1. Statewide Legal Aid Organizations
- Ohio Legal Help
- Central hub for legal resources, forms, and referrals statewide.
- Website: ohiolegalhelp.org
- Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
- Serves Cuyahoga, Ashtabula, Lake, Geauga, and Lorain counties.
- Website: lasclev.org
- Phone: 1-888-817-3777
- Southeastern Ohio Legal Services (SEOLS)
- Covers 30 counties in southeastern Ohio (Athens, Marietta, Zanesville).
- Website: seols.org
- Phone: 1-800-589-5888
- Legal Aid of Western Ohio (LAWO)
- Serves 32 counties in western Ohio (Dayton, Toledo, Lima).
- Website: lawohio.org
- Phone: 1-877-250-2016
- Ohio State Legal Services Association (OSLSA)
- Includes Southeastern Ohio Legal Services and Legal Aid Society of Columbus.
- Website: oslsa.org
- Phone: 1-800-589-5888
2. Regional Legal Aid Providers
- Community Legal Aid (CLA)
- Serves Central Northeast Ohio (Akron, Canton, Youngstown, Warren).
- Website: communitylegalaid.org
- Phone: 1-800-998-9454
- Legal Aid Society of Columbus (LASC)
- Covers Central Ohio (Columbus, Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin).
- Website: columbuslegalaid.org
- Phone: 1-614-241-2001
- Pro Seniors Legal Hotline
- Free legal help for Ohioans aged 60+ (estate planning, Medicare, elder abuse).
- Website: proseniors.org
- Phone: 1-800-488-6070
3. Directories & Search Tools
- Ohio Legal Help Self-Help Center
- Forms, guides, and court information: ohiolegalhelp.org.
- Ohio State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
- Low-cost consultations: ohiobar.org/public-resources.
- Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Directory
- Federally funded programs in Ohio: lsc.gov/find-legal-aid.
- Ohio Poverty Law Center
- Advocacy and policy resources: ohiopovertylaw.org.
4. Hotlines
- Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-934-9840 (Ohio Domestic Violence Network).
- Tenant Rights Hotline: 1-888-534-0086 (Community Legal Aid).
- Senior Legal Helpline: 1-800-488-6070 (Pro Seniors).
- Disability Rights Ohio: 1-800-282-9181 (advocacy for individuals with disabilities).
- Veterans’ Legal Assistance: Contact LAWO Veterans Project at 1-877-250-2016.
5. Additional Resources
- 211 Ohio: Dial 211 or visit 211oh.org for community referrals.
- Pro Bono Programs:
- Ohio Access to Justice Foundation: ohiojusticefoundation.org.
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Pro Bono: clemetrobar.org/probono.
- Immigration Legal Aid:
- Ohio Immigrant Alliance: ohioimmigrant.org.
- Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland: ccdocle.org.
- Native American Legal Services:
- Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio: naicco.com.
- Native American Rights Fund (NARF): narf.org.
- Self-Help Centers:
- Franklin County Self-Help Center (Columbus): fccourts.org/self-help.
- Cuyahoga County Law Library (Cleveland): cuyahogacounty.gov/lawlibrary.
- Law School Clinics:
- Ohio State University Moritz College of Law Clinics: moritzlaw.osu.edu/clinics.
- Case Western Reserve University School of Law Clinics: case.edu/law/clinics.
Note
- Eligibility: Most programs prioritize low-income residents (under 200% of the federal poverty level) and specific case types (e.g., housing, domestic violence, public benefits).
- Apply Online: Many organizations (e.g., Community Legal Aid, SEOLS) offer online intake forms.
- Urgent Issues: For emergencies (evictions, restraining orders), contact hotlines directly or visit courthouse self-help centers.
- Tribal Members: Contact the Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio or NARF for advocacy.