When justice is in focus, extraordinary transformation occurs. In 2021, civil legal services took center stage as an integral solution to moving Ohio forward, an effort led by the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation and its grantees. The Ohio Access to Justice Foundation’s 2021 Annual Report explores how Ohio’s legal aid organizations, Ohio Legal Help, [...]
Miriam Sheline, managing attorney at Pro Seniors, is the 2021 recipient of the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation Denis J. Murphy Award. Each year, the Foundation presents the Denis J. Murphy Award to an attorney who displays outstanding leadership and advocacy within Ohio’s legal aids. “This is a well-deserved recognition for Miriam’s 25 years of [...]
First-year Ohio Access to Justice Foundation Justice for All Fellow Stacy Purcell developed a passion for housing law while serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer with Community Matters, a development non-profit in Cincinnati. Purcell spent a year between undergrad and law school living and working in the neighborhood she served, learning about the housing market [...]
The Supreme Court of Ohio and the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation are pleased to launch the 2021 pro bono reporting survey. The Court and the Foundation ask attorneys to report hours of pro bono legal services completed and the amount of contributions to charitable legal organizations in Ohio during 2021. Attorneys can complete the [...]
As an undergraduate at Case Western Reserve University, first-year Ohio Access to Justice Foundation Justice for All Fellow Victoria Hamilton interned for the InterReligious Task Force on Central America, a Cleveland-based nonprofit organization that works on education and advocacy around justice issues in Central America. “I was really drawn to the global perspective and the [...]
Since beginning her fellowship at the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati last September, second-year Ohio Access to Justice Foundation Justice for All Fellow Rachel Barr has helped dozens of families get the legal help they need to improve life for their children. Barr’s fellowship supports Child HeLP, a medical-legal partnership between Cincinnati Children’s Hospital [...]
Lawyers have unique skills that make a real difference in the lives of Ohioans. The Ohio Access to Justice Foundation’s New Admittee Pro Bono Challenge puts those skills to the test. The Challenge – a new initiative from the Foundation to bolster interest in pro bono service – encourages fall 2021 admittees to the Ohio Bar [...]
Although second-year Ohio Access to Justice Foundation Justice for All Fellow Julia Lauritzen was excited to begin her fellowship at The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland last fall, she wasn’t sure exactly how it would go, given the COVID-19 pandemic. “I came in with vague expectations,” Lauritzen said. “But I think I envisioned having more [...]
The Ohio Access to Justice Foundation’s directors serve from across the state and are committed to improving access to justice. Meet Mary Amos Augsburger, Foundation board treasurer and Chief Executive Officer of the Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA). What inspired you to get involved with access to justice work/civil legal services arena? It goes right [...]
First-year Ohio Access to Justice Foundation Justice for All Fellow Russell Hauser had three key moments that solidified his path to juvenile justice work. First, he worked at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) as an office assistant. While there, he conducted research on the shackling of juveniles. It was then that Hauser’s eyes were [...]
