The national poverty rate dropped in 2013 for the first time in over five years, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report released today. The poverty rate is the number of people living below the poverty rate of $23,850 for a family of four. For the 12 states, including Ohio, which make up the Midwest [...]
As previously reported by the Foundation and highlighted in Akron Legal News, legal aid pro bono attorney volunteers across Ohio continue to donate many hours of civil legal work to legal aid and its clients. Read more here.
Pro bono attorney and former Foundation part-time staffer, Brian Hoffman, recently spent a week in a New Mexico detention center representing detained women and children. Mr. Hoffman's travel expenses, along with the expenses of two other Ohio pro bono lawyers, has been covered by the Ohio chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Read more [...]
The federal Legal Services Corporation, which uses funds appropriated by Congress to support 134 independent, non-profit legal aids in every state, including Ohio, has awarded grants from its Pro Bono Innovation Fund to develop replicable innovations in pro bono legal services for low-income clients. The grants were made to 11 legal aids and range in [...]
The Children's Defense Fund-Ohio's annual report on the well-being of Ohio's children finds that while some economic indicators are improving, poverty rates for children remain static. Read more about the report here. Download a copy of the report here.
In addition to urging a pay increase for Ohio's judges, Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor stated during her state of the judiciary address today that success stories extend to judges' lawyer colleagues. O'Connor's speech was to judges attending the annual meeting of the Ohio Judicial Conference, in Columbus. Lawyers were recognized for donating more [...]
Through the Department of Justice's (DOJ's) settlement with Bank of America, Interest on Lawyers Trust Account (IOLTA) Programs will receive significant funds for foreclosure prevention and community redevelopment legal assistance. The Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation will be one of the many beneficiaries of the settlement. Read more from the DOJ press release here.
Chief Justice O'Connor stated that she would like the newly assembled Access to Justice Task Force of legal experts and judges to provide recommendations for better ways to provide legal assistance to low-income people by next year. Angela Lloyd, executive director of the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation, is a member of the task force. Read [...]
During Governor Kasich's announcement unveiling the new Office of Human Service Innovation, he called on the state to better coordinate programs in order to help lift Ohioans out of poverty. Read more here.
Kermit Lowery, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel for the LexisNexis U.S. Legal Department has been named a 2014 American Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Award winner. The award was presented to Lowery during the recently-concluded American Bar Association Annual Meeting in Boston. Lowery developed a passion for pro bono work during his service in [...]
