Given her career advocating for marginalized communities and representing lower-income clients, Megan O’Dell’s new position as Pro Bono Coordinator for OSLSA is a natural fit. After graduating from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 2014, Megan began her career at the Franklin County Public Defender’s Office in the municipal unit. While at the Public Defender’s Office, she was the Attorney Coordinator of CATCH (Changing Actions to Change Habits) Court, representing survivors of human trafficking. In 2018, Megan began working at the Ohio Poverty Law Center advocating for policy to expand the rights of lower-income individuals. In that role, she focused on reentry, barriers to employment, unemployment compensation, and housing policy.

In her new role as Pro Bono Coordinator, Megan says she is excited to continue to grow OSLSA’s pro bono program. Pro bono work is crucial to the success of Legal Aid’s work and allows OSLSA to help more people navigate a complicated legal system that, too often, can seem stacked against them.

Megan’s passion for civil legal aid is a result of her belief in the importance of equal access to justice for everyone, regardless of income. “Legal aid is invaluable to the community,” Megan says. “When legal issues come up [for lower-income individuals], there are few options. Legal aid is there to assist in the toughest of times, such as in eviction or divorce hearings.”

As an attorney and advocate for marginalized communities, Megan is excited to work with pro bono attorneys who choose to donate their time and expertise to help clients who have trouble navigating the legal system. Volunteers play a critical role in filling the need for legal representation for lower-income individuals and make an enormous impact in their lives, she says.

Megan believes deeply in the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a member of the DEI Committee and co-chair of the Inclusive Culture Subcommittee, she is actively involved in OSLSA’s efforts to enhance equity and representation in our workplace and the work we do. “Fostering an environment where everyone is valued and respected creates trust and commitment among employees and creates a positive working environment,” she says.

Born and raised in Warren, Ohio, Megan now lives in Columbus with her wife. In her free time, she loves pottery, gardening, and spending time with their cat, Luna.

Congratulations to Megan on her new role!

LASC’s Tenant Advocacy Project (TAP) marked its fifth anniversary in March. Since its inception, attorneys and intake specialists have set up shop daily at the Franklin County eviction court to provide free, same-day legal representation to lower-income Central Ohioans facing eviction.

The current incarnation of TAP was the brainchild of now-managing attorney of the program, Jyoshu Tsushima, who was then an LASC volunteer who worked in private practice. At the time, LASC’s housing staff was representing tenants in about 10-15 cases per week, but no one was at court every morning operating a daily clinic designed to help people that had not yet gotten in touch with legal aid. There had been an earlier on-site clinic project called PBTAP, which was a collaboration between LASC and the CBA and spearheaded by firm champions including Jim Abrams of Taft Stettinius & Hollister, but that had only been once per week. Jyoshu envisioned something more comprehensive. The original model was used as the basis for a grant proposal for attorneys to attend eviction court every day.

The idea developed after seeing the obvious need, Jyoshu said. “Before TAP, less than one percent of tenants were represented by an attorney at eviction trial, while the vast majority of landlords were represented,” he said. "The more I represented tenants on housing issues, the more apparent it became that tenants’ rights are often unenforced until an attorney advocates for a tenant, especially in eviction cases.”

From the start, it was clear TAP could make a real difference. “The first few clinics were an entirely new experience,” said Maddie Berry, then a legal aid volunteer attending law school before joining LASC as a staff attorney. “No one was sure what to do or how to react to us being at eviction court. It felt very innovative and like I was playing a very small part in something that could end up being important. Everyone was excited and eager to help.”

Despite its growing pains, TAP volunteer and Dinsmore & Shohl partner Bill Mattes recalls how well prepared the volunteers were because of the training offered by OSLSA Pro Bono and Community Engagement Director Dianna Parker and other staff members. Bill says taking summer associates to TAP clinics was an eye-opening experience for the young attorneys and gave them a sometimes-jarring look at how “legal machinery” is exploited to displace residents from their homes. Underscoring the importance of equal access to justice, Bill asked them—well-educated young professionals—to imagine how intimidating and dehumanizing the experience must be for someone facing the loss of their home without anyone to advocate for them. “You could have heard a pin drop,” he said.

Since then, LASC has expanded funding and staff so that several attorneys—along with a social worker, support staff, and volunteers—are present every day to represent tenants facing eviction. Having found its footing, Taft Law partner Jim Abrams notes that increased organization has helped the program expand its capacity and offer other wraparound services while also making more tenants aware of available resources. In addition, the model established in Franklin County has been replicated in other counties, including Fairfield, Delaware, Washington, and Athens Counties.

According to Jyoshu, it has been a challenge to build TAP into the program it is now, and LASC still faces significant hurdles in achieving its goal of providing all tenants adequate legal representation. Despite the growing body of committed volunteers and staff, there simply aren’t enough attorneys to provide help to everyone who needs it, particularly with the continued bottleneck of housing issues caused by the lingering pandemic.

That’s why LASC is always searching for more volunteers. Asked what he would say to potential volunteers who have limited free time or are hesitant to get involved with TAP, Bill Mattes’ advice is simple: “You will grow more as a lawyer, mentor, and community leader if you donate your time and understand exactly how precariously [some lower-income tenants] live. And if you cannot donate your time, or are intimidated by the thought of going to court, consider donating two or three hours of your billable rate to help fund the program on an annual basis. The funds are sorely needed to continue and expand the program.”

