Domestic Violence Advocate. Administrative Assistant. Benefits Counselor. Paralegal. Project Coordinator. In her long and impressive career with Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE) and Legal Aid of Western Ohio (LAWO), Mercedes Thompson has worn many hats. No matter her role, Mercedes takes initiative and leads, inspiring her co-workers with her enthusiasm, empathy, and can-do spirit. [...]
Emily Brown, staff attorney with Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE), has a deep passion and commitment to public service instrumental in her work as an immigration attorney. After joining ABLE on a Skadden Fellowship, Emily continues to advocate for and protect the civil legal rights of immigrants as a staff attorney. Emily serves as [...]
COLUMBUS, Ohio (May 14, 2021) — Janica Pierce Tucker is the 2021 recipient of the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation Presidential Award. The award, presented today during the Ohio State Bar Association Annual Meeting, is given annually to individuals, law firms, or organizations that have made outstanding efforts to improve access to justice in Ohio. [...]
John Petit is a managing attorney of the housing and consumer team at Community Legal Aid. In the summer of 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, John advocated for and oversaw the launch of the Tenant Assistance Project (TAP). TAP relies on the entire housing team at Community Legal Aid, as well as other CLAS attorneys, [...]
Ohio’s legal aid organizations and access to justice initiatives gain a new funding source this spring. A new law effective April 12 creates a category of unclaimed funds called Attorney Unclaimed Funds. The law authorizes the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation, the largest funder of civil legal aid in Ohio, to use these funds to [...]
The Supreme Court of Ohio and the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation are asking for attorneys’ information on both their pro bono legal services and contributions to charitable legal organizations in Ohio. Attorneys can complete the short survey in approximately 10 minutes. The information helps the Court recognize the value that Ohio’s attorneys create by [...]
Through the Foundation’s Justice for All Fellows program, law school graduates with a passion for public service address urgent legal problems facing Ohioans. Fellows provide a full range of legal services to low-income Ohioans throughout the state, providing fairness and access in the justice system and ensuring justice for all. The application period for 2022 [...]
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” - Desmond Tutu The Ohio Access to Justice Foundation, committed to justice, diversity and equity, integrity, respect and collaboration, joins the Asian American Bar Associations of Ohio in condemning the recent deadly violence against Asian Americans in Atlanta. We [...]
COLUMBUS, Ohio (March 29, 2021) — The Ohio Access to Justice Foundation’s 2020 annual report Justice Responds highlights its efforts to respond to the civil legal needs of vulnerable Ohioans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report includes graphics and videos that illustrate the Foundation’s impact during an unprecedented year. Justice Responds describes how the Foundation’s [...]
Miriam Sheline has had a long career in legal services. After graduating from Salmon P. Chase College of Law in 1984, she joined Pro Seniors as a staff attorney in 1997. She has gone on to serve as litigation director, and finally, managing attorney for Pro Seniors.As managing attorney, Miriam oversees the entirety of Pro [...]
