Community Service Updates & Volunteer Opportunities
Pro Bono Legal Services Program
The Toledo Bar Association Pro Bono Legal Services Program connects volunteer attorneys with low-income individuals in a variety of legal issues. The Pro Bono Program is a success due to the attorneys who volunteer and donate to support the program.
Consider making a donation to the TBA Pro Bono Legal Services Program. A donation to the Program helps provide support for legal clinics and programs in our local community. The TBA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. All gifts are eligible for charitable deductions on your federal income tax return if you itemize deductions.
DONATE
Our program will accept cases to place with volunteer attorneys in the following areas:
- divorces with minor children;
- simple estate planning;
- bankruptcy;
- real estate issues;
- adoption;
- guardianships;
- incorporation of nonprofits;
- probate;
- landlord/tenant;
- consumer debt issues (other than bankruptcy).
The Pro Bono Program does not handle criminal cases.
To volunteer your time to the Pro Bono Program through full representation or through one of our programs, contact Michelle Tussing, Director of Pro Bono Legal Services at 419-418-5305 or at mtussing@toledobar.org. To volunteer at an upcoming clinic, click here.
Clinics & Legal Community Engagement
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Pro Bono Clinics
PRO SE DIVORCE CLINIC
We help pre-screened clients fill out paperwork to file for divorce on their own. This is for individuals with no minor children, no real estate, no property division, no spousal support. No prior experience in divorces is needed as it is a classroom style clinic.
JUVENILE COURT WALK-IN CLINIC - First Thursday of the Month
People who are filing paperwork in Lucas County Juvenile Court can come to this clinic to receive assistance on filling out the paperwork only. No legal advice. They can leave with their completed papers to file in the court on their own. No prior experience in Juvenile Court is needed to help with this clinic.
RECORD SEALING CLINIC
We help people determine if they are eligible to have their record sealed, and, if so, help them fill out the paperwork to file pro se. Training is available. We are currently assisting with criminal record sealing and eviction record sealing.
JUSTICE BUS BRIEF ADVICE CLINIC
Volunteer attorneys meet with clients in this walk-in clinic about various legal issues. This is brief advice to point the client in the right direction and provide referrals to appropriate agencies, as needed. No further commitment with the client is made beyond the brief advice.
VA BRIEF BRIEF ADVICE CLINIC
Volunteer attorneys meet with Veterans in this walk-in clinic about various legal issues. This is brief advice to point the client in the right direction and provide referrals to appropriate agencies, as needed. This is a walk-in clinic held at the Department of Veterans Affairs on the first Thursday of each month from 8:30 am to 11:30 am.
Pro Bono Programs
DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURT PROJECT
Attorneys can participate in this project by agreeing to take two divorce (with minor children) cases. One case is done pro bono, the other case is paid for by the Domestic Relations Court ($75.00 per hour; maximum of $750.00 per case). All participants must fill out this application and return it to the Domestic Relations Court Administrator along with proof of malpractice insurance.
PRO SE GUARDIANSHIPS
Attorneys meet with pre-screened individuals to prepare the paperwork to file guardianship pro se. This is guardianship of the person only and is usually a family member of the proposed ward. Before placing with a volunteer attorney, the Pro Bono Program will make sure it’s guardianship of the person only (not estate) and the Statement of Expert Evaluation is completed by the doctor. The attorney can meet with the client at his/her convenience to prepare the paperwork. No further commitment after preparing the paperwork is required, but attorneys are welcome to represent the client in court if they wish to do so. Most of the guardianships are uncontested.
NONPROFIT CONNECT
The Pro Bono Program connects volunteer attorneys to assist people who want to incorporate a nonprofit, as well as assisting established non-profits with simple, transactional matters. The non-profits are screened to ensure they do not have the funds to hire an attorney without being a detriment to their program. Additionally, Nonprofit Connect has continued to work with the Center for Nonprofit Resources to provide educational seminars to area nonprofits led by volunteer attorneys on a variety of legal topics. Learn more about this project here.
Law Student Pro Bono Opportunities
The Toledo Bar Association Pro Bono Legal Services Program has many volunteer opportunities for law students to connect to the legal community. Law students can observe attorneys at Brief Advice Clinics, assist in completing court forms at Record Sealing Clinics or volunteer at any of our non-legal community service programs. To learn more about the opportunities available for students, click here.
Pro Bono CLE Credit
Attorneys can earn Ohio CLE credit for hours spent working with Pro Bono clients.
Send original, completed form to:
Toledo Bar Association
c/o Brad Lagusch
311 N. Superior St.
Toledo, OH 43604
TBA Committee Community Engagement
LAW-RELATED EDUCATION PROGRAMS
The Civics Outreach Committee sponsors several opportunities for attorneys to provide community service to youth in the northwest Ohio region.
Volunteer to:
- present classroom programs;
- judge the high school mock trial competition;
- rank essays for the annual Caty Armstrong Law Day Essay Contest.
To volunteer, contact Lisa Small, 419-418-5310 or lsmall@toledobar.org.
YOUNG LAWYERS COMMITTEE
The Young Lawyers Committee, open to any attorney in practice for 10 years or fewer, organizes public service and social events for its members.
To join the Committee, contact Brad Lagusch, 419-242-9363 or blagusch@toledobar.org.
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