The CBA was founded in 1872. The Legal Aid Society of Cincinnati, in 1900. These two long-time Cincinnati organizations came together in 1982 to create the Volunteer Lawyers for the Poor Foundation (VLP), a non-profit Foundation dedicated to the ideal of equal justice under law regardless of income. VLP was formed in response to the increasing number of requests to Legal Aid for legal assistance from people with low income This initiative has resulted in millions of dollars in pro bono legal work for the neediest members in our community. In 2020 alone, VLP lawyers donated 6,641 hours in legal services, valued at $980,223.
My first solo trial, not long out of law school, was a VLP case. My brilliance won some of my client’s rental deposit back. It was a satisfying result. Unfortunately, over the years, as my practice got busier, I lost track of VLP.
During the height of the pandemic, my mediation practice was a little slow, so I had an opportunity for some volunteer work, focused on eviction cases. While many courts were closed or were switching to virtual hearings, Eviction Court remained largely open and in person throughout the pandemic.
Eviction Court is a tough place for tenants. The law is heavily weighted toward protection of landlords’ rights. Once a tenant receives a three-day notice to vacate, they can be evicted within a matter of weeks. In all the time that I spent in Eviction Court, I never saw an unrepresented tenant prevail. I knew that from prior experience, but during the pandemic it seemed particularly harsh. While there was supposed to be a federal moratorium on evictions, they never really stopped. The saving grace for my pro bono cases was the stream of funds the federal government provides through various COVID relief measures.
I used to think VLP was just for litigators, so I was surprised to learn that family law issues command the largest percentage of VLP cases. VLP also needs volunteers for housing issues (evictions, foreclosures, and code violations), labor and employment, employee benefits, estate work, tax consumer protection, debt relief and immigration-related problems.
I want to address those of you who are retired or otherwise have newly expanded available time. You have amassed skills and powers too valuable to ignore. I feel certain that if you are available, there is a pro bono project in your wheelhouse.
Signing up to volunteer with VLP is easy. Head to vlpcincinnati.org or contact Jessica Ramos at (513) 241-9400. Also, plan on celebrating VLP at its 40th Anniversary Celebration at Squire, Patton, Boggs Office in October.
We celebrated the CBA’s 150th Anniversary year with a blowout party on June 9 (check out pictures on pages 8-10.) But we will continue to celebrate through our In Service Challenge. We’ve been partnering with local legal nonprofits since March – in fact, VLP was the first such partnership – and the opportunities for your pro bono contributions continue to exist.
Please, consider giving your time to any of these worthy causes:
To volunteer for the CBA’s own pro bono opportunities, please visit cincybar.org/CBAinservice. Your volunteerism will be widely recognized in the bi-monthly CBA Report, and at our Member Social September 22 at TQL Stadium.
Richey is a mediator with Thompson Hine and the 2022-2023 CBA president.