VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Thank You for Your Interest in Volunteering!
Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO) and the Ohio Poverty Law Center (OPLC) offers numerous ways for attorneys and students, paralegals, and other community members to volunteer. LASCO, which provides civil legal help for low-income individuals and seniors in Central and Southeastern Ohio, operate a pro bono program that engages the private bar throughout our communities. OPLC advocates for policies to reduce poverty and increase access to opportunities and justice for all Ohioans.
Benefits of Volunteering
Training: LASCO provides free, live CLEs on poverty law topics as well as online access to recordings.
Malpractice Coverage: LASCO malpractice policy provides primary coverage for pro bono cases and programs.
Mentors: LASCO staff attorneys mentor volunteers who need additional support.
CLE Credit: Attorneys can receive CLE credit for their pro bono hours donated through LASCO. Six hours of volunteering equate to one hour of CLE, and attorneys can earn up to six hours of CLE per reporting period. OSBA-certified Paralegals can earn up to 3 three hours per reporting period.
Each year Legal Aid develops a “Private Attorney Involvement” Plan to describe its pro bono programming agenda for the coming year. Read our PAI Plan.
Volunteer Attorney Opportunities
Case Referrals: Representing clients in housing, consumer protection, unemployment compensation, bankruptcy, tax, education, Veterans Administration benefits, and estate planning matters.
Brief Advice Clinics: In-person or virtual events where volunteer attorneys meet with individuals to analyze problems, identify community resources, and offer legal advice on a variety of topics.
Brief Service Clinics: Occasional clinics focused on addressing a particular legal issue. For example: naturalization applications, record sealing (clean slate), wills.
In-House Volunteer: Participants range from full-time summer law clerks to retired attorneys. We ask that these volunteers commit to a set schedule of about three hours a week.
Community Economic Development Assistance: Provide legal assistance to nonprofits, individuals, and businesses with community-minded projects.
Annual Events and Other Opportunities:
Check out our numerous volunteer opportunities for individuals and corporations.
Opportunities for Non-Attorneys
(Law students, paralegals, college students, and community members)
Summer Clerkship: Working with LASCO is an excellent way to gain real-world experience in a safe and supportive environment. Apply here.
Clinic Opportunities: Non-lawyers can help in a variety of different ways, including assisting with intake or document preparation at an evening pro bono clinic.
In-House Volunteers: Participants range from full-time summer law clerks to undergrad students who volunteer throughout the year. We ask that these volunteers commit to a set schedule of about three hours a week.
Client Screening: Volunteers interview clients ahead of their meeting with lawyers and help them identify materials that may assist in their case. Volunteers are provided details scripts to follow and checklists for important documents.
Marketing/Communications: LASCO is looking for volunteers with a background in (or studying) communications to support our marketing efforts through social media strategies and other traditional and non-traditional marketing avenues.
