Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation

THE OHIO LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION IS A NONPROFIT OHIO FOUNDATION ORGANIZED TO PROMOTE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE BY ENHANCING AND IMPROVING LEGAL SERVICES STATEWIDE TO SERVE THE UNMET CIVIL LEGAL NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME OHIOANS.

SEE SCHEDULE OGRANT ADMINISTRATION:AS THE MAIN FUNDER OF OHIO'S LEGAL AIDS, THE FOUNDATION ENSURES THAT QUALIFIED LAWYERS ARE AVAILABLE TO REPRESENT LOW-INCOME OHIOANS IN CIVIL MATTERS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEGAL AID, THE FOUNDATION HELPS ENSURE THAT VETERANS SECURE THE BENEFITS THEY HAVE EARNED; SENIORS PRESERVE THEIR INDEPENDENCE AND FINACIAL SECURITY; VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OBTAIN SAFETY AND SECURITY; AND CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES OBTAIN THE SUPPORTS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL. OHIO'S LEGAL AIDS ENSURE THAT THESE VULNERABLE OHIOANS HAVE A VOICE IN ACHIEVING JUSTICE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.CRITICAL TO THE MISSION OF THE FOUNDATION IS THE MONITORING OF THE FLOW AND DISBURSAL OF THE FUNDS DERIVED FROM INTEREST ON LAWYER TRUST ACCOUNTS (IOLTA), INTEREST ON TRUST ACCOUNTS (IOTA), AND A CIVIL FILING SURCHARGE. IN FY 2015 (JULY 1, 2014 TO JUNE 30, 2015), THE FOUNDATION SUCCESSFULLY MONITORED THE DISTRIBUTION OF OVER $13 MILLION IN FUNDS TO THE LEGAL AIDS. AS A RESULT OF THIS FUNDING, OHIO'S LEGAL AIDS PROVIDED LEGAL INFORMATION, ADVICE, OR REPRESENTATION IN OVER 47,000 CIVIL MATTERS. OHIO'S LEGAL AIDS ASSISTED OVER 100,000 OHIOANS, INCLUDING NEARLY 5,000 VETERANS AND 15,000 SENIORS.THE FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES DISCRETIONARY GRANTS TO SUPPORT SPECIAL PROJECTS, SUCH AS PROVIDING FUNDING TO SUPPORT FELLOWSHIPS FOR OHIO'S LEGAL AIDS. OUTSTANDING LAW GRADUATES WITH A PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE PROVIDE A VOICE FOR OHIOANS THROUGH EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS FELLOWSHIPS SPONSORED BY THE OHIO LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION. THE FELLOWSHIPS FOCUS ON URGENT ISSUES FACING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT OHIO. IN FY 2015, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTED 18 FELLOWS IN THE STATE. THESE FELLOWS DELIVERED CRITICALLY NEEDED CIVIL LEGAL AID TO SUSTAIN HOUSING AND PREVENT HOMELESSNESS; TO KEEP KIDS HEALTHY AND IN SCHOOL; TO SERVE OHIO'S VETERANS; AND, TO UPLIFT COMMUNITIES.AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FOUNDATION'S GRANT OVERSIGHT IS THE REGULAR REVIEW OF THE METHODS OF DELIVERING CIVIL LEGAL AID IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT RESOURCES ARE OPTIMIZED. SPECIFICALLY, THE FOUNDATION, THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE SUPREME COURT OF OHIO, PROVIDES NATIONAL, PEER REVIEWS OF OHIO'S CIVIL LEGAL AIDS. THE FOUNDATION SUBSEQUENTLY MAKES GRANT DOLLARS AVAILABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS DERIVED FROM THE PEER REVIEW AS WELL AS TO IMPLEMENT IMPROVEMENTS PROPOSED INTERNALLY BY A LEGAL AID'S OWN STRATEGIC PLAN. THIS INCLUDES ASSISTING GRANTEES WITH A VARIETY OF PROGRAM OPERATIONS, HUMAN RESOURCES, FUNDRAISING AND COMMUNICATIONS. IN FY 2015, THE FOUNDATION AWARDED $150,000 TO OHIO'S LEGAL AIDS TO ADDRESS EITHER A NEED IDENTIFIED IN A FOUNDATION IMPLEMENTED PEER REVIEW OR IN A GRANTEE'S OWN STRATEGIC PLANNING AND REVIEW PROCESS.

THE FOLLOWING REFLECTS AMOUNTS FOR OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES:

SEE SCHEDULE OLEGAL SERVICES SUPPORT:IN ADDITION TO CRITICAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR OHIO'S LEGAL AIDS, THE FOUNDATION STRENGTHENS AND EXPANDS CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE BY PROMOTING THE RECRUITMENT OF ATTORNEYS WITH SUPERIOR SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS. TO THIS END, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO ATTORNEYS THAT ARE EMPLOYED BY OHIO'S LEGAL AIDS. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES UP TO $6,000 IN ANNUAL LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO QUALIFIED ATTORNEY PARTICIPANTS. IN FY 2015, THE FOUNDATION DISBURSED $379,507 IN LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO 76 OHIO LEGAL AID ATTORNEYS. THE LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HAS BEEN A VITAL TOOL IN THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST ATTORNEYS, WHO OTHERWISE DUE TO THEIR STUDENT LOAN DEBT COULD NOT AFFORD TO WORK FOR LEGAL AID. THE FOUNDATION SERVES AS THE STATEWIDE "VOICE" FOR CIVIL LEGAL AID IN OHIO. THE FOUNDATION EDUCATES NOT ONLY THE LEGAL COMMUNITY, BUT STATE AND NATIONAL LEGISLATORS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVIL LEGAL AID. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH OHIO'S COURTS, BAR ASSOCIATIONS, BUSINESS COMMUNITIES, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, GOVERNMENT, AND OTHERS TO INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF AND BUILD SUPPORT FOR CIVIL LEGAL AID IN OHIO.

SEE SCHEDULE OPUBLIC FUNDS COMPLIANCE:THE FOUNDATION WORKS WITH FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, LAWYERS, AND TITLE AGENTS TO ENHANCE REVENUES RECEIVED FROM THE INTEREST ON LAWYER TRUST ACCOUNTS (IOLTA), INTEREST ON TRUST ACCOUNTS (IOTA), AND A CIVIL FILING FEE SURCHARGE WHICH ARE USED TO FUND LEGAL AID TO IN-NEED OHIOANS. SPECIFICALLY, THE FOUNDATION WORKS TO ENSURE THAT LAWYERS AND TITLE INSURANCE AGENTS PROPERLY ESTABLISH THE STATUTORILY REQUIRED ACCOUNTS AND THAT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PROPERLY REPORT AND REMIT THE INTEREST ON SUCH ACCOUNTS STATUTORILY DESIGNED TO FUND CIVIL LEGAL AID IN OHIO.