LASC also encourages attorneys committed to social justice issues to apply for a TAP position. Thomas Pope, TAP staff attorney, says his experience with the program has been invaluable and deeply rewarding. “It’s inspiring to be on the front lines of fighting for social justice in Ohio—seeing firsthand what systemic injustice does to communities and being empowered to push back against those injustices. TAP has absolutely sharpened the skills I developed throughout my academic years and has provided me with substantially more trial and courtroom experience than one would expect to get within their first few years in practice.”

OSLSA thanks all the staff attorneys, volunteers, support staff, and social workers who have helped make the Tenant Advocacy Project a successful program that has extended critical legal aid to thousands of Central Ohio tenants over the past five years.

Looking to get your firm or group re-engaged? Interested in a Pro Bono Lunch & Learn? Reach out to Patricia Vargas Vegas to schedule a visit!

Opportunity Port is an exciting new platform that will help us connect applicants for criminal record sealing in Franklin County Municipal Court with volunteers who can screen them for eligibility and prepare their record sealing applications through the platform. This online portal will also enable clients and volunteer attorneys to schedule appointments and for clients to file their applications with the court electronically. Training will be provided for anyone who joins. To get involved, please sign up here.

In addition to serving the reentry needs of Franklin County litigants, we also continue to need volunteer attorneys for our remote Clean Slate Clinic, which helps rural clients with remote record sealing and/or those seeking help with Certificates of Qualification for Employment (CQEs). If you are interested in helping out with our remote Clean Slate Clinic, please sign up here.

Family Law Attorneys Needed for Virtual Brief Advice Clinics 

LASC and SEOLS continue to see a need for attorneys with family law knowledge for our virtual advice clinics. Phone consultations take between 15-30 minutes on average, and attorneys can volunteer as little or as much as they wish. To sign up for a virtual clinic shift, please sign up here. Current volunteers can simply email Patricia Vargas Vegas if they wish to reengage and do not have preferences for specific clinic dates.

Fairfield County Tenant Advocacy Project (TAP): The TAP clinic provides free legal information, advice, and representation to tenants who are being evicted. SEOLS staff and pro bono attorneys meet with tenants prior to their eviction hearings and provide representation in negotiating settlements and attending court hearings (with support from staff). Clinics take place on Tuesday afternoons. Sign up to volunteer here. We also offer TAP clinics in Washington and Athens counties, so if you would like to learn more, email our TAP Fellow Caitlyn McDaniel.

Franklin County Tenant Advocacy Project: Legal Aid offers a daily clinic for tenants with eviction hearings each morning in Franklin County. Attorneys handle eviction hearings or negotiate resolutions, including drafting agreed entries. Sign up to volunteer here.

The Legal Aid Reduced Fee Referral Project (LARP) at LASC is comprised of a panel of attorneys who accept reduced-fee referrals for uncontested divorces and Chapter 7 bankruptcies. LARP clients are low-income and generally unable to pay the market rate, and these referrals allow them to access much needed services. Clients agree to pay a reduced rate and Legal Aid matches the clients with interested attorneys. If you would like to be added to either the divorce or Chapter 7 bankruptcy referral list, please fill out an attorney application online here (for new volunteers) or email Dianna Parker at dparker@oslsa.org (for existing volunteers). We generally ask LARP attorneys to take two pro bono cases a year but there is no limit on the number of reduced-fee referrals.

This is a great opportunity for non-attorney volunteers including, but not limited to, law students, undergrads, and high school students. Volunteers are needed to help with intake, onsite research, and attorney support duties. We have three planned in-person clinics in May:

To volunteer, click here.

The need for bankruptcy filing has been picking up among our clients and several of our long-term volunteers have been leaving the practice, so if you are interested in joining the referral panel, let us know. LASC works with the qualifying clients to collect all the paperwork necessary to file a bankruptcy and once the client is ready to file, we refer the case to you. LASC prioritizes clients who are very low-income with an emergency need to file such as a wage garnishment or utility shut off for representation. If you have not taken a bankruptcy case in the past, but are interested in learning, we can also match you with a mentor pro bono volunteer. Apply to volunteer here.

OPLC Policy Advocate Tim Johnson was quoted from a joint press conference about the potential effects of House Bill 327 on efforts to address minority health disparities in this Hannah article, “‘Divisive Concepts’ Bill Would Hinder Minority Health Efforts, Advocates Say” (April 4, 2022), this Gongwer article, “HB327 Opponents Say Bill Would Hinder Health Equity Efforts” (April 4, 2022), and this Statehouse News Bureau story, “Advocates for low-income, minority Ohioans call on House speaker to stop ‘divisive concepts’ bill” (April 5, 2022).

SEOLS Senior Staff Attorney Peggy Lee was quoted on the prevalence of “alternative financing deals” in this All Sides Considered on NPR story, “Millions of Americans are resorting to risky ways to buy an affordable home” (April 14, 2022).

OPLC’s position on House Bill 327 was cited in this Cleveland Plain Dealer article, “From guns in schools to coronavirus catchup, over 125 education bills wait in Ohio legislature to pass” (April 14, 2022), and in this version of the article which ran in the Lima News, “Bills in Ohio legislature address CRT” (April 20, 2022).

OSLSA Executive Director Kate McGarvey’s letter to the editor in response to reports of COVID relief fraud, “Not all COVID aid recipients ‘fraudsters’,” was published by The Columbus Dispatch (April 22, 2022).

LASC Advocacy Director Ben Horne and SEOLS Advocacy Director Kristen Lewis discussed housing discrimination and OSLSA efforts to help enforce fair housing laws in this episode of All Sides with Ann Fisher on WOSU Public Radio, “Fair Housing in Ohio” (April 26, 2022).

We have a number of open positions at LASC and SEOLS/OSLSA. Check out the links for more information and to apply!