Pro Bono Collaborative Held On 9/11
60 people were registered for the Court's monthly Pro Bono Collaborative on Friday, September 11. Judge Joan Synenberg noted that it was significant that the event was being held on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks because, "It's an appropriate day to give back and help each other."
Nearly 40 volunteer attorneys and 10 law students assisted the clients who signed up ahead of time. Social services agencies were also on hand with information and advisors.
The Pro Bono Program provides help in civil matters to defendants who are facing criminal charges in the Court. Many of the clients are currently on one of the Court's specialty dockets. Attorneys volunteer their time to help with matters such as housing, child custody, finances, and expungements.
The Pro Bono Program got its start when Judge Joan Synenberg noticed that clients in her Recovery Drug Court needed legal help with legal issues beyond their criminal charges. The Court hired a coordinator for the program through a grant from the Nord Family Foundation.
The program received the Ohio State Bar Association's 2019 Innovative Court Programs and Practices Award.
