News at Community Legal Aid

Legal Aid Mourns the Loss of Paralegal Rita Davis

jclarke@communitylegalaid.org (Jane Clarke) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:50:51 +0000

"Lauded by her colleagues as 'the heart of Legal Aid', Davis left a hole in the office when she died July 24 after battling cancer" - Akron Legal News, August 20 2010.

Rita Davis was dedicated to the spirit of Legal Aid, involved in the community, and committed to delivering professional legal services to those most in need. Throughout her over 35 year career with Legal Aid she worked closely with domestic violence survivors, giving them the compassion and legal services they needed to begin a new life free from violence. We will miss Rita and our thoughts are with her family and friends during this difficult time.

To read a pdf of the original article, click here.

To view the 'Resolution Passed in Loving Memory of Rita Davis', click here.

Looking to Learn How to Take Control of Your Personal Finances? Participate in the Akron/Canton Smart Money Choices Conference!

aschmitt@communitylegalaid.org (Alex Schmitt) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:45:57 +0000

Your free Smart Money Choices Conference is coming soon! Have you reserved your spot for this exciting personal finance seminar?

When: Friday, July 16th, 2010

Where: the Akron/Canton Smart Money Choices Conference will take place at Quaker Square Inn – University of Akron, 135 S. Broadway St. Akron, Ohio 44308.

Registration: RSVPs are requested. To RSVP, please call 1-800-228-1102 or visit www.ohiotreasurer.gov. Registration for the morning session begins at 7:30am and registration for the afternoon session begins at 12:30pm.

What: Morning and evening sessions, taught by trained professionals, include:
•         Credit and debt management
•         Social Security
•         Retirement planning
•         Consumer Protection
•         Insurance

There will also be panel discussions on relevant financial topics to kick off the morning and afternoon sessions. Legal Aid Attorney, Tim Kozlowski, will be participating in the morning panel discussion on the hot topics of credit card laws and predatory lending.

To see a full schedule for of sessions for the day, click here.

For more information or to RSVP today, please call 1-800-228-1102 or visit www.ohiotreasurer.gov. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!

Learning to Serve the Poor and Increase Access to Justice: 16 Summer Associates Join Community Legal Aid

aschmitt@communitylegalaid.org (Alex Schmitt) — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:42:27 +0000

Community Legal Aid is proud to announce that 16 local law students have joined the firm as 2010 Summer Associates. During the 10-12 week session the Summer Associates will have the opportunity to experience first hand the power of the law to create positive change in the lives of low-income people throughout central northeast Ohio. The program emphasizes the responsibility which comes with practicing law - to ensure equal access to justice for everyone.

The Summer Associates include seven students from The University of Akron, School of Law: Kassim Ahmed, Devin Capece, Barbara Fernandez, Emily Gerber, Angelina Gingo, Patrick Kelleher, and Kelsey Resnick. Six students from Case Western Reserve University, School of Law are also part of the program: Meagan Bielanin, Mark Brncik, Bridjette Brown, Serena Coppula, Julia Kazmers, and Hilary Kozma. They will be joined by two students from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University: Aaron Bernstein, and Mary Santez. Kayce Kasten of Ohio Northern University College of Law will also be spending his summer at Legal Aid.

The Summer Associates will work at Legal Aid’s Akron and Youngstown offices and have the opportunity to work closely with Legal Aid attorneys in areas such as foreclosure, housing, bankruptcy, immigration, tax, family, and consumer law as well as be involved in community education, the successful Municipal Court Project where they will assist low-income holders of credit card debt and provide support to the Volunteer Legal Services Program (VLSP.) Summer Associates will also have the opportunity to meet with local judges and community leaders to learn first hand about the needs of the most vulnerable members of our communities. Confirmed speakers include Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio of Summit County Juvenile Court and Joann Sahl, Clinician and Director of the Trial Team Program at The University of Akron School of Law
.

When asked about why they chose to spend their summer with Legal Aid, the Summer Associates have a common desire: to put what they have learned at school to use helping the least fortunate members of the community. “I am originally from Akron,” says associate Mark Brncik “and I am looking forward to contributing to the community while also getting legal experience this summer.” Bridjette Brown echoes Mr. Brncik’s commitment to community. “I grew up in the inner-city, and I am looking forward to using my legal training to educate people about their opportunities, and help them use the law to achieve their goals for themselves and their families.” Kassim Ahmen considers himself an advocate for the poor, and is looking forward to “empowering those without a voice and in need. The Summer Associate program at Legal Aid gives me an opportunity to make a real difference in peoples lives.”

