Across the 36 counties served by LASCO, access to justice often depends on more than the law. It depends on geography. Many rural communities have only a handful of lawyers—or none who handle essential civil issues like housing, family law, or public benefits. For low-income residents, barriers like cost, distance, and transportation make access even harder, and a LASCO staff attorney is often the only accessible option. As attorneys retire and fewer young lawyers replace them—often deterred by school debt and limited rural employment opportunities—the justice gap widens in communities already facing significant economic challenges. This growing “legal desert” is real—but so are the solutions, including the pro bono attorneys who step forward to fill critical gaps.
At LASCO, we know that serving rural Ohio requires more than a traditional law office. It requires presence, partnerships, and flexibility.
LASCO maintains offices in Athens, Chillicothe, Marion, Newark, New Philadelphia, Portsmouth, and Steubenville, in addition to Columbus. These locations are critical. In areas where transportation and distance are barriers, having a nearby, trusted place to seek help makes access to justice possible.
But our work does not stop at our office doors.
Through community partnerships, LASCO brings legal help directly into rural communities. We host clinics in churches, libraries, and community centers, where individuals can meet with an attorney about issues like eviction, custody, or public benefits. We also staff self-help desks in local courthouses, assisting people who are navigating the system on their own.
Our advocates travel throughout the region, working alongside shelters, senior services, hospitals, and local nonprofits. By embedding legal services within trusted community spaces, we reach people who might otherwise go without help.
This approach is essential in counties where there may be only a handful of attorneys—or none at all.
Justice should not depend on where you live. Through local offices, partnerships, and community-based services, LASCO is bringing legal help closer to home.
We invite you to join us in this work by either volunteering your time (even remotely!) or making a donation today.
