When Foundation board member Judge Bill Klatt was a student at Notre Dame Law School, he dreamed of becoming a judge. “I thought I would really enjoy serving the community in that way,” he said. “But of course, I had no idea how someone becomes a judge.” Along the path to reaching his goal, Judge [...]
Since 1994, the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation has funded two-year fellowships for attorneys seeking to make a difference in Ohio’s civil justice system by addressing urgent legal problems facing Ohioans. Justice for All Fellows (JFA Fellows) partner with host organizations to design innovative projects that explore new ways to help low-income Ohioans with civil [...]
For a dedicated group of law students from across Ohio, summer offers a break from classes and an opportunity to gain real-world experience at some of the state's civil legal service providers. The Foundation's Justice for All Summer Clerk Program, now in its sixth year, provides funding for law students to expand opportunities in civil [...]
For busy attorneys who cite time as the most significant barrier to pro bono service, Rodney Holaday, a partner at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, and chair of the firm’s pro bono committee, offers an idea. Holaday likens volunteering to saving. “If you build it into your schedule first and roll into it, you can [...]
After decades of service at the Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio (LASSO), Elaine Fink has seen firsthand the power of collaboration in driving systemic change. “There’s a crucial role for litigation and the threat of litigation,” Fink said. “I have also learned that at times we can achieve significant results for clients when we [...]
On May 13, legal aid attorneys, board members, and staff gathered at the Ohio Statehouse for Legal Aid Day, an event hosted by the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation that helps educate legislators about legal aid’s impact. Since the first Legal Aid Day in 2013, Ohio’s legal aids and the Foundation have strengthened relationships with [...]
The Ohio Access to Justice Foundation was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Judge Mary Jane Trapp on April 24. On May 13, the Foundation posthumously awarded Judge Trapp the John C. and Ginny Elam Pro Bono Award. The Foundation recently took over stewardship of the Elam Award, a recognition [...]
Convenient. User-friendly. Customizable. These are just a few of the adjectives that describe Pro Bono Ohio, a new online platform from the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation that helps connect volunteer lawyers with pro bono opportunities around the state. Pro Bono Ohio centralizes and streamlines pro bono opportunities in a user-friendly database that the legal [...]
The Foundation’s newly released 2024 annual report explores how justice is a defining factor in opening doors to better jobs, more stable families, and financial security. It transforms uncertainty into security and potential into progress. Justice is more than a concept — it’s a catalyst. It fuels opportunities that ensure everyone can succeed. Access to [...]
The Greater Dayton Volunteer Lawyers Project (GDVLP) and Thompson Hine’s Dayton office have a long-standing relationship stretching back decades. When GDVLP identifies legal needs in the community, it relies on partners like Thompson Hine to provide volunteer lawyers to help low-income Daytonians resolve their civil legal challenges. One ongoing bi-monthly project — the landlord/tenant clinic [...]
