Community Legal Aid
Community Legal Aid is a nonprofit law firm founded in 1952, dedicated to serving the legal needs of low-income individuals and families in central northeast Ohio. With a team of 95, it specializes in various legal areas including housing, family law, consumer debt, and veterans benefits.
History
Community Legal Aid was founded in 1952 as a nonprofit law firm dedicated to serving the legal needs of low-income individuals and families in central northeast Ohio. Over the decades, it has expanded its services and outreach to address various legal issues faced by vulnerable populations in the region.
Services
Community Legal Aid provides a wide range of legal services to low-income individuals. These services include legal help in areas such as tax, consumer debt, housing conditions, divorce and dissolution, custody and visitation, domestic violence, and more. The organization also offers pro bono legal representation, legal clinics, workshops, and educational resources to empower clients.
Locations
Community Legal Aid operates in multiple locations across Ohio, including Akron, Canton, Warren, and Youngstown. The organization serves residents in eight specific counties: Columbiana, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, and Wayne, ensuring access to legal assistance for those in need.
Programs
Community Legal Aid runs various programs aimed at specific at-risk populations. Notable initiatives include the Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law (HEAL) project, the Veterans Legal Project, and a Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) that assists low-income taxpayers. The organization also hosts legal clinics for sealing or expunging criminal records and provides a Virtual Pro Bono Divorce Clinic in partnership with Ohio Legal Help.
Community Engagement
Community Legal Aid engages in advocacy for systemic change, focusing on issues such as housing rights and financial well-being. The organization collaborates with local community foundations for planned giving and endowment support. Additionally, it hosts events like SAFE Day to educate the community on legal rights and assist survivors of domestic violence and other crimes.