Civil Law

How to use www.FLAdvocate.org

FLAdvocate.org is the free online resource for public interest lawyers, volunteer attorneys, paralegals, and social service advocates who provide legal assistance to low-income clients.

Visit the site by clicking through www.FloridaLawHelp.org (select Advocates in the upper right hand corner) OR directly through www.FLAdvocate.org.

How to View Resources in the Practice Area

On the left side of FLAdvocate.org home page, select the practice area you want to join (Housing or Civil Law). Click Join this area and complete and send the online form. You will receive an email notice that your membership request was received and is pending approval. For expedited approval, follow the two steps on the home page of www.FLAdvocate.org. A follow-up email will notify your admission approval to the practice area.

Login to your practice area. Once inside your area, click on Library, located on the left side of the page.

Choose one of two paths for viewing materials on this page. By folder, you view information how it is arranged by format, e.g., sample pleadings, law, forms, etc. By topic, you view information how it is arranged by topic and /or sub topic.

How to Add Resources (files) to the Practice Area

Make certain you followed the steps above for joining a practice area. Login to your practice area. Once inside your area, click on Library, located on the left side of the page. Choose one of two paths for contributing resources on this page. By folder, you add information how it is arranged by format, e.g., sample pleadings, law, forms, etc. (THIS IS THE PREFERRED METHOD). By topic, you add information how it is arranged by topic and /or sub topic. The following are the steps in the process for contributing resources to the site.

NOTE: We REALLY want you to contribute as many resources as you can to this site. Ideally we wish you to follow the plan below in helping us build the FLAdvocate.org web site. HOWEVER, you may also email or mail documents to us for inclusion in the library. Please send email resources to Susie Rizzo at susie@floridalegal.org . ContactSusie if you have documents which are not computer files and must be mailed.

IMPORTANT:ALL documents emailed or mailed for processing must include the information below for EACH document.

Title (Required): Enter the resource title.

TIP: Remember that library resources are not always displayed in the context of the folder where you are posting. Make sure that the title you choose makes sense when the resource is viewed either in topic view or as a search result.

Description (Required): Enter a description of the resource here. Include any facts you feel might help attorneys decide whether or not they wish to use it. The text you enter is part of the search record for the resource.

TIP: If no description is needed, use None or N/A.

Document Type (Required): Default is Other. Choices: Articles/News, Brief, Case law - admin decision, Client legal education, Forms (legal), Forms (other), Legal memo, Pleadings (other than briefs), Program materials, Report, Settlements, Statute - regulation - other law, Training material, or Transactional documents.

Creation Date (Required): Default is the current date.

Review Date (Required): Default is one year from posting date. Enter date when this resource should be reviewed.

Author Organization(Required): Enter the name of the organization that wrote the resource. If no author attribution is appropriate, enter None or N/A.

LSC Funded: Check if the authoring organization is LSC funded. If so, LSC's logo will appear next to the library resource.

Author First Name/Author Last Name: If you attribute authorship to an individual, the author's first and last name will appear on the detail view of the library resource.

Author Email: Enter the author's email address.

Folder(Required): UNLESS YOU ARE A STATEWIDE ADMINISTRATOR (if you have to ask yourself if you are an administrator, you are not one), PLEASE MAINTAIN DEFAULT FUNCTION HERE. Select a folder for this resource. By default, a resource will be placed in the folder you were in when you clicked Add a Resource.

Attachments/Links(Required): Resources can be posted as either a Link to another website, or as one or more File Attachments.

Specify URL (if info source is a link):

Type in the full URL for this resource. You must include the appropriate prefix: http://; https://; or ftp://

OR

Specify Files (if info source is a document):

Browse: Upload one or more files from your computer that will be accessible to users. Click Browse to locate file on your computer. Click OPEN when you have highlighted the correct file and it will attach to the resource. You may add as many as five different formats of the file you're uploading, e.g., a Word document, PDF document, Excel spreadsheet, etc.

Note: You cannot post more than one attachment in a single format. If, for example, you post 2 Word documents, the second file you upload will overwrite the first.

