Take a Case, Take a Matter

As part of the CBA’s year-long 150th anniversary celebration, we have initiated a community service campaign. In collaboration with local volunteer legal service organizations, including but not limited to Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati and Volunteer Lawyers for the Poor (VLP), we are encouraging our members to “take a case” or “take a matter.” 

To help familiarize members with the variety of options, ease, and gratification of service, I asked the CBA Board of Trustees to share their perspectives regarding their diverse pro bono experiences. Here is what they had to say: 

Judge Pierre Bergeron: “My pro bono experiences were among the most rewarding of my practicing career. They truly shaped my journey as a lawyer and opened my eyes to the challenges that many people face in our legal system.”

Kristin Booth: “I work with ProSeniors and they are an amazing asset to the seniors in our community. …People will often receive incorrect information from well-meaning family members and friends, nursing homes and the internet, so to have an organization like ProSeniors to contact and then be able to speak with someone who practices law in this area, without initially having to pay a fee, is a tremendous help to so many families.”  

Steve Richey: “I have the privilege, through Legal Aid, of representing clients being evicted during the pandemic. It is extremely gratifying to negotiate ways for the clients to avoid eviction, by taking advantage of federal pandemic funding, allowing the clients to get caught up and the landlords paid. The attorneys at Legal Aid are patient mentors.”

Bridget McGraw: “I regularly take matters through Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio (PBPO) and always have a fantastic experience volunteering! PBPO is so well suited to connect in-house as well as transactional/corporate lawyers with matters matching their expertise. In addition, PBPO makes it easy by providing templates and support. I have loved learning about the many non-profits in Greater Cincinnati making a difference in our community and being able to support their missions by providing critical legal assistance.”

Personally, my recent pro bono experiences have been through Legal Aid/VLP, PBPO, and with refugees. Perhaps most indicative to me of the need for pro bono work in our justice system was an experience I had before attending law school, when I worked with a team of pro bono lawyers on a case for a man on death row. With the support of the trial prosecutor and DNA evidence, we convinced the Indiana Parole Board to grant clemency and commute our client’s sentence just days before the scheduled execution. Our local Ohio Innocence Project at UC College of Law handles similar cases.  

Finally, I’d also like to mention the work of Ohio Justice and Policy Center based in Cincinnati. They were acknowledged by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost at a recent OSBA event for their assistance with bi-partisan legislation pertaining to expungement for victims/survivors.  

You might ask why the CBA is highlighting the work of other organizations. The CBA and the Cincinnati Bar Foundation have worked for decades with our licensed attorney members to solve for inequities. Examples include the CBA’s integral role in founding Volunteer Lawyers for the Poor, ProKids and Youth Court, as well as the CBA’s longstanding Lawyer Referral Service (LRS).

As I wrap up my term as President, I am reflecting on the past two years. During this time, I have remained hopeful amidst the challenges of the virus and the divisions in our country. I started my term a little unsure what I would write about in these briefs. I referenced some pending proposals in the Ohio legislature and Ohio Bar and judicial committees, comparing them to initiatives the health care industry has taken to address access issues. Meeting with leaders, members, and stakeholders over the course of my term, I have learned that we have done well, but there is more to do. I conclude my term leading this great organization believing it is incumbent on us to continue to use our knowledge to heal divisions and develop solutions. 

Thanks in advance for taking a pro bono case or a pro bono matter this year. Please write to me and let me know how it goes. I look forward to celebrating your service at TQL Stadium on September 22. 

E pluribus unum.