In this issue: Inside Look from the Executive Director; Development Digest: Immigration Grants; Opportunities to Help Out; CLE Opportunities; Columbus Pro Bono Reception: Oct. 25; We're Hiring!; OSLSA Board Member on Why She Serves; Special CBJ Ticket Deal for Volunteers!; LASC and SEOLS in the News
Inside Look from the Executive Director
Development Digest
Immigration Grants
LASC has been fortunate to host a Jones Day/Procter & Gamble Equal Justice Works-funded fellow, specifically focused on immigrant housing outreach. Building on the work of our Immigration and Housing teams, Fellow Jesse Vogel has identified many underserved communities who were unaware of their rights as tenants. Because of Jesse’s initial work, Nationwide Foundation supported the community-focused housing outreach with a $25,000 grant in 2023.
We have also continued to grow our programming with financial support from the following partners over the last two years:
- The Ohio Access to Justice Foundation’s Afghan-focused grant provided $265,000 to our partnership with the Community Refugee & Immigration Services.
- The Columbus Foundation
provided one-time funding of $130,000 to support refugees in the Columbus community helped Legal Aid set up a direct referral system with our community partners.
- The Ohio State Bar Foundation
provided a $25,000 grant for translating materials.
- The Harry C. Moores Foundation provided a $10,000 grant to support immigration work.
Connecting with Pro Bono
Opportunities to Help Out
Milo-Grogan Record Sealing and Expungement Clinic – Saturday, 9/23
LASC is again partnering with the Franklin County Self Help Resource Center, Municipal and Common Pleas Court and Clerks, Ohio Justice Bus, and the Milo-Grogan Area Commission to offer this annual record sealing and expungement clinic. This is a fantastic event, featuring a large pro bono clinic helping hundreds of individuals and a job and resource fair. We are seeking more attorney volunteers but registration for non-attorney volunteers is now closed. To register to volunteer,
please use this form. A Lunch & Learn/Legal Refresher will take place on Zoom on Friday 9/22 at noon (recording will be circulated afterwards).
Driver’s License Clinic – Tuesday, 10/24
We’re also partnering for our next Franklin County Driver’s License Event, which will bring together the BMV, resource providers, court/clerk representatives, and volunteers to help individuals with suspended driver’s licenses. This is a great opportunity for lawyers and others who want to help! A training will be offered on Zoom on Monday 10/16 at noon (recording will be circulated afterwards). You can
sign up here.
Mauritanian Community Events – Friday, 10/20 and Monday, 11/13
LASC is partnering with Catholic Charities, the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation, and Vineyard to offer legal support for Mauritanians living in Central Ohio. We will have an informational event and client screening on Friday October 20, where we will need volunteers to help with client screening and triage, and on Monday, November 13, we will offer an asylum clinic for the first set of clients. Both events will take place at Vineyard in Westerville. You can
sign up for either or both here.
Central Ohio Stand Down Clinic – Tuesday, 10/31
LASC will have a drop-in general advice clinic again at this annual Columbus event, which brings together service providers and resources for veterans who are unhoused or low-income. Pro Bono attorneys and intake volunteers are welcome! You can
sign up to volunteer here.
Family Law Virtual Clinics – Attorney Volunteers Needed
We need volunteers for our weekly Family Law virtual clinic for September and October. You can
sign up for specific slots here. Email
probono@oslsa.org with questions!
For a complete listing of ways to get involved, check out our Volunteer Resources page.
CLE Opportunities
EmPOWER: Providing Assistance to Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking
Wednesday, September 20, 2023, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
In-person, Ohio Statehouse Atrium
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio presents a free, POWER Act CLE event featuring keynote speaker Elizabeth C. Brown, President and CEO of YWCA Columbus. This POWER Act event is an opportunity to connect with lawyers throughout the Southern District of Ohio and to listen to a panel of experts identify the challenges faced by domestic violence survivors, the legal resources available throughout the district, and the pro bono opportunities focused on assisting survivors.
Register now.
Planning for the Future: Preparing Simple Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Advanced Directives
Wednesday, November 8, 2023, 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
In-person, 1108 City Park Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43206
This program will assist volunteer attorneys and paralegals who are participating in the PACO/LASC Pro Bono Wills Clinics which are held at different sites throughout Central Ohio. At these clinics, attorneys talk with the clients after the paralegals prepare the documents. Clients are provided with completed simple wills, health care powers of attorney, living wills, organ donor registry, declaration of funeral arrangements, financial powers of attorney, and affidavits.
Register now.
Relief from IRS Collections and COVID Hardships
Thursday, October 26, 2023, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Live interactive webinar
Learn the basics on how to help taxpayers deal with IRS debts and seek collection alternatives. This program can be a valuable addition to your practice, but also an easy way to provide pro bono assistance. Tax representation lends itself well to remote work; no existing tax expertise is necessary.
Register now.
Columbus Pro Bono Reception: October 25
We’re Hiring!
We have a number of open positions at LASC and SEOLS/OSLSA. Check out OSLSA's
Employment Opportunities page for more information about the positions, the benefits we offer, and how to apply!
OSLSA Board Member on Why She Serves
Natalie Kochte (Tuscarawas County) discusses how Legal Aid helped her avoid losing her house, what civil legal aid means to people when they have nowhere else to turn, and why she serves as a Community Representative to the OSLSA Board.
Special Deal for Volunteers!
As a thank you to volunteers, the Columbus Blue Jackets are offering a buy one, get one deal for tickets to their October 24 game against the Anaheim Ducks and their November 2 game against the Tampa Bay Lightning! For details, check out their
Volunteer Appreciation Offer flyer or check out
bluejackets.com/Volunteers.
LASC and SEOLS in the News
OSLSA, SEOLS, and LASC mentioned as grant recipients, Development Director Melissa Linville quoted:
U.S. Department of Veterans Affair awards grant to Ohio State Legal Services Association
Chillicothe Gazette (Aug. 28, 2023)
SEOLS Chillicothe office Managing Attorney Michael Gibbons-Camp featured:
Sunrise Rotary learns about SEOLS
Circleville Herald (Aug. 20, 2023)
LASC Housing Managing Attorney Melissa Benson quoted:
Court dismisses Paxe Latitude bankruptcy claim; tenants to share $1.5 million settlement
The Columbus Dispatch (Aug. 30, 2023)
SEOLS Advocacy Director Kristen Lewis quoted:
Roads to Justice for Rural Ohio
Court News Ohio (Aug. 30, 2023)
Letter to the editor by SEOLS Athens office Managing Attorney Lucy Schwallie:
Southeastern Ohio Legal Services can help tenant with fair housing violations
Athens Messenger (Sept. 9, 2023)
LASC Housing Managing Attorney Melissa Benson’s testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Housing quoted:
ABC6 On Your Side's extensive housing coverage submitted into testimony at Ohio Statehouse
WSYX Columbus (Sept. 13, 2023)
LASC listed as an organization holding record sealing and expungement clinic:
Franklin County Municipal Court holding record sealing, expungement event next weekend
FOX 28 Columbus (Sept. 15, 2023)
