotline calls (833-514-2940) or by providing support at FEMA centers. A basic understanding of common legal issues faced by disaster victims — such as landlord/tenant disputes, housing problems, consumer protection issues, and home repair contracts — is essential for those who wish to volunteer.

We understand you may have concerns regarding conflicts of interest in assisting survivors with legal matters related to a federally declared disaster. However, in 2017, The Florida Supreme Court adopted Rule 4-6.6 that alleviates some of these concerns by easing the application of the conflict-of-interest rules in these situations. Note that if you decide, however, to take on a case and representation of a disaster survivor, you should run a full conflict-of-interest check at that time. 

When disaster strikes and lives are changed, your guidance is needed to help Floridians navigate recovery options. It’s a small service with a huge impact.