Attorney Volunteers Connect with Us:

LASCO offers a number of ways to give back to the community, including case referrals, virtual appointments, in-person legal clinics and special events. Each year our volunteers contribute their time and talents to help ensure access to justice for low-income individuals and families.

Volunteers Connect with Us:

LASCO is grateful to work with hundreds of law students, paralegals, college students, and other members of our community each year. Volunteers can help in a variety of different ways.

HOUSING

Scope: Representing tenants in evictions

Representation Includes: Municipal court hearings; settlement negotiations; motion practice; filing answers/counterclaims on damages claims 

Average Hours Per Case: 5-10 

Anticipated Case Length: 2 weeks-9 months (depending on limited vs. full rep) 

Ideal For: New Attorneys, Litigators, Corporate Counsel (Co-counseling option available) 

Online Training Includes: Recorded CLE & Attorney Toolkit 

COVID Protocols: Occasional no-contact negotiation-only options are available 

Legal Aid also offers several court-based clinics for tenants with eviction hearing in Franklin, Muskingum, and Fairfield counties. Attorneys handle eviction hearings or negotiate resolutions, including drafting agreed entries. For the majority of cases, in-person representation is necessary. Court-mandated social distancing, mask wearing, and other safety precautions are in place. 

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CONSUMER PROJECT

Scope: Representing consumers sued by debtbuyers

Representation Includes: Motion practice; answers/counterclaims; discovery; pretrial conferences; settlement negotiations 

Average Hours Per Case: 5-15 

Anticipated Case Length: Less than 1 year 
Ideal For: New attorneys, litigators 

Online Training Includes: Recorded CLE & Attorney Toolkit 

COVID Protocols: Majority of representation can be handled remotely; court-mandated safety precautions 

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UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION APPEAL PROJECT

Scope: Representing Unemployment Compensation claimants in appeal hearings 

Representation Includes: Case review and Administrative Hearings (Telephonic) 

Average Hours Per Case: 4-6 

Anticipated Case Length: Less than 2 weeks 

Ideal For: New attorneys, litigators, employment attorneys, corporate counsel 

Online Training Includes: Recorded CLE & Toolkit 

COVID Protocols: No in-person contact necessary 

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CHAPTER 7 PRO BONO BANKRUPTCY PROJECT

Scope: Representing debtors filing Ch 7 Bankruptcies 

Representation Includes: Petition and schedules; 341 meeting; reaffirmation agreements; fee waiver application 

Average Hours Per Case: 6-10 

Anticipated Case Length: 6-9 months 

Limited Engagement Only 

Ideal For: Consumer bankruptcy attorneys 

Online Training Available and Document Collection Provided 

COVID Protocols: Virtual 341 hearings; minimal in-person contact with clients 

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LOW-INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC

Scope: Representing individuals involved in tax controversies with IRS 

Representation Includes: Oral and written negotiation; offers in compromise 

Average Hours Per Case: 10-20 

Anticipated Case Length: 9-12 months 

Ideal For: Corporate and transactional attorneys 

COVID Protocols: No in-person contact necessary 

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IEP ADVOCACY PROJECT

Scope: Representing children and families in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process 

Representation Includes: Attendance at IEP meetings; editing IEP; school contact 

Average Hours Per Case: 6-15 

Anticipated Case Length: 3-6 months 

Ideal for: Transactional and new attorneys 

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SENIORS REFERRAL PROJECT

Scope: Preparing and executing simple wills and advance directives for seniors and veterans   

Representation Includes: Document preparation and review 

Average Hours Per Case: 2-5

Anticipated Case Length: Less than 1 month; 

Ideal for: Transactional and government attorneys, estate planning attorneys 

COVID Protocols: Option to serve by drafting or reviewing documents remotely

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VETERANS PRO BONO PROJECT

Scope: Representing veterans with VA benefits issues and discharge upgrade applications 

Representation Includes: Full case representation; Options for limited scope, including record review only; Drafting argument and appearing at administrative hearing 

Average Hours Per Case: 10-15; 3-4 hours for a records review 

Ideal For: Attorneys with VA Accreditation 

COVID Protocols: Minimal in-person contact 

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BRIEF ADVICE CLINIC OPPORTUNITIES

BRIEF ADVICE CLINICS

Legal Aid works with community partners to offer brief advice clinics. Interested attorneys can sign up online for any of the following opportunities by filling out the virtual clinic applications. 

