Columbus Bar Foundation Funds

The Chester Family Professionalism Institute was established in 2005 to nurture a broad commitment to professionalism and higher levels of competence among all levels of the Central Ohio legal community.

The Judicial Legacy Fund will accept gifts in memory of members of the judiciary upon their death or retirement from the bench, or to commemorate their significant service to the community. All donated funds will be used by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees to advance justice in central Ohio in ways not adequately supported by the current governmental funding of the court system.

The Law Library Fund was created to increase access to the justice system by providing support for assisted pro se especially in the areas of sealing criminal records and landlord-tenant disputes. The Law Library Fund will also be used to support the Columbus Law Library which continues to be a resource to the public as well as the legal community.

This fund was created to provide aid and comfort to lawyers who are seriously ill and to provide appropriate recognition to deceased members of the central Ohio legal community.

The Lawyer to Lawyer Fund was created by a local lawyer to provide much needed financial assistance to central Ohio lawyers who are temporarily or permanently disabled due to illness or an accident or who have suffered some other type of adversity. Based on previous requests for financial assistance, it is anticipated that individualgrants will be less than $10,000 and could include such needs as payment of health insurance premiums for a lawyer who is no longer able to work due to an accident or illness; paying the monthly office rent until a disabled attorney can return to work; establishing temporary offices because of fire or flooding; or hiring an attorney to review files and close cases for an attorney who has been mentally or physically disabled.

The Women Lawyers of Franklin County Fund provides law school scholarships.

This fund provides need-based scholarships for women and minority law students.

The CBAA comprises family members of lawyers who come together to foster a sense of community among its members through social events networking opportunities and volunteer initiatives.  The CBAA support the philanthropic efforts of the Foundation by providing funding for initiatives like Kids Voting, the OWjL Mock Trial program, and the National Center for Adoption Law and Policy.

Provides books, computers and other educational materials to the Franklin County Juvenile Court and Detention Facility.

Provides ongoing financial support to the Law and Leadership Institute, a state-wide initiative in collaboration with the legal community that inspires and prepares students from underserved communities for post-secondary and professional success through a comprehensive four-year academic program in law, leadership, analytical thinking, problem solving, writing skills and professionalism.