HTML Attachment: Use the ActivEdit window to create an HTML file attachment.

TIP: Reformat your text as necessary using the ActivEdit tool bar. For example, add bold, or italics, indent or bullet paragraphs, insert hyperlinks, or photos. Click the ActivEdithelp icon for a glossary of functions, including Spellcheck.

TIP: To transfer an existing HTML file into ActivEdit:

(1) Copy the source code from your document;

(2) Click on the HTML tab at the bottom of the ActivEdit window;

(3) Paste the source code into the window;

(4) Click on the Normal tab to render the formatted text onscreen.

Status:Default status is Awaiting Approval.You have no other option unless you are astatewide administrator.

Member Types: Select who will see this resource. Choose from the following:

NOTE: Civil Legal Aid members areexclusively attorneys and others employed by legal service and legal aid programs in Florida and haveaccess to all materials onthe practice area they join.

· No Restriction: All site visitors, regardless of whether they are members, will see your item. (Note: If your Library page is password protected, only logged-in members will have access to the page. Non-members will not see resources on this page.) TIP: Even if your library page is restricted to members, you may want to mark resources as No Restriction so that they can be shared and read by non-members in other library pages.

· Restricted to Members of this Site: All logged-in members of the site will see the item. (Even if this item is published on a public Library page, it will only display to logged-in members).

· Allow access by these members: Only the user type(s) you select from this list will see the resource. To select more than one, hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard as you to select user types from the drop down list. Here are your member choices: Civil Legal Aid, Civil Rights, Courts, Criminal Defender, Government, Law School Faculty, Non Legal Org/CBO, Pro Bono, or Student.

Shared: Default is No

· Yes: The resource can be returned in search results conducted by members in all practice and geographical areas. Admins from other practice and geographical areas will be able to add the resource to their practice area(s). (Member type privileges set by you still apply to shared content.)

· No: The resource will only be available to members of this practice area.

Give Priority: Default is No, which places the resource in alphabetical order in the Folder and Topic folders you tagged it with.

Area Topics (Required): AS A GUIDE, BELOW IS ALIST THE TOPICS AND SUBTOPICS YOU ARE REQUIRED TO SELECT TO COMPLETE THIS PROCESS. Library resources may be tagged at the Topic and Subtopic level. Take these steps to assign topics:

Topic: Select a topic from the drop down list and it will appear in the box below labeled Available Sub-Topics.

Available Sub-Topics: Double-click the topic in this second box OR select it and hit the down arrow below the box. The item now appears in the 3rd box labeled Selected.

Selected: Whatever appears in this box is what you're choosing to tag your news story with. To remove a topic from the selected box, highlight and double-click, or hit the UP arrow above the box. Repeat these steps for as many topics as you wish.

NOTE: All content, from library materials to calendar events to news stories, must be tagged with at least one Topic and/or Subtopics.

Click Submit to post the Library resource. You will be returned to the folder, sub-folder, or the topic folder where you were when you clicked Add Resource. The resource you contributed will be posted for viewing once it is approved. For expedited approval email Susie Rizzo at susie@floridalegal.org by simply stating document approval pending, in the subject line of your email.

USE THESE TOPIC AND SUP-TOPIC SELECTIONS TO DETERMINE HOW YOUR DOCUMENT WILL BE VIEWED IN THE PRACTICE AREA LIBRARY

TOPIC

SUB-TOPIC

Civil Rights

Civil Procedure/Administrative Law

Evidence

Consumer

Automobiles

Collection/Repossession

Contracts/Warranties

Credit Access

Credit Practices/Credit Reports

Door To Door Solicitation/Home Solicitation Sales

Financial Literacy

Insurance

Loans

Other Consumer

Small Claims Action

Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices

Bankruptcy

Disability

Education

Bilingual

Desegregation

Discipline

Discrimination (IDEA)

Exclusion from Activities

Fees

Head Start Program

Privacy

Private Education/Vouchers

Quality Education

Records

Residency Requirements

Special Education/Learning Disabilities

Student Loans

Testing

Title I

Title IX

Vocational Education

Other Education

Employment

Affirmative Action

Agricultural Worker Protection Act (AWPA)

