Bay Area Legal Services
829 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 2nd Floor, Tampa, FL 33603
Phone: 232-1343
Fax: 232-1403
Website

This office has many branches throughout the County provide legal services to residents of Hillsborough County who meet certain income guidelines and are unable to afford private legal counsel. This office will handle cases involving family law, public housing, landlord-tenant problems, Medicare and Medicaid, food stamps, contracts, discrimination, Aid for Dependent Children, Social Security, migrant or other labor rights, HIV/AIDS related legal issues and other civil legal problems. The office also has a free Legal Information Center and Volunteer Lawyers Program in the George Edgecomb Courthouse and runs the Family Justice Center.

Law Library
701 East Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: 272-5818
Fax: 272-5226

The James J. Lunsford Hillsborough County Law Library provides legal research materials for use by the public, attorneys, judges, and students. Research materials include Florida and Federal Statutes, corporate and medical law, family law, bankruptcy, and other legal matters. Books do not circulate, but copy machines are available to library patrons. The librarians on staff are not attorneys and cannot answer legal questions, but can direct visitors to appropriate books and resources.

• Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.

Public Defender
700 E. Twiggs St., 5th Floor,Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: 272-5980
Fax: 272-5588

The Public Defender is an elected officer responsible for providing indigent legal defense services in Hillsborough County. The Public Defender heads an office staffed by attorneys, investigators and support staff that provide legal representation and assistance to persons determined by a court to be unable to afford private legal counsel. In addition to representing individuals charged with capital felonies, non-capital felonies, misdemeanors, criminal traffic offenses and criminal contempt, the Public Defender also provides legal services to children charged with delinquent acts in Juvenile Court and for persons facing involuntary commitment under the Baker Act and the Involuntary Civil Commitment of Sexually Violent Predators (Ryce) Act.The Public Defender also maintains an office at the Plant City Courthouse.

Public Defender Home Page