Welcome to the home page of Gulfcoast Legal Services,

your access to justice for the Florida West Coast.  You can find out more
about our services here as well as some basic legal information.
 
    WHAT'S NEW
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Mission Statement

Gulfcoast Legal Services is a regional non-profit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive, personal legal advocacy, counseling and education for vulnerable individuals and families.
 
  
PROGRAM RETREAT

Friday, June 1, 2012
All GLS offices will be closed
on this date.


GLS Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

TV Interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5XMj8kyMfs



Adriana Dinis Receives Prestigious InterCultural Advocacy Institute 10th Anniversary Hero Award

CLICK HERE  for more details!

PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES
The "ONE" campaign:  Accept
ONE Case

BECOME A MEMBER OF NEXT
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GULFCOAST LEGAL BLOG
             Blogging for Justice

gulfcoastlegalorg.typepad.com
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GLS 2010 Annual Report
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GLS SPRING 2012 NEWSLETTER 
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Check out the GLS page on Facebook

 

Non-Discrimination Policy
No applicant for services shall be denied services because of such individual's race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, disabling conditions, political party affiliation or because of any other consideration prohibited by law. 
Free Civil Legal Aid

Gulfcoast Legal Services is a non-profit corporation providing free legal aid to income eligible residents of the greater Tampa Bay area. We have offices in Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota and Hillsborough Counties. We also provide immigration services to residents of Pasco County as well as in the other four counties where we have offices.

We provide legal help with housing and mortgage foreclosure problems, family or domestic violence issues, immigration matters, SSI/disability and consumer matters. Gulfcoast Legal Services also has a special project to help seniors in Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota Counties.

  

John Dubrule Named Interim Executive Director

John E. Dubrule is the Interim Executive Director of Gulfcoast Legal Services.  John has worked at Gulfcoast for over 31 years, most recently serving as the litigation director for Gulfcoast.. During his career at Gulfcoast John has brought many cases in state and federal court to protect the rights of low income clients. John has also served as co-chair of the Florida Legal Services Housing Work Group and was instrumental in starting the Florida Immigration Umbrella Group.  John is a graduate of Boston University School  of Law and Brandeis University. He is married to Pamela Wiener Dubrule and together they have a seven-year-old daughter, LiLi.

John Cunningham Announces Retirement

Executive Director John Cunningham has announced his retirement effective March 31, 2012.

Mr. Cunningham began his career at Gulfcoast Legal Services in 1981 as Managing Attorney for the Clearwater office. He was appointed Executive Director in 1984 and moved to the agency's headquarters in St. Petersburg where he directed a staff that grew to 45 in 5 offices, covering legal aid services in Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota and Hillsborough counties. During that time more than 150,000 clients have been helped at GLS.
 
Over the years at the helm of GLS, John has become recognized in the community as the 'go to' expert on legal aid, served on many human services boards of directors and has received many awards for his selfless service on behalf of the community's low income residents in their quest for access to justice.  He has been responsible for initiating new programs such as GLS CHILD for immigrant children, Affordable Housing, NouLa- a program to help the Haitian population, the IRS Low Income Tax Clinic and growing core programs for Elder Law, Family Law, Housing and Consumer Law.

In 2004 he led the agency's transition from a Legal Services Corporation agency to an unrestricted program that could now represent clients in class action suits and serve immigrants in the areas of permanent residence, human trafficking, human rights, citizenship and children who have been abused or abandoned.
 
John will be enjoying his new career as a retiree spending time with his family, travel and
catching up on all the things he's put off while he had such a busy career at GLS.
  
   
 GLS Client Testimonial

"Thank you for your expertise and counsel.  You are responsible for at least one little old man's peace of mind.  I hope that makes you feel as good as it does me."

Dave, a former musician, was homeless and living on the streets.  After some rough years he sought help for depression and anxiety.  He was admitted to transitional housing and referred to GLS for assistance with his SSI/disability.  He applied in 2007 and was denied twice.  In April of 2009 GLS represented Dave before an Administrative Law Judge.  GLS had the decision be expedited as his time in transitional housing was almost up.  At age 61 more time on the streets would be a blow to his mental health and his cleaned-up lifestyle.  GLS won his case and helped Dave get an award of back benefits.  Now Dave is doing well, living in his own apartment and getting the treatment and help he needs.