In 1937, the organization that has become Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. (JALA) was born when a group of Jacksonville Bar attorneys banded together to provide legal services to those who could not otherwise afford them. In 1973, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid was officially named, and in 1976 JALA achieved 501(c)3 status. Today, JALA is a law firm of 40 attorneys specializing in providing civil legal assistance to low-income persons.