What Exactly is Legal Aid?
Legal aid, in the simplest of terms, refers to the provision of advice and assistance in legal matters by a certified professional who has passed state and national bar exams to demonstrate their competence. Legal aid is generally provided by lawyers to people who cannot afford legal representation to continue litigation in court. In other words, it is a means of providing access to justice to individuals who cannot afford a private attorney.
The federal government, individual states , and courts themselves all provide aid programs to support legal aid work for low-income individuals. Legal aid programs generally serve those who cannot afford private legal counsel. There are a number of programs and organizations that exist for this purpose.
The 1964 Economic Opportunity Act established the Federal Legal Services Corporation, which is now known as the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). LSC publishes the Handbook of Lawyering Pro Bono, which outlines the pro bono services and expectations, according to state.
The Federal Pro Bono Program is administered by the U.S. Courts. The program was created to provide additional representation to individuals in federal cases who cannot afford private counsel. On a more local level, Pro Bono Net provides access to pro bono materials maintained by state coordinators.
Free Legal Aid Services in Clermont County, Ohio
Legal aid services in Clermont County are provided by legal aid companies like The Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati. Legal aid is available to low income Clermont County residents who cannot afford a lawyer and whose legal problems cannot wait for them to find other kinds of help. Legal aid lawyers can help with a wide range of family law cases, housing and consumer disputes, criminal record sealing and some administrative matters. The client does not have to be a new client of legal aid to receive assistance. However, legal aid does not represent clients during divorce and dissolution proceedings.
Legal aid provides assistance for domestic violence and stalking situations, child support, custody, allocation of parental rights, divorces, dissolutions, contempt actions, visitation, guardianship, adoption, grandparent and third-party visitation, and other issues arising out of the family law. When helping clients with family law issues like domestic violence, guardianship, and custody, a legal aid lawyer will explain the current law and provide options which are in the best interest of their client. The client must make the decisions, but the legal aid attorney is there to provide guidance through the process.
Legal aid can help with landlord/tenant issues like evictions, federally subsidized housing, and maintenance issues. The attorney will talk to the tenant and/or the landlord about what is happening and what his or her options are. Legal aid representation may include negotiation, alternative dispute resolution, or, perhaps even court litigation. The legal aid attorney may even help the client to find other resources for the client’s housing needs if that is appropriate.
Legal aid can also help with consumer law matters. They handle debt collector harassment cases, payday and predatory loans, credit counseling referrals, negotiating payment plans, identity theft issues, consumer protection issues and repossession of motor vehicle cases. Legal aid can give clients good information on their rights regarding consumer issues. They are also partners in Clermont County’s VITA program which helps ensure that residents have access to public benefits and tax credits.
Legal aid lawyers can help determine eligibility before a criminal record can be sealed. A lawyer will also make sure that all of the required documentation is properly completed and filed with the court. Like any other form of legal relief through the courts, it is helpful to have a lawyer on your side to ensure that all forms are completed correctly and filed properly.
Pro bono programs recruit and coordinate lawyers, who contribute their time and energy, to provide free legal services to needy residents of Clermont County. Many pro bono programs, like the Cincinnati Bar Association, The Caring Place and MADE, use volunteers to help their clients. Pro bono is often focused on limited areas of law, including family, housing and consumer issues.
Who is Eligible for Legal Aid?
To qualify for legal aid in Clermont County, applicants must meet a range of criteria set forth by the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati. These eligibility requirements focus primarily on income but also consider the type of case at hand. The goal is to assist those who truly cannot afford legal representation. Factors taken into account when determining eligibility include: When assessing income eligibility, Legal Aid considers both disposable income and assets. A household’s income must fall at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, which are updated annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. To qualify financially, your disposable income must not exceed $30,375 for a single person or $62,400 for a family of four. Assets, excluding your home, checking and savings accounts, and retirement savings accounts, may not exceed $10,000 for a single-person household or $30,000 for a household of four. The applicant requesting an attorney does not necessarily have to meet these qualifications. Other circumstances, including whether a minor child is involved, will be taken into account when determining eligibility. If you believe you qualify for legal aid based on the criteria above, we encourage you to apply for help. With five convenient locations in Clinton, Hamilton, Adams, Brown, and Clermont counties, Legal Aid is committed to helping low-income individuals with civil cases that have ramifications for their quality of life.
