July 2024 Pursuing Justice Newsletter

From the Board Chair—Curious About Our LASCO Board of Trustees? | Pro Bono Spotlight—Melissa McFadden | Opportunities to Help Out | CLE Opportunity | New Board Member Spotlight—Erin Fawley | LASCO 2023 Annual Report Now Available! | Follow Our New Facebook and LinkedIn Pages! | Job Opportunities at LASCO! | Legal Aid in the News

From the Board Chair—Curious About Our LASCO Board of Trustees?

By Sandra J. Anderson

Connecting with Pro Bono

Pro Bono Spotlight—Melissa McFadden

To read more about Melissa's reentry work, the people we help, and and our efforts in 2023, check our 2023 LASCO Annual Report !


Fresh Start Clinics

Staff from Legal Aid are holding clinics throughout Southeast Ohio to assist clients with record sealing and expungement applications and driver license reinstatement. If you would like to volunteer for one or more of the clinics coming up in Licking, Fayette, Coshocton, and Scioto counties, please register here . If needed, Legal Aid can send additional resources and training videos ahead of the clinic to provide a review on substantive law.

  • Record sealing and expungement in Licking County: THIS Thursday, July 18 at Licking County Aging Partners, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Driver License Reinstatement in Fayette County: Friday, July 26 at the Washington Court House Municipal Court, from 1-4 p.m. 

Opportunities to Help Out

Brief Advice Clinics at Columbus-area Shelters

We still need additional volunteer attorneys to assist us at our adult and family shelters to provide brief advice to shelter clients. If you are interested in this outreach, attorneys can register here for the adult shelters and register here for the YWCA family clinic.


Wills Clinic at Adams County Senior Citizens Council – July 31st, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Volunteer lawyers and paralegals will be offering simple wills, powers of attorney, living wills, and transfer on death affidavits to seniors and low-income individuals. Legal Aid staff will be onsite to conduct intake, fill out client questionnaires for drop-in clients, proofread forms, and answer questions. Training and templates are available to all volunteers. LASCO will also supply laptops and forms templates for those who need them. Sign up here . 


Columbus Asylum Clinics – August 1st and 14th 

LASCO offers two clinics each quarter where volunteer law students and lawyers assist clients with their asylum applications. Legal Aid prescreens clients, and applications are filed pro se. Please register for upcoming clinics here .


Franklin County Driver's License Clinic – August 29

Volunteers from Legal Aid, the Franklin County Municipal Court and Self-Help Resource Center, as well as ODJFS and the Ohio BMV, among others, will come together on August 29 for an all-day Driver's License Reinstatement Clinic at The Columbus Metropolitan Library Main Branch Downtown, 96 S. Grant St. Both morning and/or afternoon shifts will be available. Please register here if you are interested in volunteering.

CLE Opportunity

Driver License Reinstatement Clinic CLE

Virtual

Thursday, August 22, 12 p.m.

Attorneys planning to volunteer at the August 29 Driver License Reinstatement Clinic may join us for a free virtual training on Thursday, August 22 at noon via Zoom. CLE credit is available to attorneys who attend the live training; those who cannot attend may review the recording at their convenience after the event (no CLE credit available for viewing recording). Attendees will learn the fundamentals of driver license reinstatement with the municipal court and BMV to provide brief advice to clients; and review the general process conducted at the clinic. Non-attorney volunteers are welcome to attend if interested in the substantive law, but attendance is not required for non-attorney volunteers. Register here for the CLE; if you have not yet registered as a volunteer for the clinic, both attorneys and non-attorneys can do so here .

New Board Member Spotlight—Erin Fawley

Erin Fawley is a LASCO board member who truly believes in advocating and advancing the work of Legal Aid. This drive stems from her own experiences. Legal Aid represented Fawley in a housing case before the 10th District Court of Appeals that resulted in a dramatic change in eviction proceedings.


Inspired by the work of her attorneys, Fawley decided to give her time as a member of the board: “I am so excited to participate and give back after what Legal Aid has done for me.”

LASCO 2023 Annual Report Now Available!

Follow Our New Facebook and LinkedIn Pages!

