Board-certified trial lawyer James Torres has a well-deserved reputation as a highly effective advocate specializing in consumer and housing issues. He has also devoted a significant portion of his practice assisting low-income individuals on a pro bono basis. Notably, in 2012, he was presented with the Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award during a ceremony at the Florida Supreme Court.
Established in 1970, Brevard County Legal Aid has deep roots in the community and a record of providing high-quality legal services. It is especially exciting for Legal Aid to announce that James has joined the organization as the Director of a newly established consumer and housing unit. The need in the community is great. Applicants for services who are dealing with consumer and housing issues comprise a significant portion of the requests for assistance at Legal Aid. The new unit will provide help to tenants facing illegal evictions, victims of unscrupulous contractors, and consumers facing unfair or deceptive lending and collection practices.
On joining Legal Aid James says, “I’m very excited about this opportunity to serve the Space Coast community and take my professional goals to another level.” To start, the unit will be comprised of James and his longtime paralegal, Morgan, but Legal Aid plans to add additional staff in the future. In addition to direct service, an important role for the new program will be to provide mentorship and training opportunities for volunteer attorneys. This expansion of Legal Aid’s pro bono program will result in increased levels of service for clients.
A Florida native, James has been a Brevard County resident for over 30 years. In addition to the Florida Bar President’s Award, has received numerous service awards including recognition as Brevard County’s “Pro Bono Attorney of the Year,” and, in 2015, the Brevard County Bar Association’s Professionalism Award in the private lawyer category.
