For many, the idea of not being able to find a lawyer sounds implausible. Legal dramas, flashy billboards, and online ads suggest there’s a lawyer for every problem, everywhere. But in much of Southeast Ohio, the reality is starkly different. Across rural counties, the legal profession is vastly underrepresented— and for those facing eviction, domestic violence, or other civil legal crises, the shortage isn’t just inconvenient.
It’s devastating.
According to the Ohio State Bar Association’s Rural Practice Gap Taskforce Report, a county needs at least one lawyer for every 700 residents to ensure adequate access to legal services. By that measure, only six counties in Ohio meet the threshold — and in Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio’s (LASCO) 36-county service area, only Franklin County qualifies. The rest face a severe shortfall. Ten Southeast Ohio counties have fewer than 10 attorneys. Vinton County has five private attorneys.
These numbers aren’t just statistics. They represent real people with urgent legal needs and nowhere to turn. For low-income residents — already facing barriers in housing, employment, public benefits, and family law — the lack of nearby attorneys only deepens the divide.
This is where LASCO steps in.
With eight offices staffed by attorneys who often live in the region, Legal Aid provides free help to those who would otherwise be left behind. But the need far outpaces what local staff can meet — which is why Legal Aid is grateful for volunteer support from rural lawyers, local bar associations and Columbus-based attorneys.
Their pro bono efforts allow us to hold in-person clinics that offer vital face-to-face legal help. Volunteers also help with virtual clinics and remote representation.
As rural attorneys decline and older lawyers retire without successors, the importance of Legal Aid in these communities grows. Legal Aid isn’t just filling gaps — it’s the only path to justice for thousands of Ohioans who, through no fault of their own, live in legal deserts.
We all have a role to play in closing the gap. Whether by volunteering time or making a donation, your support helps bring legal help where it’s needed most.
