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In the Community

Members of the Cincinnati Bar Association are committed to serving Greater Cincinnati, not just through their professional role as attorneys, but also through volunteer service in the community. The CBA sponsors a variety of programs that help to serve our community, and the CBA Young Lawyers Section is committed to making a lasting difference in our community through programs such as Mock Trial. For more information on community service projects of the Cincinnati Bar Association, please contact us at (513) 381-8213.

Lawyer Referral Service (LRS)

The CBA has operated its Lawyer Referral Service since 1943. The LRS makes referrals to the public in almost all areas of the law. There is no fee for using the service and the referred attorney will not charge more than $50 for the first half hour of consultation.
The LRS number is (513) 381-8359. 
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Speakers Bureau

The Speakers Bureau, sponsored by the Professionalism Committee of the Cincinnati Bar Association, offers attorneys who are willing to speak on a variety of topics, including domestic relations, bankruptcy, estate planning, fire and emergency law, consumer sales practices, technology and many others. Speakers are available for community events and organizations, including schools, nursing homes, social service organizations and rotary clubs.

LRS Community Programs

  • Partners in the Community (PIC) Now You're 18  - This program is geared toward educating high school students, especially seniors, on issues relating to turning 18. Topics addressed include DUI, drug charges, alcohol consumption, date rape, student loan application, credit cards, consumer credit, credit reports, leases and more. 
  • You and the Legal System – LRS works in conjunction with the Hamilton County Law Library to offer free one-hour legal seminars in which a qualified attorney will speak on a specific topic and open the floor for questions from attendees. 
  • Modest Means Program - This program helps “bridge the gap” for those individuals who do not qualify for indigent legal aid, pro bono programs or any other no/low cost legal services or those who cannot afford to pay current market rate for attorney’s fees. 
  • Attorneys for the Marginally Indigent – There are a large number of defendants who are marginally indigent, that is, their income or assets are large enough to prevent their being classed technically as indigents entitled to legal services at public expense through the public defender's office, but for all practical purposes, they do not have sufficient assets to enable them to retain their own attorney.  The AMI program enables such defendants to obtain legal representation for which they are able to pay, while at the same time reducing burdens involved in representation at public expense.
Learn More about Lawyer Referral Services Programs 

Summer Work Experience in Law (SWEL)

SWEL is a nine week legal internship program that operates from June through early August. SWEL began in 1986 as a pilot program sponsored by the Black Lawyers Association of Cincinnati-Cincinnati Bar Association Round Table. SWEL Scholars are placed in legal internship positions throughout Ohio, most commonly in Cincinnati, Dayton, and Columbus.  Scholars are placed among a variety of employers in both the private and public sector.  SWEL Sessions are designed to provide Scholars with skills and insight that are essential to making an informed decision about attending law school and entering the legal profession. For more information about the program visit the SWEL website.