Court News Ohio
Court News Ohio
Court News Ohio

Lawyers: Pro Bono Reporting Deadline Approaching

Attorneys reporting their pro bono activities, used to help improve civil legal services to low-income Ohioans, have about a month left to respond. The Ohio Supreme Court and the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation today are reminding attorneys to report their pro bono activities before the March 31 deadline.

In January, attorneys registered as “active” or corporate status received an email asking them to voluntarily report their pro bono activities. The email included a link directing lawyers to a reporting website to answer questions about last year’s pro bono work including financial contributions to organizations that provide legal services to persons of limited means. The questions should take five to 10 minutes to complete if information is compiled in advance and submitted data will be collected anonymously.

More than 3,500 Ohio attorneys have already reported their 2015 pro bono work.

In a video statement, Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor encourages all Ohio attorneys to report their pro bono activities.

“Just by taking a few minutes to report your activity, you can help us ensure that more people who need legal help will get it,” Chief Justice O’Connor said.

On an annual basis, the foundation compiles and reports the information collected to the Supreme Court, bar associations, and legal aid organizations across Ohio. The results will be published in June.

“The process not only provides critical information to Ohio’s legal aids, enabling them to serve their clients in the best way possible, but it also demonstrates the Supreme Court’s own strong commitment to encouraging pro bono service as a core professional value,” said Angela M. Lloyd, Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation executive director.