Thank you so much for your work to help low-income people in our community! Each year, Legal Aid is required to collect volunteer hours and information from our pro bono attorneys, paralegals, students, and other volunteers. This requirement exists regardless of CLE credit. 

 

Q—Does this apply to me? 

A—This information is relevant to you if—in 2024—you (a) attended a pro bono clinic; (b) worked on a pro bono case; or (c) otherwise mentored or volunteered for Legal Aid.

Q—Do I really have to do this now? 

A–Yes Please!

• Attorneys can receive up to six hours of general pro bono CLE each reporting period.
• Every six hours of volunteering = one hour of general pro bono CLE. 
• Hours must be submitted annually, even if it is your non-reporting year, and each attorney must submit a “Form 23” to us in order for Legal Aid to verify your time to the Supreme Court.
• 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 by the end of January.

 

Q—What do I have to do with this Form 23?

 

A—If you are new to this, here are the basics:

• You can complete one Form 23 for all of your 2024 time, and you are only responsible for the top half of the form.
• Section A - There’s no need to remember the name of every clinic client name. Feel free to just put “multiple clinic clients” 
• Section B – Describe the type of clinic or case referral you do. For example “Asylum clinics” or “Seniors Referral Project”.
• Section D – Make sure you list your volunteer time here, not the CLE hours.
• Section E – Do your best to calculate this. We will round to the closest .25 CLE hour. 
• Signature – No need to print and mail. Feel free to use “/s/” for your electronic signature or to sign and scan your form before emailing. 

 

 

Q—I took a pro bono referral but I can't find the original email. What do I do? 

 

A—If you are currently working on a pro bono case referred by Legal Aid OR finished up a case in 2024:

• 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. 
• Seniors Referral Project cases—form is here.
• All other cases—form is here. 
• 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 2023 if you did not submit your Form 23 last year. 

 

Q—I want to get CLE credit but I have no idea what my total hours are! What do I do? 

 

A—No problem. Email the Pro Bono Team and we'll send you your hours by the end of next week!

 

Q—I am not an attorney but I want to know my total 2024 volunteer time. What do I do? 

 

A—No problem. Email the Pro Bono Team and we will send you your total time! Please allow a 2-3 week turnaround. 

 

Q—I’m feeling optimistic and want to do more in 2025. Any ideas?

 

A—Yes! As we look forward to 2025, we're thrilled to announce the Central Ohio "25-in-'25" Pro Bono Challenge—a friendly competition for law firms and legal departments to engage their lawyers and legal professionals in donating 25 hours in 2025 to LASCO. Are you an individual or firm who wants to sign the pledge?? You can do so here.