In this issue: Inside Look from the Executive Director; Development Digest: A Look Ahead; Opportunities to Help Out; CLE Opportunities; Legal Aid in the News
Inside Look from the Executive Director
Development Digest
Year in Review and a Look Ahead at 2024
As a nonprofit law firm with the largest service area in the state, we rely not only on volunteers and community partners, but also financial support from philanthropic organizations and the generosity of Legal Aid allies like you.
In 2023, our organization raised over
$359,000 from donations. Thank you! We hosted our first-ever
Partners in Justice Luncheon inviting law firm partners and corporations to learn more about our work and saw the long-awaited return of the
Fresh Start Gala which raised over
$48,000 to support our bankruptcy program. We sent more than
14,000 letters to lawyers across our
36 counties asking for their support. Our organization had
77 active grants in 2023 and submitted successful grant applications for
seven new grants.
It has been our pleasure to share our work with you in this redesigned newsletter, and we look forward to learning more about you in 2024. Our team is working on more small-scale events to share our work more broadly, and we hope to visit more law firms and increase engagement from lawyers in our communities.
We step into 2024 as
Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio, excited for our future and the opportunities the new year brings.
Connecting with Pro Bono
Opportunities to Help Out
Jackson County Driver’s License Clinic – February 2
We are partnering with Jackson Municipal Court and Clerk to offer a Driver’s License Reinstatement Event on Friday, February 2 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to have their BMV record reviewed and receive advice and assistance on steps to get reinstated. Court and clerk representatives will be on hand to waive costs, fines, and fees, remove blocks, and grant driving privileges. Volunteer attorneys will receive training on license suspensions, and other professionals and students will help with Legal Aid intake and pulling BMV information. No prior experience is necessary! To express interest, please complete this short form.
Asylum Clinics – February 5 and 7
We are sponsoring two asylum clinics in February on the 5th and the 27th. No prior experience necessary! To sign-up and to receive additional details on training, please click here.
Seniors Referral Project – Ongoing
We are looking for pro bono attorneys, paralegals, and law students to assist seniors with basic estate planning. Volunteers speak with clients either in person or virtually and help by drafting simple wills and advanced directives. Training and a Volunteer Toolkit are provided. If you’re interested in volunteering, please fill out our volunteer interest form.
Columbus Advice Clinics – Ongoing
We are seeking help at a number of in-person advice clinics this year. Please consider lending your time and talent to one of the clinics listed below:
Jewish Family Services
1st Monday of each month, 5:30-8 p.m.
1070 College Avenue
Sign up
Van Buren Shelter
2nd Monday of each month, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
575 Van Buren Drive
Sign up
YWCA Family Center
2nd Tuesday of each month, 6-8 p.m.
900 Harvey Court
Sign up
Faith Mission on 8th Avenue
2nd Wednesday of each month, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
599 East 8th Avenue
Sign up
VA Ambulatory Care Center
2nd Thursday of each month, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
420 N. James Road
Sign up
Mt. Olivet Church
3rd Wednesday of each month, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
425 E. Main Street
Sign up
Faith Mission/Nancy’s Place Downtown
4th Wednesday of each month, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
217 N. Grant Ave
Sign up
CLE Opportunities
Save the Date for 2024 Clinic Curriculum Series
Legal Aid’s “2024 Clinic Curriculum” Series will kick off in January with a Weekly 1-Hour Training Series created specifically for lawyers who volunteer at our brief advice clinics. Attendees will receive CLE credit, practical tips, and digestible substantive legal knowledge in the areas we encounter most frequently at our advice clinics.
This 5-Part Series will take place on zoom on Thursdays from 12-1:00 on the following dates:
- Thursday January 18th - Probate
- Thursday January 25th - Consumer Debt
- Thursday February 1st - Divorce and Dissolution
- Thursday February 8th - Custody and Support
- Thursday February 15th - Landlord-Tenant
Sign up to attend one or more of the sessions here! Trainings will be recorded and made available after the events.
LASC and SEOLS in the News
