The Ohio Supreme Court requests public comment on a proposal that would increase funding for legal aid services.

Pro hac vice registration fees would increase from $150 to $300 with the new proposal. The Ohio Supreme Court Task Force on Access to Justice recommended the change earlier this year where the additional $150 that out-of-state attorneys pay if they want to appear in an Ohio court proceeding would be directed to civil legal aid services.

The Task Force also recommended implementing a $50 voluntary “add on” fee to the biennial attorney registration to support civil legal services. The $350 registration fee hasn’t been raised since 2007.

Under the proposal, the Supreme Court would provide additional funding to legal aid services in Ohio with money collected from these two fees. Current funding for legal aid programs relies heavily on interest rates charged on client monies that lawyers put into a bank account. Recent lower interest rates have affected the amount of money supporting legal aid. In 2007, the rates generated $22.3 million for legal aid. By 2014, that number dropped to $2.6 million.

The Court will consider public comments before taking any action on the proposed changes. Written comments should be submitted by Dec. 24, 2015, to:

Susan Christoff
Attorney Services Director
Ohio Supreme Court
65 S. Front St., Fifth Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
or
Susan.Christoff@sc.ohio.gov

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