What landmark cases has the organization won?

In 1969, Legal Services successfully sued the State of Florida and City of Miami Police Department challenging a law criminalizing homelessness and joblessness. In 1972, the organization won Fuentes v. Shevin in the U.S. Supreme Court establishing additional due process protections nationwide. The case involved a client whose appliances were repossessed without due process, leading to constitutional protections.

What is the medical-legal partnership program?

Legal Services operates the Medical Legal Partnership Miami-Dade Collaborative integrating legal services with healthcare. This program addresses social determinants of health by resolving legal issues affecting client well-being. The partnership has received Phase 2 grant support recognizing effective collaboration between legal and medical providers serving vulnerable populations.

What geographic area does the firm serve?

Legal Services of Greater Miami serves low-income residents of Monroe and Miami-Dade Counties in Florida. The organization is the largest provider of free civil legal services for the poor in these counties. Regional focus enables deep community relationships and expertise addressing local legal and systemic issues affecting residents.

What is the organization financial status?

The firm reported $12.9 million in revenue for 2024 with $12.2 million in expenses and $17.2 million in assets. The organization employs 117 staff members supported by 200 volunteers. Revenue declined slightly from $13.7 million in 2023. Funding includes grants for general support, fellowship support, and program services from foundations and government sources.

Legal Services of Greater Miami Inc

Miami, FL · Founded 1966

Free civil legal representation removing barriers to economic prosperity

Primary audience

Low-Income Residents

Work area

Legal Services

Topic

Social Justice

Contact

Monica M Vigues-Pitan

Website Contact

About Organization

Based in Miami, FL, Legal Services of Greater Miami provides free civil legal services to low-income residents in Monroe and Miami-Dade Counties, removing legal barriers to economic prosperity. The organization employs attorneys and advocates, generating $12.9 million in annual revenue to serve thousands of clients annually.

What They Focus On

Economic Justice

Removes legal barriers to economic prosperity through advocacy advancing client opportunities.

Systemic Change

Challenges discriminatory laws and practices creating more equitable community systems.

Vulnerable Populations

Serves homeless, people with AIDS, disaster survivors, and others facing marginalization.

Financial Information

Form 990 data showing organizational financial health and growth.

Revenue (2024)

$12.9M

-5.9% vs 2023

Expenses (2024)

$12.2M

+14.7% vs 2023

Assets (2024)

$17.2M

-13.7% vs 2023

Employees (2024)

117

-2.5% vs 2023

Historical financial data from IRS Form 990
Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Employees
2024	$12,912,882	$12,197,839	$17,236,066	117
2023	$13,729,427	$10,636,240	$19,973,970	120
2022	$9,794,638	$10,582,624	$15,171,700	106
2020	$10,099,513	$8,019,992	$16,129,670	86
2019	$8,359,707	$7,944,734	$13,664,184	90
2018	$8,146,018	$7,464,857	$13,712,508	91

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. All figures in USD.

01

Client Identification

Organization identifies low-income residents facing legal barriers to economic stability.
02

Legal Analysis

Staff attorneys evaluate client situations developing strategies addressing systemic injustice.
03

Advocacy Delivery

Attorneys provide representation advancing client interests and challenging discriminatory practices.
04

Community Impact

Legal victories remove barriers creating more just and equitable community.

Programs and Initiatives

Services and programs offered by Legal Services of Greater Miami Inc

Civil Legal Advocacy

Provides legal representation removing barriers to economic prosperity for low-income residents.

Medical-Legal Partnership

Operates Miami-Dade collaborative integrating legal services with healthcare to address social determinants.

Disaster Response

Established specialized program assisting residents with legal issues following natural disasters.

AIDS Advocacy

Created AIDS Legal Advocacy Project fighting discrimination and expanding healthcare access.

Team & Leadership

Meet the people behind Legal Services of Greater Miami Inc.

