January 02, 2020

CBF Contributes $75,000 to Ohio Legal Help

The CBF Columbus Law Library Fund recently made a grant of $75,000 to Ohio Legal Help to help build a robust statewide self-help website (www.ohiolegalhelp.org).

Ohio Legal Help provides understandable legal help information, interactive self-help tools and connections to local legal resources such as the Lawyer Referral Service, the Legal Aid Society and the Public Defenders’ Office.

Ohio Legal Help is written in plain language and focuses on discrete steps that pro se users can take to resolve their issues. The website also offers guided interviews to help users generate forms when appropriate. Prior to launch, the Ohio Legal Help team cataloged over 1,300 local government and community organizations that offer support for Ohioians facing legal problems.

The Ohio Legal Help website is not means tested, but focuses primarily on serving Ohioians who cannot afford or otherwise access legal services.

"The Supreme Court's Task Force on Access to Justice recommended in 2015 that Ohio develop a statewide website that provides free and accurate legal information and standardized forms," said Supreme Court of Ohio Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor. "Ohio Legal Help is that website and will increase access to justice for all Ohioans."