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 attorney while in her role as Pro Bono Director at the Foundation, Chang was recently named the Bus’ first director. Since its inception, she has led the Ohio Justice Bus in its mission to deliver civil legal services to low-income Ohioans, particularly in rural Ohio and to communities that lack access to legal services. Since its launch, the Bus has helped more than 3,200 Ohioans with civil legal challenges. In 2025 alone, the Bus held 104 brief advice clinics that served hundreds of Ohioans, covering topics ranging from family law and probate to record sealing/expungement and driver’s license reinstatement.
As director of the Bus, Chang leads the Bus team in developing, implementing, and maintaining legal clinics to serve Ohioans across the state. In 2022, the Ohio Justice Bus was recognized by the American Bar Association with its Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division Difference Maker Award in the Pro Bono category for its outstanding impact.
The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, Chang has maintained a steadfast commitment to diversity and inclusion throughout her career, particularly to serving the AANHPI community. She has been active in the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Central Ohio (APABA-CO) since the start of her legal career. A board member for eleven years, she served as president of the board in 2015. In addition to her work with APABA-CO and NAPABA, Sophia mentors AAPI students at both The Ohio State University and Capital University. She also mentors new attorneys through the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program.
“I am deeply honored to be recognized by NAPABA,” Chang said. “Working in public service is neither easy nor glamorous, but it is fulfilling and can have a life-changing effect on those who are served.”
Amplifying the spirit of pro bono, the Ohio Justice Bus works with community partners to provide Ohioans with attorneys to address unmet civil legal needs. Learn more at ohiojusticebus.org.