Susan Donofrio, the 2026 Denis J. Murphy Award recipient for outstanding leadership and advocacy at Ohio’s legal aids, didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming a lawyer. Initially on the path to a Ph.D. in English, Donofrio pivoted to law when life circumstances brought her to Washington, D.C. She attended Georgetown Law School, where she first [...]
The Ohio Access to Justice Foundation’s Rising Star Award honors an attorney in civil legal services whose career reflects exceptional growth. Intended for an attorney with seven years or less of professional experience in nonprofit civil legal services, the Rising Star Award recognizes performance that demonstrates leadership, innovation, and professionalism. Now in its third year, [...]
Sophia Chang, director of the Ohio Justice Bus, has been recognized by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) with its 2026 Public Sector Leadership Award. The Award honors a NAPABA member in the public sector for outstanding achievements and impact in their legal practice. After seven years of serving as the Bus’ managing [...]
Legal Aid of Western Ohio’s (LAWO) new Executive Director Brent Thompson arrived at the nonprofit this summer with experience leading a rural legal aid program in South Dakota and an urban program in Florida. His wide-ranging background proved ideal to lead LAWO, a legal aid that serves 32 Ohio counties spanning major cities and small [...]
Earlier this summer, the Department of Children and Youth awarded the Foundation a contract to lead a new collaboration to improve Ohio’s child welfare system by enhancing the quality and quantity of attorneys practicing child welfare law in Ohio. The project calls for collaboration with multiple partners, including the Ohio State Bar Association, Ohio CASA, [...]
Eric Warman is the new staff attorney for the Ohio Justice Bus. Warman is an Indiana University Maurer School of Law graduate and holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio. Prior to joining the Foundation, Warman served as a law clerk at the Michigan Poverty Law Program and [...]
Big changes are happening at the Ohio Justice Bus. Sophia Chang, pro bono director at the Foundation and managing attorney for the Ohio Justice Bus, has transitioned to lead the Bus full-time, becoming its new director effective July 1. In this role, Chang will lead strategy and direction, working to expand Ohio Justice Bus clinics [...]
When an Ohioan suffers from a substance use disorder (SUD), civil legal issues can arise not only for the person living with or recovering from addiction, but also for their family. The Ohio Access to Justice Foundation funds a grant program supported by state General Revenue Fund dollars to address legal issues related to SUD. [...]
The Ohio Access to Justice Foundation Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of new board members. The Board of Directors supports the Foundation’s mission of ensuring that Ohioans who are low-income or who lack access can fully and fairly participate in civil systems that produce just outcomes. Nicholas A. DiCello, partner, Spangenberg [...]
The Ohio Access to Justice Foundation is taking a bold step in pursuing its mission to promote access to justice by leading a new collaboration to improve Ohio’s child welfare system by improving the quality and quantity of attorneys practicing child welfare law in Ohio. The Department of Children and Youth (DCY) awarded the Foundation [...]