“We are excited to have our 2010 Summer Associates join us,” says Legal Aid Executive Director Sara Strattan. “Throughout the summer the Associates will not only assist our attorneys and staff with a variety of tasks, but also have the opportunity to learn professional skills and become advocates for those in need.”

*2010 Community Legal Aid Summer Associates featured from left to right:

Front Row: Kayce Kasten, Serena Coppula, Julia Kazmers, Emily Gerber, Kassim Ahmed, Angelina Gingo, Mary Santez and Bridjette Brown.

Back Row: Mark Brncik, Aaron Bernstein, Barbara Fernandez, Meagan Bielanin, Devin Capece, Patrick Kelleher, Kelsey Resnick and Hilary Kozma

FREE Social Worker Training: Legal Issues Facing Transitioning Workers

aschmitt@communitylegalaid.org (Alex Schmitt) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:45:45 +0000

Registration for these trainings is now closed.

If you have already registered and would like to confirm your registration, or need information about the trainings, please read the information below or contact Alex at 330.983.2513. Please do not call with late registrations.

Legal Aid is offering FREE day long trainings for social workers in each of our eight counties (Columbiana, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, and Wayne Counties). Community Legal Aid is an Approved Provider for 6.5 clock hours CPE credit for Social Workers. Provider # MSX061007.

Legal Issues Facing Transitional Workers will address a number of legal issues that low income people are encountering as their income sources fluctuate or disappear during this economic downturn. Legal Aid attorneys will present information on the legal issues of foreclosure, loss mitigation, bankruptcy, the social security application process, and health care reform. This information will enable social workers to refer clients to appropriate legal assistance. The day will end with Litigation Bootcamp, which is a program designed to empower social workers with legal skills pertinent to their day to day work, such as how to prepare for court, how to respond to discovery, and how to maintain client confidentiality.

This CPE training is being offered FREE OF CHARGE to all social workers in Columbiana, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, and Wayne Counties. However, please note that lunch will not be provided.

If you have questions about this CPE training, please contact Alex Schmitt at 330.983.2513 or aschmitt@communitylegalaid.org .

Presentation Schedule [The presentation schedule will be the same at every location/date.]

9:00- 9:30 am	Registration
9:30-9:45 am	Introduction
9:45 am- 12:15 pm	Foreclosure/Loss Mitigation/Bankruptcy
12:15- 1:00 pm	Lunch on your own
1:00 - 2:30 pm	Navigating the Social Security Application Process and Health Care Reform
2:30- 2:45 pm	Break
2:45 - 4:45 pm	Litigation Bootcamp
4:45 - 5:00 pm	Wrap Up/Evaluations

Download the entire program brochure with the schedule and descriptions of each topic here.

Columbiana County

When: Tuesday, June 1st, 2010, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Where: Columbiana Public Library, 322 North Middle Street, Columbiana, OH 44408 (Map)

Mahoning County

When: Thursday, June 3rd, 2010, 9:00am - 5:00 pm

Where: The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Main Branch, 305 Wick Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44503 (Map)

Medina County

When: Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010 9:00 am- 5:00 pm

Where: Medina County District Library, Medina Branch, 210 Broadway Street, Medina, OH 44256

Portage County

When: Friday, June 4th, 2010, 9:00 am- 5:00 pm

Where: Reed Memorial Library, 167 West Main Street, Ravenna, OH 44266 (Map)

Stark County

When: Friday, June 11th, 2010, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Where: United Way of Greater Stark County, 4825 Higbee Avenue NW, Canton, OH 44718 (Map)

Summit County

When: Thursday, June 10th, 2010, 9:00 am- 5:00 pm

Where: Akron-Summit County Public Library, Main Branch, 60 South High Street, Akron, OH 44308 (Map)

Trumbull County

When: Tuesday, June 8th, 2010, 9:00 am- 5:00 pm

Where: City of Warren Community Services Building, Large Conference Room, 418 Main Street SW, Warren, OH 44483 (Map)

Wayne County

When: Wednesday, June 9th, 2010, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Where: Wayne County Public Library, Main Branch, 220 West Liberty Street, Wooster, OH 44691 (Map)

If you have questions about these upcoming CPE trainings, or other community education events, please contact Alex Schmitt at 330.983.2513 or aschmitt@communitylegalaid.org .

