December 2022 - Pro Bono Newsletter

In This Issue: Thanks to Our 2022 Volunteers! | Important End of Year Information—Pro Bono Hours & CLE Credit | Keep an Eye Out for Our New LASC-SEOLS eNewsletter | Volunteer Opportunities | January Happy Hour | OSLSA in the News | We're Hiring!

Thanks to Our 2022 Volunteers!

Important End of Year Information—Pro Bono Hours & CLE Credit

If you have already submitted any necessary Form 23s to our program, feel free to disregard this message.

Each year, we are required to collect volunteer hours and information from our pro bono attorneys, paralegals, students, and other volunteers. 

This information is relevant to you if—in 2022—you (a) attended a pro bono clinic; (b) worked on a pro bono case; or (c) otherwise volunteered for LASC or SEOLS. 

ATTORNEYS: Please note that no CLE credit will be awarded if we do not receive the required Form 23 by December 31. All pro bono CLE hours will be submitted to the Supreme Court of Ohio in January.

CASE REFERRALS –If you are an attorney currently working on a pro bono case referred by LASC or SEOLS OR you have recently completed a referred case, please do the following:

• Regardless of whether you are seeking CLE, please complete an interim report (still working on the case) or final report (completed the case) by December 31. You can find the report form here . 
• If you are seeking CLE credit, make sure you have uploaded a Form 23 to the report. Feel free to use “/s/” for your electronic signature or to sign and scan your form before emailing. 
• If you have already completed a case report and Form 23, your hours will be submitted in January. 
• For those of you working on multi-year cases, please note that we are not able to give CLE credit for any hours spent in 2021 if you did not submit your Form 23 last year. 

CLINIC VOLUNTEERS/CASE CONSULTS –If you are an attorney or an OSBA-certified paralegal who volunteered at a pro bono clinic in 2022 or consulted with clients and/or staff attorneys:

If you have not completed your clinic reports, it's not too late! 

• Advice Clinic volunteering
• TAP Clinic volunteering
• Consultation on a project or case
• Also, if you wish to receive CLE credit for your pro bono time at clinics, please email probono@oslsa.org . We will send you your total volunteer hours and then you will just need to complete the top half of Form 23 and email it to probono@oslsa.org by December 31. Our office will be closed that day, so if your email is sent that day, it will be deemed timely even if you do not receive a response until the following week.

STUDENTS, PARALEGALS, AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS  

If you have not already done so, we ask that you submit reports to reflect the time you spent volunteering at clinics or with LASC/SEOLS. If you did not already report your time, please complete your reports here:

• In-House Volunteers for 2022  
• Advice Clinic volunteering  
• TAP Clinic volunteering

Questions? Email us at probono@oslsa.org .

Volunteer Opportunities

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!

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. 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.

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 .

January OSLSA Happy Hour

Kicking off 2023, our January OSLSA Happy Hour will be from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 11 at Antiques on High , 714 S. High St., Columbus, 43206. 

We hope to see you there!

OSLSA in the News

Here’s a roundup of recent media coverage of our work:

OPLC Ohio ARPA Tracker was cited on legislative priorities for remaining ARPA funds in this Lima News article, “ Ohio legislature’s lame-duck plans: What to expect and not expect by the end of 2022 ” (November 13, 2022), and the Times Leader Editorial Board praised the Ohio ARPA Tracker in this editorial, “ Tracking spending ” (November 23, 2022).

LASC Staff Attorney Graham Bowman was quoted on how the sale of a rental property would affect clients and residents in this Columbus Dispatch article, “ Owner of troubled Latitude Five25 apartment towers agrees to sell or face receivership ” (November 16, 2022).

LASC Managing Attorney Megan Sullivan and a joint letter from LASC and SEOLS were cited on the impact proposed changes to the IRS Appeals Offices could have on lower-income taxpayers’ ability to resolve tax controversies in this Bloomberg article, “ IRS Pitch on Appeals Office Sparks Fears of More Litigation ” (November 25, 2022).

OPLC was mentioned as a proponent of Senate Bill 288, which would reform major sections of Ohio’s criminal code, in this Gongwer article, “ Omnibus Criminal Justice Bill Headed For Senate Floor ” (November 29, 2022).

OPLC Policy Advocate Zack Eckles was quoted on ways to improve safety, code compliance, and enforcement in this WOUB Public Media article, “ Ceiling collapse at Athens rental reveals a gap in code enforcement inspections ” (December 7, 2022). 

OPLC Policy Advocate Zack Eckles was quoted on how “work-to-own” rental agreements are bad for tenants in this WOUB Public Media article, “ Precarious rental agreements pop up where no one is looking in rural Athens County ” (December 14, 2022).

OPLC Senior Policy Advocate Tim Johnson was quoted on the historic investment in lead poisoning prevention passed as part of Am. Sub. House Bill 45 in this Springfield News-Sun article, “ Massive spending bill, election reforms pass after legislative all-nighter ” (December 15, 2022).

OPLC Senior Policy Advocate Tim Johnson and Policy Advocate Zack Eckles were quoted about lead poisoning prevention funding and criminal justice reform bills in this Gongwer article, “ Lame Duck Reaction Includes Groups Seeking Veto Of Elections Bill ” (December 15, 2022).

LASC Housing Managing Attorney Melissa Benson was quoted about surging evictions in Franklin County and the end of emergency rental assistance funds in this WOSU Public Media story, “ Franklin County eviction filings surpassing pre-pandemic levels ” (December 19, 2022).

We have a number of open positions at LASC and SEOLS/OSLSA. Check out our Employment Opportunities page for more information and to apply!