Legal Aid in the News

Pursuing Justice Newsletter July 2025

By LASCO EDITOR • August 1, 2025
IN THIS ISSUE: P rotecting Justice: A Board Member's Perspective on Legal Aid Funding | Development Spotlight: Melonia Bennett | Partnering for Good: Get Involved | Fresh Start Friday Brings Critical Driver's License Help to Ross County | Former State Officials Urge Congress to Fund Legal Aid | Save the Date for Upcoming CLE Opportunities | Legal Aid in the News | Protecting Justice: A Board Member’s Perspective on Legal Aid Funding By Lisa Pierce Reisz, LASCO Board Chair

Pursuing Justice Newsletter June 2025

By LASCO EDITOR • August 1, 2025
IN THIS ISSUE: Working Together to Address the Need for More Legal Help in Rural Ohio | Development Spotlight | Partnering for Good: Get Involved | Save the Date for Upcoming CLE Opportunities | Legal Aid in the News Working Together to Address the Need for Legal Help in Rural Ohio By Kate McGarvey, Executive Director

Pursuing Justice Newsletter May 2025

By LASCO EDITOR • August 1, 2025
IN THIS ISSUE: Volunteer Highlight | Brief Advice Clinics | Get Involved | Save the Date for Upcoming CLE Opportunities | At Columbus Clinic, Volunteers Help Seal Past Records | Legal Aid in the News | Annual Report Now Available By Kate McGarvey, Executive Director

Pursuing Justice Newsletter April 2025

By LASCO EDITOR • August 1, 2025
IN THIS ISSUE: Celebrating Justice, Community, and the Volunteers Who Make It Happen | 2025 Fresh Start Gala Coming Up This Week! | Donor Spotlight—Matt and Lisa Forsythe | Get Involved | Save the Date for Upcoming CLE Opportunities | At Columbus Clinic, Volunteers Help Hundreds Seal Past Records | Legal Aid in the News | This National Volunteer Month, We Celebrate Justice, Community, and the Volunteers Who Make It Happen By Dianna Parker, Director of Pro Bono and Community Engagement

Pursuing Justice Newsletter March 2025

By LASCO EDITOR • August 1, 2025
IN THIS ISSUE: F resh Start, Lasting Impact: How You Can Help Us Help More Debt-Burdened Ohioans | Join Us for the 2025 Fresh Start Gala! | Get Involved | Upcoming Record Sealing CLE | Chase Bank, Legal Aid Hold Expungement Clinic | Take the 25-in-'25 Pro Bono Challenge! | Special CBJ Ticket Deal for Volunteers! | Legal Aid in the News Fresh Start, Lasting Impact: How You Can Help Us Help More Debt-Burdened Ohioans By Kate McGarvey, Executive Director

Pursuing Justice Newsletter February 2025

By LASCO EDITOR • July 31, 2025
IN THIS ISSUE: Helping Low-Income Taxpayers Navigate the System | Opportunities to Help Out | CLE Opportunity | Tax Time Partnership Helps Clients Navigate Tax Issues, Gain Peace of Mind | A.J. Hensel on Why You Should Take the 25-in-'25 Pro Bono Challenge! | McGarvey to Columbus City Council: Investments in Access to Counsel Keep People Housed, Save Money | Summer Paid Clerkship for Law Students | Fresh Start Gala Set for April 17! | PILF Annual Auction Coming Up | Legal Aid in the News | Legal Aid in Action: Helping Low-Income Taxpayers Navigate the System By Kate McGarvey, Executive Director

Pursuing Justice Newsletter January 2025

By LASCO • June 17, 2025
IN THIS ISSUE: New Year, New Opportunities: Amplifying Our Work Through New Partnerships | LASCO Poised to Expand Impact in 2025 Thanks to New Funding Partners | Opportunities to Help Out | Exciting Opportunities for Law Students to Work with Legal Aid | Pro Bono Initiatives Featured in Columbus Bar Lawyers Quarterly | Take the 25-in-’25 Pro Bono Challenge! | Legal Aid in the News New Year, New Opportunities: Amplifying Our Work Through New Partnerships By Kate McGarvey, Executive Director

November 2024 Pursuing Justice Newsletter

November 15, 2024
IN THIS ISSUE: Veterans Outreach: Servin g Those Who Served | Take the 25-in-’25 Pro Bono Challenge! | “Journey Toward Justice” Recap and Photos | Supporter Spotlight—John Boyer | Opportunities to Help Out | Visit Our New Website! | LASCO's Draft 2025 PAI Plan | Upcoming Forum on Rising Evictions in Central Ohio | Special CBJ Ticket Deal for Volunteers! | Legal Aid in the News

October 2024 Pursuing Justice Newsletter

October 17, 2024
IN THIS ISSUE: To Our Pro Bono Attorneys and Volunteers | "25-in-25" Pro Bono Challenge | Thank You to the Sponsors of Journey Toward Justice Reception! | Meet the 2024 Pro Bono Excellence Award Winners | CLE Opportunity | Opportunities to Help Out | Legal Aid in the News
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