Upcoming Law Week Events

webmaster@communitylegalaid.org (Administrator) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:41:10 +0000

Akron Lawyer's Free Advice Clinic

What: A free, walk-in clinic for residents of Summit County. Volunteer lawyers will be on site to provide free, confidential legal advice in a variety of areas of law. Throughout the day, informational presentations will be offered a a wide range of legal topics (see schedule below).

When: Monday, May 3, 2010, from 9 am-12pm and 1pm - 4pm

Where: The Job Center, 1040 E. Tallmadge Ave., Akron, OH 44310 (Map)

Registration: No registration is necessary. This is a walk-in clinic. Clients may arrive starting at 8:30 am.

Questions?: Call The Volunteer Legal Services Program at 877-401-0088

This clinic is sponsored by Community Legal Aid, The Akron Bar Association, and Russell M. Pry, Summit County Executive. Other participating agencies include: Open M, The Job Center, the University of Akron, Summit County 2-1-1, Haven of Rest, Summit County Prosecutor's Office, AMHA, Office of Consumer Affairs, Mature Services, and the Social Security Administration.

To download and print the flyer for the free clinic, click here.

Community Education Presentation Schedule:

9:00 am: Financial Information and Legal Education

10:00 am: CSEA and You, A Partnership

11:00 am: Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority

1:00 pm: Using Reference USA in a Job Search

2:00 pm: Job Center Services

3:00 pm: Is it Real or a Scam?

Akron Sidebar Event - Join Community Legal Aid at the Akron Bar Association on Thursday, April 29th from 5-7pm to kick off Law Week!

What: Cinco de Mayo themed Sidebar event to celebrate our volunteers and kick off Law Week with an evening of networking, hors d' oeuvres, drinks, and more!

When: Thursday, April 29th, 2010, from 5:00 -7:00 p.m.

Where: Akron Bar Association, 57 South Broadway Street, Akron, OH 44308

Questions?: Contact Margaret Lazzerini at 330.983.2643 or mlazzerini@communitylegalaid.org

To download and print a flyer for the Sidebar click here

2010 Jammin' For Justice

What: Join Community Legal Aid and the Akron Bar Association for a lively night of free food, drinks, exciting raffles, and a music showdown between local bands. The proceeds of the concert will benefit the pro bono legal service programs of Community Legal Aid and The Akron Bar Association. For more information visit the Akron Bar Association website.

When: Friday, May 7th, 2010, 6:00- 10:00 p.m.

Where: Musica, 51 E. Market Street, Akron, OH

Ticket cost: $15 per person or 2 for $25. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, Musica, or the Akron Bar. Cl Association.

Questions?: Contact Margaret Lazzerini at 330.983.2643 or mlazzerini@communitylegalaid.org

To download and print the Jammin' For Justice flyer, click here.

Legal Aid Attorney Fights to Preserve Minerva Residents' Homes

aschmitt@communitylegalaid.org (Alex Schmitt) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:22:06 +0000

The Canton Repository recently printed this article detailing the plight of Minerva trailer park residents in danger of losing their homes and the efforts of Legal Aid Attorney Dawn Spriggs to preserve the park.

Click here to see the original article or read on below.

Minerva Trailer Park Residents Fear Losing Their Homes
MINERVA —
Looking back, the first sign of trouble may have been when workers hired to chop down the diseased trees in the neighborhood abruptly walked away last summer, leaving heaps of branches behind.

They said they never got paid.

Then the on-site repairman for Minerva Hillside Terraces stopped making repairs. And the mobile home park’s owner, David Audino, didn’t come around as often — then he wasn’t around at all.

But for the residents living in the 20 homes in the mobile home park, their concerns amounted to neighborhood gossip and rumors. Until late October, when the village of Minerva threatened to shut off their water Dec. 1.

