1. Collaborating for Justice: Helping Clients Navigate the Civil Legal System

2. O BJECTIVES 1. Understand the legal system 2. Recognize civil legal problems (problems with legal solutions) 3. Know Legal Aid’s services 4. Identify advocacy opportunities

3. C OURT S YSTEM State Courts Ohio Supreme Court Court of Appeals Trial Courts: Common Pleas Municipal Federal Courts US Supreme Court Court of Appeals Trial Courts: District Court Bankruptcy Court

4. S TATE T RIAL C OURTS County Court of Common Pleas General Division Domestic Relations JuvenileProbate Municipal Courts TrafficHousingCriminalSmall Claims

5. T YPES OF L AW Civil Administrative Criminal

6. N ATURE OF THE P ROBLEM Civil? Criminal? Both?

7. T RUE OR F ALSE ?  The court will appoint an attorney for someone who is being evicted if the person cannot afford to hire a lawyer. FALSE  Child support can be a civil and criminal issue. TRUE  Applying to have a criminal conviction sealed or expunged is a criminal case. FALSE  A defendant has a right to be represented by counsel in a civil case. SOMETIMES

8. R IGHT TO C OUNSEL U.S. Constitution Sixth Amendment “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall… have the assistance of counsel for his defense.”

9. T HE J USTICE G AP Less than 1 in 5 low-income persons get the legal assistance they need. -Documenting the Justice Gap in America: The Current Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-income American, LSC 2009

10. S POTTING THE I SSUES What kinds of problems do your clients experience? Are there legal solutions?

11. L EGAL A ID : M ISSION S TATEMENT To secure justice and resolve fundamental problems for those who are low income and vulnerable by providing high quality legal services and working for systemic solutions in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Lorain counties. The Difference Between Two Futures

12. L EGAL A ID : M ONEY P ROBLEMS Denial or termination and/or overpayments of county, state and/or federal public benefits (e.g. OWF, DFA, SSI, VA) Bankruptcy Payday and Auto Title loan issues Utilities – medical certificates Food Assistance Student loans Auto repair and repossession Credit card collection Home repair contracts Medical and nursing home collection

13. L EGAL A ID : H OUSING P ROBLEMS Evictions Foreclosure defense Terminations and Denials of subsidy Some cases unhealthy conditions of rental housing Terminations of utility service by a landlord Lock-outs or other unlawful eviction

14. L EGAL A ID : F AMILY P ROBLEMS Custody Divorce Domestic Violence / Protection orders Child Support Immigration Special Education Probate (Guardianship, Estate, Adoption) Estate Planning

15. L EGAL A ID : H EALTH C ARE P ROBLEMS Medicaid (Denials or Terminations) Medicare (Denials or Terminations) Marketplace tax credit denials

16. L EGAL A ID : W ORK - RELATED P ROBLEMS Unemployment compensation appeals Sealing criminal records Income tax controversies, including those involving the Earned Income Tax Credit Employment rights and wage claims Reinstatement of driver’s licenses and professional certifications (e.g. STNA)

17. L EGAL A ID : W HO WE CAN SERVE 1. Is applicant financially eligible? 2. What is at risk? 3. What difference can we (i.e. lawyers) make? 4. No conflict of interest?

18. L EGAL A ID : R EQUESTING H ELP Legal Aid Phone Intake Brief Advice Clinics Walk-in Intake www.lasclev.org Metro Health* Community Outreach Clinics

19. L EGAL A ID : A CCESSING H ELP Telephone intake: 216-687-1900 or 1-888-817-3777 M, W, F: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm T, Th: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Walk-in Intake: T, Th: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Any Legal Aid office Brief Advice Clinics: See www.lasclev.org

20. L EGAL A ID : A CCESSING H ELP *Community Advocacy Program (for MetroHealth patients only) McCafferty Buckeye Broadway Old Brooklyn Health Center (seniors) Main Campus (pediatrics) Community Outreach Clinics VA Community Resource and Referral Center (1st Weds) Oberlin Community Services (3rd Thur) Ashtabula Co. Catholic Charities (2nd Weds)

21. L EGAL A ID : W HAT TO EXPECT Be prepared to provide income information. Have information and papers related to your legal problem available. Sign and return any paperwork Legal Aid sends you ASAP. Legal Aid will try to offer information, advice, self- help assistance, or representation. Legal Aid cannot serve everyone who seeks assistance but we try to provide some kind of help whenever possible.

22. B ARRIERS Logistical barriers (e.g. transportation) Psychosocial barriers (e.g. trauma) Cognitive barriers (e.g. dementia)

23. C ONTACT I NFORMATION Anne Sweeney anne.sweeney@lasclev.org 216-861-5242 THANK YOU!