Particularly perilous is some law enforcement officers’ and agencies’ reluctance to respond to civil protection orders, issued mainly by domestic relations courts.

“They see it as a civil matter and they don’t see it as having the same oomph of a criminal order,” said Alexandria Ruden, a Legal Aid Society of Cleveland lawyer and expert on domestic violence law.

Click here to read the full story from the Plain Dealer.

Driver’s License Suspension & The Reinstatement Process &
Basics of the “OVI” Statute: ORC 4511.19

An overwhelming number of Ohio residents have driver’s licenses that are suspended or otherwise invalid due to failure to meet reinstatement requirements. Many are unaware of the reasons for suspensions. The training includes sessions reviewing the basics of Court imposed suspensions and BMV imposed suspensions of drivers’ licenses. The training will address the legal process and the steps needed to reinstate a license. Additionally, the training will address an overview of the “OVI” statute.

3.00 CLE credits pending

To register for this event, click here.

Need more info? Please click here to see the agenda for the training.

While there is no cost for the training, attendees will be asked to volunteer at a Pro Bono License Reinstatement Advice Clinic where attorneys will meet with individuals who need help determining the reason for a suspended license and the reinstatement requirements.

Questions? Contact: Ann McGowan Porath, Managing Attorney – Volunteer Lawyers Program
(216) 861-5332 or amporath@lasclev.org

Click here to read the full profile.

Click here to read the full letter to the editor from the 2/14/2012 Plain Dealer.

• Provide parents with free interpretation and translation services related to their child’s schooling;
• Provide interpreters and translators trained in specialized school-related terms in both English and a parent’s native language; and
• Provide important school documents to parents in Spanish and possibly other languages.

Parents are entitled to these services even if their child moves buildings within CMSD.

This is a great way for parents of students enrolled in CMSD to become involved in their child’s education! Many other services are also available for Limited English Proficiency parents and families.

Just ask CMSD’s Multi-Lingual Multi-Cultural Office for more information- 216.404.5491.

Click here for a brochure in Spanish/English.

The society is holding a free naturalization clinic from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22 at its office, 1223 West 6th Street in Cleveland.

The program is first-come, first-served and requires people to bring their important papers.

Click here to see this full story from the Plain Dealer.

CHEERS . . . to attorneys David Dawson and Harold Williams, who retired in December after a combined 75 years at the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. The two spent their entire careers battling discrimination, consumer fraud and insensitive bureaucrats on behalf of low-income clients. They went out knowing that they made a difference in thousands of lives.

Click here to see the piece on Cleveland.com.

According to the survey, LSC-funded programs anticipate laying off 393 employees, including 163 attorneys, in 2012. The reductions continue a staffing downturn that began about a year ago. In December 2010, LSC-funded programs employed 4,351 attorneys, 1,614 paralegals and 3,094 support staff. During 2011, LSC programs reduced their staffing by 833 positions through layoffs and attrition. They now anticipate a new round of layoffs this year, bringing the staffing loss to 1,226 full-time personnel.

The survey was conducted in late December and early January, and 132 of the 135 nonprofit legal aid programs funded by LSC responded.

For more information, visit www.lsc.gov.

Click here to read the article.