Audino, who has owned the park since 2001, had stopped paying the water and sewer bills for the park at 15571 Lincoln St. SE. He owed the village more than $7,000 in past-due charges.

And it wasn’t the only bill Audino didn’t pay. Within months, the park faced foreclosure and county health officials deemed it a public health nuisance.

Residents, most of whom are elderly and live on fixed incomes, felt helpless and a bit angry that Audino abandoned them.

“I feel like I was stabbed in the back. I moved in with good faith ... and now, years later, (Audino) does this,” said Martha Tucker, who has lived at the park with her daughter since August 2004.

“I think Audino should have been man enough to tell us the situation. It would have been a lot easier on us if we knew about it.”

Phone numbers for Audino have been disconnected, and notices to appear in court have been undeliverable. Audino’s attorney, Richard G. Zellers of Canfield, also did not return a call seeking comment.

STATEWIDE TREND

More and more mobile home owners across Ohio are finding themselves trapped in this new wrinkle of the home foreclosure crisis.

Bill Geniella, president of the Association of Manufactured Home Residents in Ohio, knows of 10 mobile home parks in Ohio — mostly in the Dayton and Columbus areas — under foreclosure proceedings in the past year.

“... The residents in them, for the most part, have not been made aware of (foreclosure) until the last moment,” he said.

His association has been lobbying state officials to change the notification rules through legislation. He believes that House Bill 186, which is being considered by the Ohio Senate, will help. It would require a mortgagee to notify a newly formed state manufactured housing commission when it initiates a foreclosure against a manufactured home park, and the housing commission would be required to notify the park’s residents. The legislation also would require a park operator to pay relocation expenses when a manufactured home park is converted or sold for another use.

“If one of these communities is sold for development, we would have hundreds of people who ... would have no place to go and don’t have the means to move their homes,” Geniella said.

NOT SO MOBILE

By late December, Minerva Hillside’s only trash bin began to overflow with garbage, so much so that waste haulers in January couldn’t reach the receptacle when the county health department arranged for a courtesy pickup. Residents had to help clear a path for the haulers to get access.

On Jan. 28, Huntington National Bank, which holds the property’s mortgage, filed for foreclosure. Audino owes the bank at least $385,000 for two promissory notes he signed in 2001 and 2003 and a note he signed as owner of Dylan Homes in 2003.

Residents didn’t know what to expect.

“What are we supposed to do? Do we have so many weeks? Or so many days? It’s a constant worry on us,” Tucker said.

While Tucker may live in a mobile home park, she isn’t exactly mobile. Tucker lives on a fixed income of $776 a month and says she has little money left over after bills.

“Right now, I couldn’t come up with a penny if I had to,” she said.

Harry Hagan, who moved to Minerva Hillside in 1985, said his trailer would need expensive repairs before it could be moved. Otherwise, he said, “It would fall apart on the road.”

And he doesn’t believe the repairs would be worth it.

“It would cost me more to move than what the trailer is worth,” he said. “One trailer is worth $1,500, but to move it would be $5,000.”

RECEIVER APPOINTED

The good news is that Huntington hasn’t indicated it plans to close the park, said Attorney Dawn Spriggs of Community Legal Aid in Canton, who represents seven residents at Minerva Hillside.

Instead, the bank has appointed a receiver to operate the park while the foreclosure is pending and to help improve the park’s financial condition.

“His job is to write a report after a period of time to basically recommend what to do with the park,” Spriggs said. “He has to weigh the liabilities and assets.”

The bad news, Spriggs said, is that the bank could sell the property, and Minerva Hillside’s new owners could decide to use the land for something other than a mobile home park.

And residents can do little to stop it, she said. None of them signed a lease with Audino when they moved in.

“If they had a lease, they wouldn’t have to worry about the park being sold and immediately being given notices to leave,” Spriggs said. “I’m not sure that will happen, but it could. If they had leases, the new owner would buy the property subject to the leases and couldn’t just start giving notices to leave (without good cause).”

A trial date for the foreclosure is set for April 29.

Attorney Anthony Gingo of the law firm Bernlohr Wetz in Akron, which represents Huntington, did not return a call seeking comment.

ESCROW

In the meantime, residents have fended off the shutoff notices by paying their rents into an escrow fund at Alliance Municipal Court. The court then pays the park’s water, sewer and trash bills for residents.