Attorney volunteers meet with individuals to analyze problems, identify community resources, and offer legal advice on a variety of topics. Co-sponsors (and sites, when in-person clinics resume) include churches, Job & Family Services, public libraries, community centers, VA facilities, and courts. For 2023 and the foreseeable future many advice clinics will be “virtual,” which will involve pre-established clinic times, during which volunteer will call and advice pre-screened clients. Evening and daytime options are available. 

Average Hours per Clinic: 1-3 

Participation Based on Attorney Preference 

Limited Engagement Only 

Ideal For: Transactional and government attorneys; Attorneys who cannot commit time to full case representation 

Online Training and Attorney Toolkits Available 

COVID Protocols: Most clinics are virtual for foreseeable future; No in-person contact necessary.

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Average Hours per Clinic: 2-4
Participation Based on Attorney Preference
Limited Engagement Only; Co-Counseling Available
Ideal For: All attorneys; Attorneys who cannot commit time to full case representation
Recorded CLEs, Attorney Toolkits, and Onsite/Virtual Mentors Available as Needed 

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TEAM SUPPORT

Legal Aid welcomes volunteer attorneys — inactive, retired, emeritus, corporate, or active — who are willing to support the work of our teams by committing to a regular schedule during business hours for at least three months. This is an excellent opportunity for new lawyers to gain skills under the supervision of an experienced attorney while working part-time elsewhere or job-searching. All opportunities are currently virtual/remote. 

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CORPORATE DAYS OF SERVICE

In-house counsel groups from local corporations partner with Legal Aid to offer one-day trainings combined with pro bono clinics. Topics include record-sealing and wills. Virtual options are available. 

TAX COURT CALENDAR CALL

Pro bono attorneys who participate in the U.S. Tax Court Calendar Call in Columbus help low-income, unrepresented taxpayers resolve their tax issues by offering advice to petitioners or negotiating with IRS Counsel. 

PRO BONO MENTORING AND CONSULTING

Legal Aid benefits greatly from experienced attorneys willing to assist our lawyers or new volunteer attorneys, particularly in the areas of real estate, probate, or employment law. 

IMPACT LITIGATION REFERRALS

Firms partner with Legal Aid on larger-scale affirmative cases that have the potential to benefit a large number of low-income individuals.

BRIEF ADVICE CLINICS

Legal Aid works with community partners to offer brief advice where attorneys meet with individuals to analyze problems, identify community resources, and offer legal advice on a variety of topics. Non-attorneys assist with intake or document preparation. Co-sponsors (and sites, when in-person clinics resume) include churches, Job & Family Services, public libraries, community centers, VA facilities, and courts.

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ADULT SHELTER ASSISTANCE PROJECT

Residents of Faith Mission and the Van Buren Front Door Shelter receive legal advice from pro bono attorneys through this program, which offers four clinics per month. Attorneys, in groups of two or three, attend these evening clinics and are assisted onsite by law students who handle client intake.

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PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL OHIO (PACO) WILLIS CLINIC

Through a collaboration with PACO, evening clinics are held at low-income senior residential facilities (and sometimes at other senior sites), matching volunteer attorneys with law students and paralegals to help clients prepare and execute wills, durable powers of attorney, health care powers of attorney, and living wills.

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"CLEAN SLATE" CLINIC

These clinics are offered for ex-offenders who are transitioning back into society and anxious to address the collateral sanctions resulting from their criminal records. Pro bono attorneys are paired with law student volunteers to assist eligible clients with completing pro se record sealing forms. For those who are not eligible for “expungement,” the clinic attorneys and volunteers offer assistance with Certificates of Qualification for Employment (CQE).

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TENANT ADVOCACY PROJECT (TAP) CLINIC (FRANKLIN COUNTY)

Legal Aid offers a daily clinic for tenants with eviction hearings scheduled at Franklin County Municipal Court. Non-lawyers assist with processing tenants, assisting TAP lawyers, and providing resources to preserve tenancies. Clinics take place from 8:30-11:30 AM at 375 S. High Street.