How to Obtain Legal Aid
To apply for legal aid services in Clermont County, you will need to start by contacting the legal aid office serving your area. In Ohio, legal aid offices are typically organized by region, with each office providing support to several counties. To begin, visit the Ohio State Legal Services Association website to find your local office. You can often do this by simply entering your state and county into a search field.
Once you have determined the appropriate legal aid office for Clermont County, reach out to them to initiate the application process. Staff members will guide you through the requirements and help you determine your eligibility for their services.
When applying for legal aid, be prepared to provide various forms of documentation to establish your need for assistance. These may vary by office, but typically include:
- Proof of income for you and all relevant household members
- A list of assets, such as bank statements and property deeds
- Identification documents, like Social Security cards or state-issued IDs
- Personal information for all individuals in your household, such as ages, social security numbers, and current living arrangements
Application procedures may differ between offices and may include:
- A face-to-face meeting with a legal aid representative who can review your paperwork and ask questions about your case.
- A phone consultation if doing an in-person meeting is not possible.
- Some offices may allow online applications to simplify the process.
After reviewing your application, the legal aid office will inform you of whether you meet their eligibility criteria and, if approved, what specific services they can provide or recommend.
Primary Legal Aid Providers in Clermont County
Multiple entities provide targeted legal aid within Clermont County, ensuring a wide range of legal support services are available at little or no cost to residents.
Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati
The Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati is among the primary sources of free, or reduced-fee legal assistance in Clermont County, providing aid for civil legal matters. Widely known as a not-for-profit public interest law firm, Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati operates a number of specialized programs and partnerships with other provider organizations to assist low-income individuals and families in need of legal help:
Many individuals and families across Clermont County rely upon the pro bono legal assistance offered by the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati.
Center for Independent Living Options
Like the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, the Center for Independent Living Options (CLIO) provides targeted legal aid services to qualified applicants. Specifically, this organization services Clermont County with free, or low-cost, legal aid for disability or related issues. CLIO’s attorneys offer pro bono representation on a number of civil legal matters for everyone from senior citizens to the recently disabled. Whether it’s securing Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), CLIO’s lawyers navigate the application process on behalf of those who can’t afford legal representation. Other aids include assistance with housing discrimination cases, landlord-tenant conflicts, health-related denials and Social Security challenges.
United Way of Greater Cincinnati
Legal Services in Clermont County are offered through an array of other local organizations , including United Way of Greater Cincinnati. This widely known non-profit organization connects low-income individuals and families with a number of services. Those seeking legal representation can find aid through United Way’s website, by selecting "Legal" under "Get Help."
Advocacy and Lineage Network
As a not-for-profit law firm, the Advocacy and Lineage Network offers a variety of legal aid services, from representation to counsel. Some of the services clients may receive cover:
Legal services are provided free of charge to those in need of legal aid, and there are no residency requirements for Clermont County clients. In addition to offering legal help, the Advocacy and Lineage Network also features resource guides and community service partners.
Clermont Bar Foundation
Providing high impact pro bono legal services calls to the community and legal aid clients in need in Clermont County. It relies upon private support for contributions toward these programs, which have provided targeted legal assistance for those who can’t afford legal counsel.
Pro Bono Partnership of Cincinnati
Mobile Legal Aid Clinics offered on a monthly basis through the Pro Bono Partnership of Cincinnati, offer legal aid services to individuals across Clermont County. Many eligible applicants secure legal aid services at these clinics by registering ahead of time, and while the clinics can’t guarantee legal aid, they do provide the opportunity for legal representation for a variety of civil legal matters.
Other local organizations and legal aid services include:
Of course, individuals seeking free legal aid in Clermont County are strongly advised to research the provider organizations to determine the availability of services before applying.
Impactful Success Stories and Their Importance
The work of legal aid organizations goes beyond statistics and general outcomes. The impact is felt on a personal level with individuals who often see profound changes in their lives because of the help they receive. Clermont County, Ohio is one of the regions of Hamilton County NAACP, an organization with a longstanding history of defending the constitutional rights of all people and advocating for equal rights and opportunities.