In January, the court paid $7,344 for past-due water and sewer and $1,055 to waste haulers, Spriggs said.

With the garbage pickup resumed, health officials say the department will not seek to close the mobile home park.

Spriggs said Audino told her he plans to file for bankruptcy. As of Tuesday, Audino hadn’t filed for bankruptcy for himself, but had filed bankruptcy for one of his companies, Dylan Homes. Audino, listed as the managing member for Dylan Homes, reported the company’s assets as $99,450 while liabilities totaled $401,006, according to the court filing.
Copyright 2010 CantonRep.com. Some rights reserved

Preserving Homes and Promoting Stability: Legal Aid Helps Families Facing Foreclosure

aschmitt@communitylegalaid.org (Alex Schmitt) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:31:26 +0000

Check out these two recent articles, printed in The Vindicator, about the continuing foreclosure crisis and Legal Aid's efforts to assist families in saving their homes

"I hope they have a heart" - Legal Aid foreclosure attorneys work to save a disabled Youngstown woman's home.

Facing Foreclosure - As the number of foreclosures in northeast Ohio increases, Legal Aid attorneys strive to provide relief before foreclosures are filed.

Legal Aid Board Member Named 2010 LightHouse Vision's Honoree

aschmitt@communitylegalaid.org (Alex Schmitt) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:02:20 +0000

Legal Aid Board Member, Audrey Snowden, was one of four Massillon residents honored by LightHouse Visions for their many contributions to the community. At LightHouse Vision's Sixth Annual Black History Program last week, Ms. Snowden was recognized for her achievements as one of the first black nurses in Massillon. Ms. Snowden currently serves as a Legal Aid Board Member, works as the director of medical nursing services at Massillon Community Hospital, and has been a lifelong member of Shiloh Baptist Church.

To learn more, read the full article in The Independent.

Check Out Legal Aid in The Akron Legal News

aschmitt@communitylegalaid.org (Alex Schmitt) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:56:42 +0000

Check out yesterday's article in The Akron Legal News about Legal Aid's recent promotions of Steven McGarrity and Christina Janice and the hire of our new Development Director, Margaret D. Lazzerini.

Importance of Legal Aid is topic for January 13th Program

aschmitt@communitylegalaid.org (Alex Schmitt) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:38:26 +0000

The following article featuring Terri Underwood, a Community Legal Aid paralegal, was printed in the Akron Legal News on January 6th, 2010:

Community Legal Aid Services case handler Terri Underwood of Medina will speak on providing legal services to people who cannot afford to retain a lawyer when NALS of Northeast Ohio, the association of legal professionals, holds its monthly education program, Wednesday, January 13th, 2010.

A Norwayne High School and Wayne County JVS graduate, Underwood is a paralegal in the Medina and Akron offices of Community Legal Aid Services, which serves clients in eight Northeast Ohio counties. Specializing in administrative law, she works with clients who need assistance with Welfare and Social Security hearings.

The dinner program will begin at 6 p.m. at Stinger's Restaurant 7429 Wooster Pike (State Route 3), south of Medina.

NALS of Northeast Ohio is a non-profit association of legal secretaries, paralegals, legal assistants, and city and county court employees who line in and/or work in Medina, Summit, Cuyahoga, and surrounding counties. NALS is dedicated to enhancing the professionalism of those who work in the legal support field through education, certification skills, and networking. Prospective members are welcome to attend as guests. Those interested in attending should send an email to Nancy J.Suvak, PP, PLS, at nancysuvak@zoominternet.net or by phone at (330) 725-6082 by Tuesday January 12th, 2010.

To view a pdf of the original article, click here.

Legal Services Corporation Awards Community Legal Aid Techonology Initiative Grant

aschmitt@communitylegalaid.org (Alex Schmitt) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:51:39 +0000

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) recently awarded $3.5 million in techonolgy grants to LSC-funded programs, including an award to Community Legal Aid. LSC awarded Community Legal Aid a Technology Initiative Grant (TIG) to develop the Next Generation Legal Services Desktop (NGLSD) for legal services advocates throughout the United States.