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TENANT ADVOCACY PROJECT (TAP) CLINICS (ATHENS, FAIRFIELD, AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES)

The TAP clinic provides free legal information, advice, and representation to tenants who are being evicted. Legal Aid staff and pro bono attorneys meet with tenants prior to their eviction hearings. Clinics take place in Athens, Fairfield, and Washington counties.  

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LAW CLERKS

Legal Aid hosts law student volunteers during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Clerks are expected to work approximately 10-15 hours per week during the school year, with flexibility around exams. Summer clerks are expected to work full-time. Legal Aid has five substantive law teams: Consumer, Housing, Public Benefits, Family Law, and Tax. Law clerks are assigned to a substantive law team or to one of our non-substantive teams: Intake, VRC, and Litigation Support. Although each clerk experience is unique, generally clerks will interview clients, draft court pleadings, research legal issues, assist with hearing/trial preparation, analyze evidence, and participate in community education activities. Legal Aid is happy to work with schools for externship site approval and credit.

Requirements: Legal Aid grants preference to clerk applicants who have completed their first year of law school. We will give special consideration to students with demonstrated commitment to serving disadvantaged individuals and communities. If you are interested, please complete the online 

Non-Attorney Volunteer Application

TEAM SUPPORT

Legal Aid welcomes law students, undergraduate students, and community members who are willing to support the work of our teams by committing to a regular schedule during business hours for at least three months. Job duties include client screening and intake, helping clients complete paperwork, data entry, and organizing case spreadsheets. All opportunities are currently virtual/remote. If you are interested, please complete the online application.

Non-Attorney Volunteer Application

VOLUNTEER RESOURCE CENTER (VRC)

The VRC is a pro bono case referral program housed at Legal Aid that sustains two types of volunteers: attorneys who agree to take cases on a pro bono basis and in-house volunteers who sign up for weekly 3-5 hour shifts to handle client intake, case evaluation, and referral of appropriate cases to the attorney panel. Law students can assist as in-house VRC volunteers or assist pro bono attorneys with legal research as needed. If you are interested, please complete the online application.

Non-Attorney Volunteer Application

CHAPTER 7 PRO BONO BANKRUPTCY

Before being referred by Legal Aid to a pro bono attorney, clients seeking a Chapter 7 bankruptcy first meet with volunteer undergraduate and law students who help clients with document collection. Law students also assist with legal research, client phone interviews, and screening clients for pro bono program eligibility.

Non-Attorney Volunteer Application

Communications: Assists the Communications Team creating social media posts, writing client stories, newsletter articles and website content, media relations, and event coordination.

Non-Attorney Volunteer Application

Visual communications: Help us tell meaningful stories through videos, illustrations, and graphic design.

Non-Attorney Volunteer Application

CONSUMER TEAM PARALEGAL

Volunteer would work with our team that assists consumers in several areas of law, including bankruptcies, foreclosures, consumer debt lawsuits, student loan-related matters, and medical debt cases. Legal Aid is seeking a volunteer paralegal who can make a minimum time commitment of 20 hours per week during regular business hours.

TIME COMMITMENT: A minimum time commitment of 20 hours per week during regular business hours, and individuals would be expected to be physically located at our Columbus office at 1108 City Park Avenue. We are happy to work with local schools for class or externship credit.

SKILLS: We are looking for volunteers who are reliable, responsible, and have excellent attention to detail. Volunteers should also possess strong communication skills and be proficient with computer systems. All volunteers will be trained in the case management system and receive a general orientation for Legal Aid.

Non-Attorney Volunteer Application

VOLUNTEER LEGAL SECRETARY OR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Legal Aid is seeking legal professional volunteers who can assist our Pro Bono Program—the Volunteer Resource Center—with client management, file organization, and data entry. Volunteers will also assist with client correspondence, tracking attorney hours, maintaining the pro bono attorney database, and compiling data for monthly and annual reports.

TIME COMMITMENT: Legal Aid is in need of volunteers who can make a minimum time commitment of 3-5 hours per week during regular business hours.

SKILLS: Legal Aid is seeking volunteers who are reliable, responsible, and have excellent attention to detail. Volunteers should also possess strong communication skills and be proficient with computer systems. All volunteers will be trained in the case management system and receive a general orientation for Legal Aid.

Non-Attorney Volunteer Application