Legal

Legal

Lee County is the legal hub for Southwest Florida. The Lee County Justice Center in downtown Fort Myers is home to Florida’s 20th Judicial Circuit Court, representing Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee Counties.  Just a few blocks away, The Fort Myers Division U.S. Courthouse & Federal Building serves Federal proceedings for Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties in the Middle District of Florida.

Legal Sector by the Numbers

Approximately 2,000 Lee County residents are employed in the legal services field, including employees at 327 offices of lawyers.  The annual payroll for these legal sector businesses is $151 million.

Notable Legal Providers

In addition to Lee County’s presence in Federal and State proceedings, the county is home to numerous large law firms.

Henderson Franklin, Starnes and Holt, P.A. is the largest locally-based law firm between Tampa and Miami. Established in 1924, Henderson Franklin employs 55 attorneys providing a wide range of legal services.

In 1949, Pavese Law Firm was established as a one-person general practice from, and over the last 70 years has grown into one of the largest legal practices in Southwest Florida. 90% of Pavese Law Firm’s business is in Lee County.

Professional Law Associations

Professional associations in the legal realm include the Lee County Bar Association, which supports its membership as well as the citizens of Lee County. The mission of the Lee County Association of Women Lawyers is to actively promote the advancement of women within the Lee County legal community.

Organizations such as the Lee County Legal Aid Society and Florida Rural Legal Services seek justice for those who need it most, providing free legal aid to low income and vulnerable residents of Lee County.