The NGLSD project will use the iGoogle platform to develop a model homepage for legal services advocates and staff using both currently available iGoogle gadgets and custom gadgets that will be developed with the support of TIG funds. Community Legal Aid is collaborating with several organizations on this project including the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation, National Technology Assistance Project, Legal Assistance of Western New York, and Montana Legal Services Association.

To view LSC's press release on all the Techonology Initiative Grants awarded nationwide, read on here.

Local Mayors Proclaim October 25th-31st as Pro Bono Week

aschmitt@communitylegalaid.org (Alex Schmitt) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:43:28 +0000

Three local Mayors have proclaimed this week, October 25th-31st, as Pro Bono Week to recognize the attorneys throughout Northeast Ohio who have provided free legal advice and representation to individuals who could not otherwise afford civil legal assistance and to encourage and inspire other attorneys to join the pro bono movement. Mayors Jay Williams, Bob Breneman, and Don Plusquellic, of Youngstown, Wooster, and Akron, respectively, each signed a proclamation declaring this week Pro Bono Week in their cities. Community Legal Aid would like to thank the cities of Youngstown, Wooster, and Akron for contributing to Legal Aid's National Pro Bono Week Celebration. The full text of the proclamations reads:

WHEREAS, thousands of Ohioans continue to lack access to legal assistance that is often critical to their safety and independence, forcing them to resolve complex legal problems on their own, including domestic violence, divorce, child custody, evictions, mortgage foreclosures and the physical and financial abuse of the elderly; and

WHEREAS, there are only about 300 legal aid lawyers to serve Ohio’s low income population; and

WHEREAS, while members of ______’s legal community donate substantial hours in free legal services and make generous financial contributions to legal aid organizations in our city, a huge unmet need for legal assistance remains for our disadvantaged citizens; and

WHEREAS, the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Statement Regarding the Provision of Pro Bono Legal Services by Ohio Lawyers underscores that lawyers have a special professional obligation to ensure that the justice system is accessible to everyone; and

WHEREAS, the National Pro Bono Celebration is being observed across the country during the week of October 25-31, 2009, to recognizes the valuable work lawyers do throughout the year, without fee, to represent those who cannot afford civil legal assistance, and the ______ County bar Association has events planned for the week which will both recognize those lawyers who provide pro bono service to those who cannot afford a lawyer, and which will recruit more lawyers to pro bono service to help meet the significant ongoing need;

NOW, THEREFORE, I ________________, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF _______, do hereby proclaim October 25 – 31, 2009 TO BE Pro Bono Week in the City of _______, and urge all residents to recognize the contributions of our legal community to help those most in need.

Dated this _______ day of ____________, 2009.

To see a full schedule of Pro Bono Week events sponsored by Community Legal Aid, click here.

To view the hard copies of the three proclamations see below:

Pro Bono Week Proclamation, Mayor Jay Williams Youngstown

Pro Bono Week Proclamation, Mayor Bob Breneman Wooster

Pro Bono Week Proclamation, Mayor Don Plusquellic Akron

Ohio State Bar Association Recognizes Volunteer Gayle Montalto

jclarke@communitylegalaid.org (Jane Clarke) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:06:11 +0000

The Ohio State Bar Association recognizes Gayle Montalto for her pro bono work on behalf of foreclosure victims in Summit and Cuyahoga Counties.

Cuyahoga Falls Attorney Uses Past Experience as Escrow Officer to Help Homeowners

Columbus, OHIO (Oct. 20, 2009) – Ohio State Bar Association member Gayle Montalto of Cuyahoga Falls spent 10 years as an escrow officer, witnessing the subprime mortgage crisis firsthand. Today, Montalto is an attorney in private practice who is one of the more than 1,300 attorneys who are providing legal services free of charge through “Save the Dream,” a statewide foreclosure assistance program that connects qualified homeowners with lawyers.

“When the call went out to attorneys to volunteer for ‘Save the Dream,’ I knew immediately that I wanted to be a part of it,” Montalto said. “With my knowledge of loans, mortgage companies and banks, I knew that I could be helpful to homeowners.”

More than 3,200 Ohio families have avoided foreclosure through the counseling and legal assistance they have received since the “Save the Dream” initiative began on April 1, 2008.