One such person who received legal aid from the NAACP is 42-year-old Ronald C. Seal, who in August of 2015 was charged with felony-level drug crimes. He was not only arrested, but also lost his job at a local grocery store. He came to the NAACP on the recommendation of his grandparents, both of whom believed he would benefit from a public defender like Aaron Halley.
"Mr. Seal had a very big social service record, and this made his case harder to Perry County Public Defender Terica Hall."
Together, Halley and Seal met on several occasions at various Houston locations near Seal’s home. It was through these meetings that Seal shared with his attorney the overwhelming personal challenges that he was facing. "I was in a dark place. I was out of control when I met Aaron," said Seal. "And I said to him, ‘I need a miracle, because if there’s any hope for me, I need it now.’"
Hale knew that his client faced harsh treatment in the Perry County Courthouse, which is where Seal’s case would be tried. With good reason, Seal had reason to be worried, as the "War on Drugs" that many politicians of the era were calling for often led to lengthy prison sentences for those convicted of first-time drug offenses. Just last year, the National Center for State Courts reported that drug offenses were the second-most common reason for imprisonment, second only to violent crimes among felons sentenced to prison time.
A few weeks before Seal’s case went to trial, Halley contacted the Office of the Public Defender to request funding to have a doctor assess Seal. Doing so was both a financial and logistical challenge, but Halley insisted that doing so was necessary to ensure that Justice would be served, no matter the cost. "I filed a budget before the hearing, and I’ll never forget the arguing defense attorney Gabrielle Bailey did in opposition to our request," said Halley. "I expected Bailey to discuss the merits and how the doctor’s findings would play a role in the court proceedings. Instead, she did something I never saw coming; she put the doctor, a psychologist, on the stand to testify against our budget request in order to protect the funding of her office."
In late 2016, the doctor confirmed that Ronald C. Seal did not have schizophrenia, but he was and is mentally ill. He told the court that Seal required mental health resources and a recovery plan, but that he was not a threat to himself or the community. Fast forward two years from his arrest, and Seal is now clean, according to reviews by his probation officers and drug tests.
Halley continues to advocate for civil rights, and the dedication and brutal honesty of attorneys like Aaron Halley provide hope to those in the community in and around Hamilton County.
Obstacles and Barriers Faced by Legal Aid Services
Despite the evident necessity for legal aid in Clermont County, a myriad of challenges and barriers prevent their continual operation and expansion. Fundamental obstacles such as funding shortages, high demand, and staffing limitations plague current legal aid operations. Particularly in difficult economic times, financial limitations inhibit the ability of legal aid attorneys to take on new cases or even remain funded. Many legal aid organizations have faced severe cuts to their financial assistance, sometimes losing as much as 50% of key funding sources. With these shortfalls, legal aid is unable to keep pace with the rapidly increasing demand, seeking help for foreclosure, consumer credit counseling, divorce and visitation problems. As many low-income residents are left without access to proper legal aid, the Closing the Gap Task Force was formed to address the adequacy of the current system. The taskforce report states that the "legal services already funded by the Legal Aid Society do not fully meet current or future local need." As Clermont Legal Aid Law Director Adam Roberts notes, "the ability of legal aid to provide services to low income and working people in Clermont County is severely limited."
The Road Ahead for Legal Aid in Clermont County
As the landscape of legal need continues to grow, initiatives are brewing to further expand access to legal aid. The future of legal aid in Clermont County looks brighter than ever, with several exciting developments on the horizon. Mobile legal apps are changing the way individuals access legal information and advice in Clermont County. These apps provide users with instant access to vital resources and information, empowering them to navigate legal processes with greater confidence. The development of these tools promises to increase efficiency and reduce barriers for those seeking assistance. Additional collaboration among legal aid organizations and local governments in Clermont County is expected to continue expanding services and reach more people . By pooling resources and expertise, these entities will work to better meet the needs of their communities.
Policy changes at both the state and federal levels aim to further bolster legal aid efforts in Clermont County. Recognizing the importance of affordable legal representation, financial support for legal aid organizations will continue to grow, allowing them to serve even more families and individuals. Finally, as the legal market evolves, Clermont County is working on new ways to increase collaboration. Internships, volunteer opportunities, and pro bono programs will contribute to expanding access to legal aid.