COBRA

Criminal Records

Discrimination

Discrimination Remedies

Employment Relationships

ERISA

Fair Labor Standards Act

Family and Medical Leave Act

Labor Subcontracting

Labor Unions

Minimum Wage

Pensions

Records

Termination

Unemployment Compensation

Wage Claims

Workers Compensation

Occupational Safety and Health

Other Employment

Environmental Justice

Family Law

Adoption

Birth Certificate

Child Care

Child Support

Community Property

Custody

Divorce/Separatation/Annulment

Domestic Violence

Grandparent Custody/Visitation/Adoption Issues

Name Change

Paternity

Teen Parents

Termination of Parental Rights

Visitation

Guardianship & Conservatorship

Other Family

Food Programs

School Breakfast and Lunch Programs

Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

Other Food Programs

Government and Governmental Services

Freedom of Information

Municipal Ordinances

Health

Abortion

AIDS/HIV

Alcoholism/Substance Abuse

Birth Control/Sterilization

Black Lung Benefits

Children's Health Insurance Programs

COBRA

Cultural and Linguistic Access to Health Care

Discrimination/Refusal to Treat

Duty to Serve Low-Income Population

Health Insurance

Hill-Burton Act

Home and Community Based Care

Immigrant Health

Immunization

Lead Paint/Poisoning

Life-Sustaining Treatment

Managed Care

Medicaid

Medical Privacy

Medicare

Minority Health

Nursing Homes

Ombudsprograms/Consumer Assistance

Other Health

Quality of Care

State-funded Medical Assistance Programs

Immigration

Border Searches

Deferred Action

Deportation/Removal

Detention

Discrimination

Federal Housing Eligibility

Food Stamp Eligibility

Legalization

Medicaid Eligibility

Naturalization

Political asylum

Refugees

Social Security Eligibility

SSI Eligibility

Status/Classification

Temporary Foreign Worker Programs

Undocumented Workers

VAWA Issues

VISA processing

Welfare/TANF Eligibility

Other Immigration

Juveniles

Adjudication/Delinquent

Child Abuse/Neglect

Dependant

Emancipation

Foster Care

Juvenile Courts

Juvenile Institutions

Other Juveniles

Records

Reunification Services

Termination of Parental Rights

Parental Rights & Obligations

Legal Research

Courts and Case Law

Statutes and Regulations

Litigation

Attorney Fees

Attorney/Client Privilege

Community Resources

Conflicts of Interest

Equal Access to Justice Act

Ethical Issues

Government Relations

Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA)

International Legal Aid

Legal Services Funding

Legal Services Restrictions

Legal Services Web Sites

Paralegals

Pro Bono

Pro Se

Public Awareness

Section 1983 Suits

Section 1988 Suits

State Planning

Other Attorneys/Legal Services

Mental Health

Migrants

Prisons

Public Benefits

Food Stamps

Other Public Benefits

Public Utilities/Energy

Rural Issues

Senior Citizens

Discrimination

Funeral/burial issues

Guardianship

Home Equity Conversion / Reverse Mortgage

Insurance Scams

Nursing homes

Pensions

Predatory Lending

Property Tax Credits

Social Security

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Truth in Lending Act

Veterans benefits

Other Senior Citizens

Wills and Estates

Social Security/SSI

Torts

Torts

Unemployment

Veterans' Benefits

Welfare / Public Assistance

Applications

Assets / Resources

Benefit Levels

Child Care

Child Exclusion / Family Cap

Child Only Cases

Child Support

Diversion Programs

Due Process

Electronic Benefits Transfer

Eligibility

Essential Persons / Family Budget Unit

Fraud

Immigrant Eligibility

Income

Job Search

Lump Sum Payments

Overpayments / Recoupment

Residency Requirements

Sanctions

Shelter Allowance

Standard of Need

Supportive Services

TANF Child Care Protection

Teen Parents

Termination of Benefits

Time Limits

Underpayment

Work Requirements

Welfare / Non-TANF

Workforce Development