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James L. Torres is a board-certified trial lawyer specializing in personal injury, medical malpractice, insurance disputes, consumer law and small business issues. Born and raised in Miami, James attended Florida State University, where he earned his undergraduate degree. He also graduated from Florida State University College of Law with honors. After practicing for eight years with the venerable personal injury firm of Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart & Shipley in West Palm Beach, he and his family relocated to Brevard in 1993.
Here in Brevard, he practiced with several firms continuing to specialize in personal injury and medical malpractice. In 2007 he established his own firm, James L. Torres, P.A. As a sole practitioner, James sought to learn new areas of the law in order to achieve a two-fold goal of finding personal fulfillment while expanding his practice. His wife Kim, also an attorney and certified court mediator (they met while attending FSU together), related her experiences mediating consumer cases, particularly in small claims court. She noticed that, in most cases, unrepresented litigants were at the mercy of well-funded corporations and desperately needed help. It was also clear that many could never afford to hire an attorney. James saw an opportunity, and a challenge.
After extensive research and preparation, James began representing clients in consumer matters. Recognizing the enormous need, he contacted BCLA to offer his pro bono services. Since then, his contributions have been remarkable. In the past two years, James has closed 112 Legal Aid cases logging over 250 hours of pro bono service. During the same time period he also closed 50 cases in Volusia County as a volunteer for Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida. James likes to tell his Legal Aid clients "Don't worry it's not your problem any more. That's why I'm your attorney." These are words that come as an unexpected and welcome surprise to people who had little hope. And thanks to his extensive trial experience and knowledge of evidentiary rules, James is able to obtain favorable results in the majority of his cases.
James's commitment to helping the poor and disadvantaged is truly a shining example of professionalism in our community. In appreciation of his selfless dedication to the needs of Brevard's poor, we are proud to recognize James L. Torres as Legal Aid's "Pro Bono Attorney of the Year."