Montalto has worked with the Community Legal Aid Services in Summit County and the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland on five cases in Summit, Stark and Cuyahoga counties. One of those was Edith McWilliams of Cleveland’s east side. “When my husband got sick and was forced to retire, we got behind on our mortgage payments,” McWilliams said. “Even when she got laid off from her job, Gayle stuck with our case and worked with us step by step to get a new payment so that we could stay in our home.”

Montalto feels there’s plenty of incentive for attorneys to volunteer for this program, especially attorneys who have lost their jobs. “If you’re out of work, the best thing to do is volunteer to keep yourself involved in legal issues. If you’re a law school graduate with no job prospects, this kind of experience is great to put on your resume,” she advises.

OSBA President Barbara J. Howard praised Montalto, and other attorneys like her, who have stepped forward to assist homeowners. “The attorneys who take part in ‘Save the Dream’ are truly inspiring in their dedication to helping those in their communities who face foreclosure,” Howard said. “Their commitment should serve as a spark to other attorneys to join in the efforts.”

“Save the Dream” is supported by the OSBA, the Governor’s Office, the Ohio Department of Development, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the Ohio Treasurer’s Office, the Supreme Court of Ohio, the Ohio Department of Commerce, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, various legal aid organizations, and housing counseling agencies.

Ohioans seeking assistance are encouraged to call the Save the Dream hotline at 1-888-404-4674. Attorneys interested in becoming involved should go to the member pages of the OSBA Web site, www.ohiobar.org, and click on “Foreclosure,” or call OSBA member services at 1-800-232-7124.
Howard said, “We encourage more lawyers to get involved in pro bono activities across the state. Lawyers interested in pitching in are urged to contact the Ohio State Bar Association, their local bar association or their local legal aid society.”

The Ohio State Bar Association, founded in 1880, is a voluntary association representing approximately 25,000 members of the bench and bar of Ohio as well as nearly 4,000 legal assistants and law students. Through its activities and the activities of its related organizations, the OSBA serves both its members and the public by promoting the highest standards in the practice of law and the administration of justice.

See the original article.

Are you looking for information on how to improve your credit, get an expungement, or file for bankruptcy?

aschmitt@communitylegalaid.org (Alex Schmitt) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:33:21 +0000

Join Community Legal Aid on Tuesday October 27^th, 2009 at 6:00 pm for a free legal information program for low and moderate income Akron residents. The Financial Information and Legal Education program (FILE) provides practical information about expungements, credit, debt and bankruptcy, identity theft, and driver’s license suspensions through an attorney-led Power Point presentation and question and answer period. All participants will receive an informational packet with handouts and other resources about important financial and legal issues. The program is open to Akron residents and will be held at The Chapel, 135 Fir Hill, in Akron. If you can’t make it on October 27^th, there will be a series of FILE presentations at the Akron Public Library beginning November 5^th.

This program is made possible due to the generous funding of the City of Akron Community Services Programs.

For more information or to schedule a presentation, call Alex at 330-983-2513 or fill out a speaker request form.

Financial Information and Legal Education Flyer

Help Community Legal Aid Celebrate National Pro Bono Week by Receiving Free Legal Advice!

aschmitt@communitylegalaid.org (Alex Schmitt) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:40:45 +0000

In celebration of National Pro Bono Week, October 25th-31st, Community Legal Aid is providing you with more opportunities to obtain free legal advice throughout central northeast Ohio. Legal Aid’s Volunteer Legal Services Program (VLSP) has organized a number of new clinics for Pro Bono Week in addition to the many free legal clinics offered by Legal Aid on an ongoing basis. With at least one clinic in each of the eight counties Legal Aid serves, including Columbiana, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, and Wayne Counties, everyone in northeast Ohio will have the opportunity to be a part of Pro Bono Week.

You can participate by attending a FREE clinic where a local volunteer attorney can answer legal questions about: debts, bankruptcy and foreclosure, divorce, custody, and visitation, domestic violence, landlord/tenant issues, expungements, and benefits. Pre-registration is not required for these clinics.

To see a full list of Pro Bono Week clinics, locations, and times, visit our pro bono week page.

If you have questions regarding Legal Aid’s Pro Bono Week celebration, please contact Sandra Costa at 330-983-2622 or scosta@communitylegalaid.org.