So, Who Needs a Lawyer Anyway?

• Date: 01 September 2022
• Author: Lesser, Gary S.

My father, Shep Lesser, of blessed memory, used to tell clients that they "could pull out their own tooth, but it's probably a better idea to let the dentist do it." He was referring to what we now call "greater access to legal services," which is a major priority for The Florida Bar this year.

People generally understand they need a doctor, the professional best equipped to get the best outcome for a serious medical issue. But increasingly, however, people don't understand that lawyers can best guide them through legal challenges for a better outcome.

The issue of available, affordable legal services is not just a Florida issue, but a national issue. And it's not a new problem, but rather a decades old problem that has become far more acute over the last few years. And it will be in Florida where we turn the corner and provide pragmatic, realistic solutions that will significantly move the needle so more Floridians will have access to legal...