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 [...]
After participating in a study abroad program in her undergraduate years, Justice for All Fellow Rachel Barr gained a passion for human rights, specifically women’s rights. She went to the London School of Economics, where she earned a master’s degree in human rights, followed by a move to D.C. to consult for a nonprofit. Despite [...]
Navigating civil legal issues can be a daunting task, especially if an experience with the criminal justice system compounds those issues. Justice for All Fellow Julia Lauritzen helps Ohioans facing criminal misdemeanor charges connect with legal aid to simultaneously address civil legal issues. “There are a lot of civil issues that the criminal justice system [...]
After learning about the environmental exploitation and injustices often faced by lower-income and Appalachian communities, Justice for All fellow Caitlyn McDaniel wanted to make a difference. As a recent Ohio University graduate, she stayed in the Athens area and got involved by joining the Buckeye Environmental Network. It was during this experience that Caitlyn discovered [...]
Justice for All Fellow Rebekah Tefft knew going into her first semester at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law that she wanted to pursue a career in public service. Her first summer in law school, she worked at the Ohio Public Defender’s office. She particularly felt drawn to working with vulnerable populations. “I [...]
Ann McGowan Porath, managing attorney of The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland’s Volunteer Lawyers Program (VLP) and Intake Group, is the 2020 recipient of the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation Denis J. Murphy Award. The Foundation presents the Denis J. Murphy Award annually to recognize outstanding leadership and advocacy within Ohio’s legal aids. “Ann’s [...]
Each year, thousands of Ohio attorneys volunteer to provide legal information, advice, or full representation to Ohioans who cannot afford an attorney but who face life-changing civil legal challenges. In October, the Foundation and Ohio’s legal aids join the American Bar Association to honor pro bono attorneys who selflessly give their time and talent [...]
