In This Issue: Volunteer Spotlight; Volunteer Opportunities; Special Blue Jackets Offer for Volunteers!; October OSLSA Happy Hour; OSLSA in the News; We're Hiring!
Pro Bono Spotlight—Attorney Gives Back by Volunteering Legal Expertise
Volunteers Needed
Looking to get your firm or group re-engaged? Interested in a Pro Bono Lunch & Learn? Reach out to
Dianna Parker to schedule a visit!
Central Ohio Veterans Stand Down, October 18
In Person
LASC is sponsoring an in-person brief advice clinic at the Central Ohio Veterans Stand Down on Tuesday, October 18th at the Columbus Convention Center. This is a wonderful way to help low-income and homeless veterans with their legal questions. We encourage attorneys and other professionals to sign up, as we will also need help with facilitating the intake process. Volunteers can
register here.
Opportunity Port
Remote
Opportunity Port is an exciting new platform that allows us to connect applicants for criminal record sealing in Franklin County Municipal Court with volunteers who can screen them for eligibility and prepare their applications. This online portal also will enable volunteer attorneys to schedule appointments and allow clients to file their applications with the court electronically. Training will be provided for anyone who joins.
Sign up now!
Family Law Attorneys Needed for Virtual Brief Advice Clinics
Remote
Phone consultations take 15-30 minutes on average, and attorneys can volunteer as little or as much as they wish.
Sign up now for a virtual clinic shift. Current volunteers can simply
email Dianna Parker if they wish to reengage and do not have preferences for specific clinic dates.
Attorneys Needed for Seniors Referral Project
Remote
We are asking for help from lawyers willing to draft and execute wills and advance directives for low-income seniors. Services for rural seniors are provided remotely.
Sign up to volunteer today.
Fairfield County and Franklin County Tenant Advocacy Project
In Person
Fairfield County Tenant Advocacy Project (TAP): The TAP clinic provides free legal information, advice, and representation to tenants who are being evicted. Clinics take place on Tuesday afternoons.
Sign up now if you’d like to volunteer.
Franklin County Tenant Advocacy Project: LASC 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.
Sign up now if you’d like to volunteer.
Legal Aid Reduced Fee Referral Project (LARP)
In Person/Remote Hybrid
The Legal Aid Reduced Fee Referral Project (LARP) at LASC is a panel of attorneys who accept reduced-fee referrals for uncontested divorces and Chapter 7 bankruptcies. LARP clients are low-income and generally unable to pay the market rate, and these referrals let them access much needed services. Clients agree to pay a reduced rate and Legal Aid matches the clients with interested attorneys. If you would like to be added to either the divorce or Chapter 7 bankruptcy referral list, please
fill out an attorney application, or
email Dianna Parker. We generally ask LARP attorneys to take two pro bono cases a year but there is no limit on the number of reduced-fee referrals.
Attorney and Non-Attorney Help Needed at Columbus Adult Shelter Clinics
In Person
Attorneys: Volunteer attorneys will provide brief advice to clients in a few areas of law, especially family, landlord-tenant, public benefits, and consumer issues. To get involved,
sign up today.
Non-Attorneys: This is a great opportunity for non-attorney volunteers including, but not limited to, law students, undergrads, and high school students. Volunteers are needed to help with intake, onsite research, and attorney support duties. To get involved,
sign up today.
We have three planned in-person Adult Shelter Assistance clinics through the end of October:
- October 10, 5:30-7:30 p.m.—Faith Mission Downtown/Nancy’s Place: 217 N. Grant Ave.
- October 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m.—Faith on 8th: 599 E. 8th Ave.
- October 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m.—Faith Mission Downtown/Nancy’s Place: 217 N. Grant Ave.
Chapter 7 Pro Bono Attorneys Needed!
LASC works with qualifying clients to collect all the paperwork necessary to file a bankruptcy and once the client is ready to file, we refer the case to you. LASC prioritizes clients who are very low-income with an emergency need to file such as a wage garnishment or utility shut-off for representation. If you have not taken a bankruptcy case in the past, but are interested in learning, we can also match you with a mentor pro bono volunteer.
Apply to volunteer.
October OSLSA Happy Hour
Happy Fall everyone! We are planning on having our October OSLSA Happy Hour on October 20th at the East Market Railhouse, located at 212 Kelton Avenue, Columbus, OH 43205.
We hope to see you there!
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 25 game against the Phoenix Coyotes and their November 23 game against the Montreal Canadiens! Additional tickets can be purchased at the discounted group rate so you can enjoy the game with friends and family! For details, check out their
Volunteer Appreciation Offer flyer or check out
bluejackets.com/Volunteers.
OSLSA in the News
Here’s a roundup of recent media coverage of our work:
SEOLS Managing Attorney Lucy Schwallie was cited on the impact of Athens’ new pay-to-stay ordinance in this The New Political article, “City Council passes ordinance preserving Pay-to-Stay” (September 7, 2022) and Lucy Schwallie and OPLC Policy Advocate Zack Eckles were cited in this WOUP Public Media story, “Athens City Council passes ‘pay to stay’ ordinance to protect tenants, but asks for legal review” (September 7, 2022).
LASC Staff Attorney Jane Tsai was quoted on the importance of record sealing and expungement in this ABC 6 Columbus story, “Record sealing, resource fair gives residents an opportunity to expunge criminal records” (September 10, 2022).
LASC was cited as an organization providing support for tenants at Latitude 525 apartments in the ABC 6 Columbus story, “Columbus high rise back in court, city cites cut power, floods and accumulating trash” (September 12, 2022).
SEOLS Managing Attorney Lucy Schwallie was referenced as one of the presenters at a mock trial program for high schoolers in this Ohio University News article, “High schoolers in Summer Law & Trial Institute see effort pay off in mock trial” (September 13, 2022).
SEOLS Staff Attorney Caitlyn McDaniel was featured as a mentor through the Access to Justice Internship Program in this Ohio University News article, “Alumni News: Caitlyn McDaniel mentors interns who share her passion for fighting injustice” (September 20, 2022).
LASC Staff Attorney Jacqueline Gutter was quoted on the ways payday lenders will try to evade regulations in this Ohio Capital Journal article, “Dayton-based payday lender continues to bury customers in debt” (October 3, 2022).
OPLC Policy Advocate Zack Eckles was quoted on why Athens’ newly adopted pay to stay ordinance is necessary in this The New Political Article, “Pay-to-Stay adopted by Athens City Council, again” (October 4, 2022), this WOUB Public Media article, “Athens City Council again passes ‘pay to stay’ ordinance” (October 5, 2022), and this Athens Messenger article, “Athens (Ohio) approves tenants right to pay to stay ordinance” (October 6, 2022).
