National Reentry Resource Center
https://nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/
Capital University Law School – Family Advocacy Clinic
The Family Advocacy Clinic serves victims of family violence and is comprised of a Civil Protection Unit (CPU) and a Child Custody Unit (CCU). The CPU provides assistance with landlord/tenant issues, employment concerns, and divorce or dissolution proceedings, while the CCU provides full representation in contested child custody cases.
Contact (614) 236-6779 for more information about the Family Advocacy Clinic, 303 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Contact the Center for Family Safety and Healing, visit www.familysafetyandhealing.org.
Toledo Bar Association (TBA) – https://www.toledobar.org/?pg=Pro-Bono-Legal-Services-Program
Pro Bono Legal Services Program
The Toledo Bar Association Pro Bono Legal Services Program provides volunteer attorneys for low income individuals in a variety of legal issues in Lucas County. If you cannot afford an attorney and are low income, call 419-724-0460 or 888-534-1432 or complete an online application at the link below to see if you qualify for free legal help. A trained specialist at Legal Aid will conduct the initial screening and connect eligible clients with the TBA. If you’re an existing client with the Toledo Bar Association, call 419-242-9363.
Types of cases handled include divorces; domestic violence; bankruptcies; minor probate matters; tort defenses; guardianship’s; and real estate matters. The Pro Bono Program does not handle criminal cases.
Clinics offered by the Pro Bono Program include:
Divorce Clinic
Qualifying clients without real estate or minor children of the marriage can attend a do-it-yourself divorce workshop. This clinic is held on the first Friday of each month and is by appointment only. Please call 419-724-0460 or 888-534-1432 to find out if you qualify.
Juvenile Court Clinic
Volunteers assist pro se litigants with proper preparation of complaints and motions for Juvenile Court matters. This is a walk-in clinic held at the Lucas County Juvenile Court on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm.
Second Chance Tuesday: Criminal Record Sealing Clinics
Clients receive individual assistance with preparation of documents to file for criminal record sealing and expungement. This clinic is held on the third Tuesday of each month and is by appointment only. Call 419-724-0460 or 888-534-1432 to see if you qualify.
Eviction Record Sealing Clinics
Clients receive individual assistance with preparation of documents to file for eviction record sealing. This clinic is held on the second Wednesday of every other month and is by appointment only. Please call 419-724-0460 or 888-534-1432 to see if you qualify.
VA Brief Advice Clinics
Volunteer attorneys meet with Veterans in this walk-in clinic about various legal issues. This is brief advice to point the client in the right direction and provide referrals to appropriate agencies, as needed. This walk in clinic is held at the Toledo area Department of Veterans Affairs on the first Thursday of each month from 8:30 am to 11:00 am.
Cleveland Bar Association
To see if you are eligible for assistance through one of the CMBA’s Justice For All programs, please call (216) 696-3525 or email cnash@clemetrobar.org or click on one of the program titles below for further details. If you do not qualify for one of the CMBA’s programs, you may be eligible for help from The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, which can be reached at (216) 687-1900.
Cleveland Homeless Legal Assistance Program
Through Cleveland Homeless Legal Assistance Program (CHLAP) volunteer lawyers and other legal professionals provide service at regularly-scheduled brief advice and intake sessions in shelters and community centers across Cleveland, advising those in need but least able to access legal assistance. Volunteers staff regular intake sessions and can accept referrals for pro bono matters needing follow-up legal service. Those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless should check their local shelter to find out the next intake date and time. Please email cnash@clemetrobar.org or call (216) 696-3525 with questions.
Pro Se Divorce Clinics
Created in partnership with The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland and the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court, the Pro Se and Pro Se “Plus” Divorce Clinics are designed to provide access to justice for eligible individuals in need of a simple divorce. Volunteer legal professionals assist pre-screened clinic attendees in understanding the paperwork and process of securing a simple divorce. The CMBA’s Family Law Section provides leadership and guidance to volunteers. To see if you are eligible for assistance through these clinics, please call Legal Aid at (216) 687-1900.
Probate Court Brief Advice Clinics
After a free CLE presentation by the Probate Court judges and magistrates, volunteer attorneys match with members of the public to answer legal questions and probate concerns at the Probate Court Brief Advice Clinics.
Veterans Legal Services Clinics
Volunteer attorneys provide pro bono or low cost services for area veterans, including brief advice and counseling in regularly scheduled intake sessions. If matters need further representation, they will be referred through VLSC to existing programs that might provide appropriate assistance (e.g. Pro Se Divorce Clinic, Expungement Clinic, and Bankruptcy By-Pass Clinic) or to a volunteer lawyer who agrees to take on the matter pro bono. The VLSC will include a Wills for Vets program in the late fall.
Pro Bono Civil Appeals – PILOT PROGRAM
The purpose of the Civil Appellate Pro Bono Program is to facilitate appellate review in matters before the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals for people who cannot afford counsel, by referring them to pro bono counsel (“Volunteer Counsel”). People who wish to have Volunteer Counsel appointed to their case should fill out an application and email it to the CMBA at cklasa@clemetrobar.org. Submission of a form does not guarantee Volunteer Counsel will be appointed.
Legal Aid Help Line
Legal Aid Line provides FREE legal information, advice, and referrals to eligible, low-income residents of northwest and west central Ohio. All applicants must meet income guidelines to receive services. Go to https://www.legalaidline.org/apply-for-legal-help/ for online applications or call the number listed below.
Legal Aid Line telephone lines are open for new applications Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
If you are a resident of Allen, Ashland, Auglaize, Champaign, Clark, Crawford, Darke, Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Greene, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Huron, Logan, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Ottawa, Paulding, Preble, Putnam, Richland, Sandusky, Seneca, Shelby, Van Wert, Williams, Wood, or Wyandot counties, or have an agricultural worker issue anywhere in Ohio: Call toll-free: (888) 534-1432. If you live in Lucas County, call: (419) 724-0460.
Legal Aid Society of Columbus
614-224-8374
1108 City Park Avenue
Columbus, OH 43206
Pro Bono Clinic Schedule: https://www.columbuslegalaid.org/get-involved/attorney/pro-bono-clinics/
Pro Seniors
Advice, representation and justice for seniors in Ohio
513-345-4160
https://www.proseniors.org/
Ohio Legal Help
OhioLegalHelp.org
Self Help Forms (civil protection order, eviction, power of attorney, will, etc.)
Columbus Bar Association Directory – Search for a Lawyer
https://www.cbalaw.org/Directory/Search-the-Directory
