Sue Selegean-Dostal credits her parents—particularly her mother—for instilling in her a strong sense of community service. Throughout her childhood, her parents modeled drive, dedication and, most importantly, a commitment to helping others.
“My parents were each raised by a single mother, and both parents spent much of their childhoods in foster care. When I think of the struggles they faced in their childhoods, as well as the poor parenting examples that they received as children, I am often overtaken by the herculean efforts they made to give their children a stable, secure, loving home,” she says. “I truly believe that what they learned from their own experiences was that they wanted to raise their children how they wish they had been raised. Their resiliency, as well as their determination to provide their children with a childhood free from food insecurity, or violence, or homelessness, or financial insecurity of any kind, was such an incredible gift to their children.”
Sue, who was born and raised in the small community of Richville, Ohio, in southwestern Stark County, emulates her parents’ volunteer spirit. Sue is a Guardian Ad Litem for children, a guardian to adults, and an attorney to adults who have guardians.
She also is a stand-out volunteer at the SEOLS clinic in Tuscarawas County, says Patricia Vargas Vegas, SEOLS pro bono coordinator.
“We are incredibly lucky to have Sue as one of our SEOLS’ volunteers,” Vargas Vegas says. “She is always willing to help our clients and has assisted with our virtual clinic every month for the past year. Sue is one of the most dedicated volunteers I have ever met, and working with her has truly been a pleasure.”
Sue attended the University of Akron for her undergraduate degree prior to attending Case Western Reserve University School of Law for her J.D. degree. She has been in private practice since 1997. She has also worked as a mediator for Stark County Family Court for 20 years; as the law clerk to two common pleas court judges; as a Court Administrator for a county court; as the Legal Advisor for a small village council; and as an adjunct professor.
It is evident that the values Sue’s parents instilled have remained throughout her life and career. “When I work as a Guardian Ad Litem for children, I see my parents when they were young—longing for someone to be their voice, to be their positive change. When I work with the elderly, I see my parents as they might have been today, longing for someone to acknowledge that they are important and worthy of protection and autonomy. When I work with the indigent, I see us all,” she says.
Due to her experiences, Sue understands there exists a great need for servant-minded people. This understanding perfectly translates into the care she is able to provide clients with when volunteering at free legal clinics. She reflects fondly on being able to assist anxious people who are in need of legal assistance.
“For me, it is such a joy to meet someone who is anxious and confused about a process they don’t understand and provide them the support and information they need to understand that they can get through whatever legal issue presents itself to them. They learn that there are resources where they can seek help, and that they are strong enough to help themselves through this process” she says.
Michael Harrington, managing attorney of the SEOLS New Philadelphia office praised Sue for patience. “She will spend as much time as is necessary to make sure that she has answered all of the client’s questions and that they are comfortable with that advice before she finishes with that client,” he said.
Sue is honored to get to serve monthly alongside the SEOLS attorneys who are dedicated to this work each day. “I wonder if they know how much their actions provide the light that so many need in a dark world?” she asks.
We are thankful to have volunteers like Sue who are committed and eager to help in whatever capacity they are able. Thank you, Sue!
SEOLS is currently looking for additional help, particularly from DR practitioners, at our clinics. If you’re interested in assisting, sign up here.
NEW CLE OPPORTUNITY: OHIO RECORD-SEALING LAW CHANGE AND ITS EFFECT ON INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
As part of our racial justice advocacy, LASC and SEOLS advocate for low-income individuals who are navigating barriers caused by the criminal legal system with the goal of obtaining clean slates or second chances.
On May 17, OSLSA will be conducting a live interactive webinar on the recent changes in Ohio record sealing laws to ensure attorneys are properly equipped to aid low-income clients with record sealing applications. Through the program, OSLSA also hopes to raise awareness on new record sealing eligibility criteria.
Application was made to the Supreme Court of Ohio for 2.75 hours of CLE credit for the program. For more details and registration information, visit this link.
Volunteer Survey
We are grateful for the many contributions of volunteers during this difficult time, but our needs continue to grow. As we explore the possibility of in-person services, we want to ensure we are meeting clients' needs in a safe manner. To best serve our volunteers, we are asking you to complete a survey gauging your comfort level with different types of opportunities.
COMPLETE THE SURVEY
We have lots of great volunteer opportunities!
IN-PERSON PROJECTS:
Fairfield County Tenant Advocacy Project (TAP): The TAP clinic provides free legal information, advice and representation to tenants who are being evicted. SEOLS staff and pro bono volunteers meet with tenants prior to their eviction hearings. Clinics take place on Mondays and Tuesday afternoons.
Franklin County Tenant Advocacy Project (TAP)
Legal Aid offers a daily clinic for tenants with eviction hearings each morning in Franklin County. Attorneys handle eviction hearings or negotiate resolutions, including drafting agreed entries.
To volunteer for either TAP clinic, please email Dianna Parker.
PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS:
Seniors Referral Project: The Seniors Referral Project continues to serve low-income senior citizens and veterans who are seeking wills and advance directives. We offer volunteer opportunities for attorneys and non-attorneys with options that are both virtual and in-person. This spring, we are expanding our program to serve clients in Coshocton, Holmes, Tuscarawas, and Guernsey Counties.
To volunteer, please email Dianna Parker.
VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITIES:
Brief Advice Clinics: During the pandemic, nearly all LASC/SEOLS sponsored brief advice (formerly “interfaith”) clinics have been converted to low-tech, limited scope “virtual” clinics during which attorneys can advise low-income clients via telephone or zoom.
Process:
LASC/SEOLS schedules clients for a clinic slot and prior to each "virtual clinic," a member of our Pro Bono Team will match pre-registered clients with attorneys who have agreed to participate after confirming that the attorneys are still available. Attorneys will receive a clinic referral email, which will include the client's intake information, any relevant documents, and a link to a case reporting form.
How to Help:
If you wish to sign up for any virtual clinic shifts, please use this form.
Uncontested Divorces: LASC/SEOLS regularly receives requests for representation in uncontested divorces, including from applicants who need help navigating the process and have suffered domestic violence or other power imbalances. We also have a reduced fee referral program (“LARP”) and are always in need of more lawyers who can accept cases on a reduced fee basis ($150 for clients without children; $250 for clients who have children).
Process:
LASC/SEOLS screens the cases and then reaches out to potential counsel for referral. If/when you are available to help, we will send you a referral email containing information on the client’s case and instructions for next steps on the pro bono referral.
How to help:
If you are available to help with either pro bono or reduced fee uncontested divorce referrals, please email Dianna Parker.
Unemployment Compensation Assistance:
This program serves individuals with UC issues, including (1) guiding them through the application process (non-attorneys); (2) providing advice on eligibility or other procedural issues (attorneys); and (3) representing claimants in phone appeal hearings (attorneys). Those clinics will be scheduled daily at 10 a.m. (except for hearing representation, which will depend on the schedule of the hearing). Please use this form to sign up.
Consumer Project:
This project assists consumers who are being sued by debt buyers. Representation includes: motion practice, answers and counterclaims, discovery, pretrial conferences and settlement negotiations. The majority of representation can be handled remotely. If you can help, email Dianna Parker.
COMING SOON: Driver's License Clinics. Watch our social media for details about how you can help clients with driver's license reinstatement.L
Help Wanted:
SEOLS Staff Attorneys
We have openings in our Athens office and Portsmouth office for a staff attorney. Learn more about the positions on our website.
