JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — When it comes to taking a seat in a courtroom, The Constitution states if you don’t have an attorney, one will be provided for you. But across the country, including in Florida, court systems are feeling the effects of a public defender shortage.
Almost all state attorney and public defender offices in Florida have turnover rates higher than ever, now exceeding 20%, a study from Florida TaxWatch shows, therefore making it more difficult to retain and recruit attorneys to work for the state.
Florida remains in the bottom ten percent for average compensation for assistant state attorneys & assistant public defenders throughout the United States, according to the report, which is why it’s been difficult to keep public defenders.
Watching the turnover rate of public defenders grow over 20% is an issue that Dean Nick Allard of Jacksonville University's College of Law said the college hopes to fix.
“[We hope] To produce new lawyers who are able to expand access to justice," Allard told First Coast News. "Expanding access to the highest quality, but affordable access to justice, particularly to underserved areas."
Allard said Jacksonville was underserved for years when it came to educating people to go into law.
“This is by far the largest city that did not have a law school of its own," Allard said. "And it now has an outstanding law school. It’s on the move and we’re determined to make it better."
Now a year and a half later, JU’s law program is being accredited by the American Bar Association, a huge step towards becoming a fully accredited law school.
“We are legitimate, and have a rigorous educational program which adheres to all the standards that a law school is required” Allard said.
With JU's law program receiving provisional accreditation from the American Bar Association, it means graduates will be able to take bar exams required to practice law and can be considered for clerkships or other jobs in local courthouses.
“We want to use technology and AI not only to be faster and cheaper, but to make more people have access to affordable, high-quality legal services,” said Allard.
JU’s growing law program has already outgrown classrooms, as the college will move to a new location closer to the federal and Duval County courthouse this summer, hoping that the move will keep the university's law students in Jacksonville after graduation.