Learning more about Legal Aid in Northwest and Central Ohio
The history of civil legal aid in northwest and west central Ohio starts with the founding of the Toledo Legal Aid Society in 1950. TLAS marks the first formal recognition in this area that - to have equal justice under the law - people living in poverty need access to attorneys.
Over the next 20+ years, that recognition spread to other parts of our 32-county service area, including Dayton, with the founding of the Legal Aid Society of Dayton in 1967; Lima, with the founding of the Allen County-Blackhoof Legal Services Association in 1969; and Springfield, with the founding of the Rural Legal Aid Society of West Central Ohio in 1978.
Brief Overview of LAWO
Between 2001 and 2004, the Civil Division of the Toledo Legal Aid Society and the other organizations became part of Legal Aid of Western Ohio (LAWO) and its partner law firm, Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE). LAWO proudly carries on the tradition of providing legal services as a nonprofit law firm charged with ensuring that the most vulnerable people in our communities have the same access to justice as people and companies who can afford to hire an attorney.
LAWO works closely with ABLE, which was founded in 1969. LAWO and ABLE are the only law firms that provide comprehensive legal representation in non-criminal matters for more than 500,000 people who are living, working, and raising their families in poverty in Northwest and West Central Ohio.
LAWO advocates for - and with - financially disadvantaged individuals and communities to protect and empower themselves, their households, and their neighbors. We work with our clients and communities to attack the root causes of poverty: housing, access to education and employment, financial instability, and domestic violence.
Brief Overview of ABLE
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE) is a nonprofit law firm established in 1969 to ensure that the most vulnerable people in our communities have the same access to justice as people and companies that can afford to retain an attorney. ABLE and its partner law firm, Legal Aid of Western Ohio (LAWO), are the only law firms available for comprehensive legal representation in non-criminal matters for more than 385,000 people living, working, and raising their families in poverty in northwest and west central Ohio.
ABLE advocates for – and with – financially disadvantaged individuals and communities to effectuate just and equitable policy changes that address the structural causes of poverty and to protect their right to fairness and justice in the legal system.
Learn more about ABLE and how we help.
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Future of Legal Aid
How can you help Amy and her family? By making a gift today, you ensure that families just like Amy's receive the help they need and that legal aid services remain available.
The future of legal aid depends on you. Donations make it possible to serve over 18,000 people who need help in our community each year. ABLE provides a wide variety of assistance for those needing civil legal help.
What sets ABLE apart, is the highly qualified legal staff that work to help clients not only with the legal issues, but also with other connections to other community services.
Your support makes an impact.
Give today and make a difference.
ABLE provides help to people who are below the poverty level that need assistance with civil legal issues such as housing justice, access to healthcare and benefits, and fairness in education. These are just a few of the services we provide at no charge to our clients. Helping those facing issues with housing is critical to keeping families safe and warm in their homes, as shown in the story below:
Amy, a single mother, and her young child, faced eviction due to unforeseen financial hardship. While her daughter thrived in her current school, and the home suited their needs, falling behind on rent threatened their stability and Amy's employment.
ABLE stepped in, negotiating with the landlord to significantly reduce the late fees and create an agreed entry of settlement - a structured payment plan. This legal intervention provided stability and a pathway to financial recovery for Amy.
Beyond legal assistance, Dustin, a social worker on the ABLE team as part of the Access to Counsel program, connected Amy and her family with vital resources. He helped her find a dentist that would accept her insurance, guided her towards rental assistance programs, and facilitated access to a food pantry and Hannah's Treasure Chest. These resources eased the burden of food, clothing, and toys, allowing the family to have funds to pay their rent.
The outcome: Amy's daughter remained in her local school and the family stayed in their home. Dustin continues to provide check-ins and support, ensuring the families continued stability.