Contact the team Contact

Ilenia Sanchez-Bryson

Bryson Chief Program & Innovation Officer Contact

Full-time

Compensation: $142,711

Monica Vigues

Pitan Chief Executive Officer Contact

Monica M Vigues-Pitan

CEO

Full-time

Compensation: $191,546

Vivian Chavez Esq

COO

Full-time

Compensation: $152,117

Jose Fons

Advocacy Director

Full-time

Compensation: $139,238

Jeffrey M Hearne

Chief Advocacy Ofc

Full-time

Compensation: $136,001

D Proposie Evans Esq

President

1 hrs/week

Karen J Lapekas Esq

1st Vice Pres

1 hrs/week

Milestones

1966

Organization Founded

1966

Legal Services established during War on Poverty as Economic Opportunity Legal Services Program.

1969

Police Department Victory

1969

Successfully sued State of Florida and City of Miami Police challenging law criminalizing homelessness.

1972

Supreme Court Win

1972

Won landmark Fuentes v. Shevin case establishing additional due process protections nationwide.

1980

AIDS Program

1980

Created AIDS Legal Advocacy Project fighting discrimination and advocating for healthcare access.

2024

Current Operations

2024

Organization operates with $12.9 million revenue and 117 employees plus 200 volunteers.

Associated People

Board members, advisors, and key contributors

Board of Directors

Aleida Martinez-Molina Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Alejandro Uribe Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Arya Attari Li Esq Secretary 1.00 hrs/week

Candice Balmori Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Carlos Cardelle Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Carolyn Pates Director 1.00 hrs/week

Cherine Smith-Valbrun Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Corina Hernandez Director 1.00 hrs/week

Darrell Payne Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Debra Tyler Director 1.00 hrs/week

Donald Yates Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Emily Alejo Perry Director 1.00 hrs/week

Enjolique Aytch Lett Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Freddi R Mack Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Fritznie Jarbath Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Hermine Wilson Director 1.00 hrs/week

Hung Nguyen Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Ida Wright Director 1.00 hrs/week

Jason E Bloch Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Jesika Diaz Munar Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Jordi Guso Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Jose Cueno Director

Juanita Alvarez Director 1.00 hrs/week

Keith Ivory Director 1.00 hrs/week

Kevin Fitzmaurice Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Laura Zapata-Kim Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Loreal A Arscott Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Manuel L Dobrinsky Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Marissa Altman-Glatzer Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Naomi Wiggins Director 1.00 hrs/week

Natasha StCyr Director 1.00 hrs/week

Phyllis Johnson Director 1.00 hrs/week

Rachel Wagner Furst Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Scott Baena Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Serge Fortune Director 1.00 hrs/week

Sonya Brown Wilson Director 1.00 hrs/week

Stanley Wakshlag Director 1.00 hrs/week

Stephanie L Carman Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Stephen Rosenthal Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Teresa Enriquez Esq Director 1.00 hrs/week

Waloli Salazar Director 1.00 hrs/week

Wifredo Ferrer Director 1.00 hrs/week

Karen Lapekas, Esq. President Lapekas Law

Information compiled from IRS Form 990 and organizational materials.

Executive Compensation

Top compensated officers & key employees from IRS Form 990

Total Reported (2024)

$842K

Highest Paid

$212K

Monica M Vigues-Pitan

Compensated Officers

Executive compensation for 2024
Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Monica M Vigues-Pitan	CEO	$191,546	$20,440	$211,986	35
Vivian Chavez ESQ	COO	$152,117	$14,641	$166,758	35
Jeffrey M Hearne	Chief Advocacy Ofc	$136,001	$25,360	$161,361	35
Ilenia Sanchez-Bryson	CIO	$142,711	$10,037	$152,748	35
Jose Fons	Advocacy Director	$139,238	$10,340	$149,578	35

Executive compensation for 2023
Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Monica Vigues-Pitan	Executive Director	$176,124	$24,044	$200,168	34
Vivian Chavez	COO	$143,193	$22,974	$166,167	35
Ilenia Sanchez-Bryson	CIO	$137,494	$22,804	$160,298	35
Jose Fons	Advocacy Officer	$128,570	$22,575	$151,145	35
Jeffrey M Hearne	Chief Advocacy Officer	$127,701	$22,693	$150,394	35

