August 2024 Pursuing Justice Newsletter
From the Executive Director—Supporting Homeless Youth | Development Digest—How Fellowships Help Amplify Legal Aid’s Impact | Volunteer Spotlight—LASCO Recognizes Teresa Scharf for Her Outstanding Commitment to Pro Bono | Opportunities to Help Out | CLE Opportunity | Journey Toward Justice—Save the Date! | Tickets Now Available—"Justice On Tap" at Seventh Son Brewery! | We're Hiring! | Legal Aid in the News
From the Executive Director—Supporting Homeless Youth
By Kate McGarvey
Development Digest—Fellowships Help Amplify Legal Aid’s Impact
Connecting with Pro Bono
Volunteer Spotlight—LASCO Recognizes Teresa Scharf for Her Outstanding Commitment to Pro Bono!
Teresa, who recently retired and stepped down from her role as the chair of PACO’s Pro Bono Committee, has been a tremendous asset to Legal Aid and the Central Ohio legal community, said LASCO Director of Pro Bono & Community Engagement Dianna Parker. “Teresa was a steadfast supporter of Legal Aid and prioritized creating opportunities for herself and others to give back to their community. The Wills Clinic would not be what it is without Teresa.”
Prior to retirement she worked as a litigation and patent prosecution paralegal for UB Greensfelder and was also the firm’s primary Remote Online Notary (“RON”), serving clients in every practice area across the United States and around the world.
While Teresa has many poignant memories of her volunteer work, one Thursday evening wills clinic at a senior living facility stands out. As the clinic was ending, a resident approached the staff member of the facility who had coordinated the event and pleaded with her to add a slot to the full roster of clients. Teresa readily agreed and coordinated with another attorney and paralegal to make sure the client had the documents she needed.
The following Monday morning, Teresa received a phone call from the facility staff member letting her know that the woman who Teresa helped suffered a heart attack and died over the weekend. Her family was beyond grateful that the paperwork had been completed and their loved one’s wishes were known. Helping clients like this cemented Teresa’s belief that Legal Aid “makes the impossible possible for its clients.”
In retirement, Teresa plans on visiting Greece to connect with recently discovered family, specifically a sister, with whom she connected over the past year! When she isn’t in Europe, she intends to spend time with her loved ones and grandchildren, golf, read, and practice Greek. Teresa, we wish you the best on this new adventure!
Opportunities to Help Out
Exciting Volunteer Opportunity: Join Us at the Two-Day Columbus TPS Clinic for Haitians!
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti has been extended and re-designated until February 3, 2026. The deadline for re-registration is fast approaching on August 30! To support the many Haitians needing to apply for TPS, LASCO is hosting a two-day Haitian TPS clinic at the Central Community Worship Center in Columbus on Tuesday, August 20, and Wednesday, August 21 , from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. We need your help! If you have a few hours to spare, please consider volunteering. We’ll provide all the training and support you need. Sign up to volunteer here .
Franklin County Driver's License Clinic – August 29
Volunteers from Legal Aid, the Franklin County Municipal Court and Self-Help Resource Center, as well as ODJFS and the Ohio BMV, among others, will come together on August 29 for an all-day Driver's License Reinstatement Clinic at The Columbus Metropolitan Library Main Branch Downtown. Both morning and/or afternoon shifts will be available. Please register here if you are interested in volunteering.
Fresh Start Clinics
Staff from Legal Aid are holding clinics throughout Southeast Ohio to assist clients with record sealing and expungement applications. If you would like to volunteer for one or more of the clinics coming up in Marion, Coshocton, or Scioto counties, please register here . If needed, Legal Aid can send additional resources and training videos ahead of the clinic to provide a review on substantive law.
Time and specific location TBD:
- Marion County, September 27
- Coshocton County, October 25
- Scioto County, November 22
Two Opportunities to Support Veterans Coming Up This Fall!
Central Ohio Stand Down – Tuesday, October 22
Our annual clinic at the Central Ohio Stand Down—which offers wraparound services and donations to Veterans—is on Tuesday, October 22. Click here to sign up or learn more.
Location: Columbus Convention Center
Address: 400 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215
Shifts: 9-11:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Veterans Financial Wellness – Thursday, November 21
Second, we will also be partnering with the Federal Court for the Southern District of Ohio, the Supreme Court of Ohio, and the Ohio Justice Bus to offer an advice clinic at the Veterans Financial Wellness event on Thursday, November 21. While the first three hours will feature group presentations on consumer debt/bankruptcy, reentry, and family law, we will also have a brief advice clinic at the end of the event. Click here to sign up or learn more.
Location: VFW Post 9857
Address: 2330 Stelzer Rd, Columbus, OH 43219
Shift: 5:00-7:00 p.m.
At both events, volunteer lawyers will be providing advice to veterans with legal issues. The most common issues we see at these clinics include domestic, landlord-tenant, consumer debt, SSI and other disability benefits, record-sealing, probate, and veterans benefits issues.
CLE Opportunity
Driver License Reinstatement Clinic CLE
Virtual
Thursday, August 22, 12 p.m.
Attorneys planning to volunteer at the August 29 Driver License Reinstatement Clinic may join us for a free virtual training on Thursday, August 22 via Zoom. CLE credit is available to attorneys who attend the live training; those who cannot attend may review the recording at their convenience after the event (no CLE credit available for viewing recording). Attendees will learn the fundamentals of driver license reinstatement with the municipal court and BMV to provide brief advice to clients; and review the general process conducted at the clinic. Non-attorney volunteers are welcome to attend if interested in the substantive law, but attendance is not required for non-attorney volunteers. Register here for the CLE; if you have not yet registered as a volunteer for the clinic, both attorneys and non-attorneys can do so here .
Journey Toward Justice—Save the Date!
Tickets Now Available—"Justice On Tap" at Seventh Son Brewery!
Legal Aid in the News
Columbus changes city code to hold landlords accountable NBC 4 Columbus (July 17, 2024)
Tenant advocates publish properties owned by sexual harassment co-defendants Athens County Independent (July 18, 2024)
The pros and cons of privatizing Section 8 housing WOSU Public Media, All Sides with Anna Staver (July 29, 2024)
A Mortgage Alternative for Lower-Priced Homes Comes With Risks The New York Times (Aug. 2, 2024)
Community news from around the area: Legal Aid to hold record sealing clinic Herald-Star , Steubenville (Aug. 5, 2024)
Franklin County treasurer suspends liens as property tax delinquencies spike The Columbus Dispatch (Aug. 6, 2024)
