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. More than 1,500 Ohio attorneys have already reported their 2014 pro bono work.

In January, Ohio attorneys registered as “active” 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 eight questions should take about five minutes to complete if information is compiled in advance. The reporting will be used to help improve the delivery of civil legal services to low income Ohioans.

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.

Submitted information will be collected anonymously and results are published in June. 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 Foundation is honored to collaborate with the Ohio Supreme Court on the voluntary collection of information about pro bono work by Ohio attorneys.  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.