Executive compensation for 2022
Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Monica Vigues-Pitan	Executive DIR.	$168,280	$5,007	$173,287	34
Vivian Chavez ESQ	COO	$136,371	$1,816	$138,187	35
Ilenia Sanchez-Bryson	CIO	$131,385	$3,636	$135,021	35
Jeffrey M Hearne	Chief Advocacy Ofc	$123,589	$3,612	$127,201	35
Jose Fons	Advocacy Director	$123,049	$3,889	$126,938	35
Mary Ann David	Senior Attorney	$117,550	$2,817	$120,367	35

Executive compensation for 2020
Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Monica M Vigues-Pitan	Executive Director	$169,006	$20,862	$189,868	40
Margaret Z Moores	Director Of Advocacy	$151,746	$29,561	$181,307	40
Vivian Chavez	Deputy Director Of Operations	$136,410	$16,899	$153,309	40
Carolina Lombardi	Advocacy Director	$144,629	$8,061	$152,690	40
Jeffrey M Hearne	Director Of Litigation	$125,256	$20,769	$146,025	40

Executive compensation for 2019
Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Monica M Vigues-Pitan	Executive Director	$153,757	$19,138	$172,895	40
Margaret Z Moores	Director Of Advocacy	$143,508	$14,815	$158,323	40
Carolina Lombardi	Advocacy Director	$131,581	$9,734	$141,315	40
Vivian Chavez	Deputy Director Of Operations	$122,130	$18,360	$140,490	40
Jeffrey Hearne	Director Of Litigation	$107,784	$18,065	$125,849	40
Jose Fons	Advocacy Director	$107,280	$18,136	$125,416	40
Ilenia Sanchez-Bryson	Director	$99,971	$15,703	$115,674	40

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. Compensation includes base and other reported compensation.

COVID-19 PPP Loans

Paycheck Protection Program (2020-2021)

Fully Forgiven

Total Approved

$700K

Total Forgiven

$708K

101% forgiven

Jobs Retained

Loan Details 1 loan

$700,000

Forgiven

Forgiven: $708,069 100%

Approved Apr 8, 2020

Lender TD Bank, National Association

Jobs Reported 59

Forgiven On Jun 10, 2021

Source: Small Business Administration • Paycheck Protection Program (2020-2021)

Partners & Funders

Grant funding relationships from IRS Form 990 filings

$7.9M Grants Received

9 Organizations

Top Funders

9 total

Legal Services Corporation

$5.1M

Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund

$1.8M

United Way Miami Inc.

$381K

Hfsf Grants Management Inc.

$300K

The Florida Bar Foundation Inc.

$181K

Mightycause Charitable Foundation

$101K

The Miami Foundation Inc.

$37K

Mc Dermott Will And Emery Charitable Foundation

$13K

Equal Justice Works

$7K

Legal Services Corporation Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund United Way Miami Inc. Hfsf Grants Management Inc. The Florida Bar Foundation Inc. Mightycause Charitable Foundation The Miami Foundation Inc. Mc Dermott Will And Emery Charitable Foundation Equal Justice Works

Source: IRS Form 990 Schedule I filings. Amounts may span multiple tax years.

Contact

Get in touch with Legal Services of Greater Miami Inc

Email

[email protected]

Phone

(305) 438-3817 (305) 446-7570

Social

Visit Website

4343 West Flagler Street 100 Miami, FL 33134

Legal Services of Greater Miami Inc

What They Focus On

Financial Information

How They Work

Client Identification

Legal Analysis

Advocacy Delivery

Community Impact

Programs and Initiatives

Civil Legal Advocacy

Medical-Legal Partnership

Disaster Response

AIDS Advocacy

Team & Leadership

Ilenia Sanchez-Bryson

Monica Vigues

Monica M Vigues-Pitan

Vivian Chavez Esq

Jose Fons

Jeffrey M Hearne

D Proposie Evans Esq

Karen J Lapekas Esq

Milestones

Organization Founded

Police Department Victory

Supreme Court Win

AIDS Program

Current Operations

Associated People

Board of Directors

Executive Compensation

COVID-19 PPP Loans

Loan Details 1 loan

Partners & Funders

Top Funders

Related Organizations

Tax-Exempt Affiliates

Disregarded Entities

Contact

Email

Phone

Social