Seven Veterans Legal Corps lawyers are now working in Ohio to help solve civil legal problems for homeless and low income veterans, and two of those lawyers are themselves veterans.
Ohio Veteran Legal Corps lawyers, who began work on September 1, have been placed at legal aid host organizations and are representing veterans on issues related to benefits earned as a result of military service; access to safe and affordable housing; removing barriers to employment, and other life-changing legal needs.
Ohio Veterans Legal Corps positions are funded in part by the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation, which matched funding provided by Washington, D.C.-based Equal Justice Works, a nonprofit organization dedicated to public interest opportunities for law students and lawyers, through its AmeriCorps program. The Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Veterans Legal Corps is a national initiative with a total of 36 positions in 10 states funded through a grant from the federal Corporation for National and Community Service.
“We are privileged to support the Ohio Veterans Legal Corps,” said Angela Lloyd, Executive Director for the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation. “The work done by the Veterans Legal Corps to ensure that Ohio veterans receive the benefits they earned through their service or to secure stable housing or employment, is a tribute to the sacrifices each veteran has made for our country.”
“The ultimate goal of the Veterans Legal Corps is to improve the lives of veterans – once relied upon to serve their country as members of the armed forces – and enable them to return to civilian life as successful community members,” said David Stern, Executive Director of Equal Justice Works.
The Ohio Veterans Legal Corps lawyers and their host organizations are:
Robert Abdalla (veteran) – Southeastern Ohio Legal Services in Newark;
Jamie Altum-McNair (veteran)- The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland;
Holly Hillyer – Advocates for Basic Legal Equality in Toledo;
Michael McGuire – Legal Aid Society of Columbus in its Marion office;
Caitlin Milo – Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati;
Kenneth Mirkin- Community Legal Aid Services in Akron; and
Elizabeth Zak – Pro Seniors in Cincinnati.