Article, Record Set in 2021 for Donated Legal Time, published by Court News Ohio (CNO) and written by Csaba Sukosd (Jul. 27, 2022):
Thousands of attorneys across the state volunteered professional time to low-income Ohioans in need of critical legal services, according to the 2021 report by the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation.
The annual pro bono survey of Ohio attorneys asks if they volunteered legal services, how much time was spent, and for what types of cases. Employment, housing, and family law were among the most common areas in which attorneys gave their time. Of the 3,854 Ohio attorneys who responded to the survey, participating lawyers recorded 111,855 hours of pro bono service last year. With the median hourly rate for a state attorney around $250 an hour, those donated hours equal a value of $27,963,750 – a new survey record.
“I applaud the thousands of attorneys who gave their time and experiences to their fellow Ohioans,” said Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor. “Access to justice is a right for everyone and should not be an obstacle for those who can’t afford a lawyer.”
The purpose of the survey and the report is to identify areas of need for legal services – both geographically and specific fields of law – for organizations to better allocate resources. Last year, more aid was dedicated to resolving issues that kept people from getting or sustaining jobs. These matters – known as employment to barrier cases – include people with a suspended driver’s license or low-level criminal offense(s) on their record.
The graphic displays the wide range of civil cases for which Ohio lawyers volunteered in 2021.
Retired central Ohio attorney Vivian Opelt volunteers her time to resolve those kinds of problems. The former corporate lawyer works with clients to reinstate their driver’s license by settling outstanding court fees and addressing fines with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. She also works with sealing records for people with misdemeanor convictions, which can prevent them from getting a job.
“So many people end up in bad spots for years because they don't have legal help at the time when they need it,” said Opelt. “They make mistakes that stick with them after their punishment is served because they don't have allies in the justice system.”
For Court News Ohio's website, please click here...
###