Posted February 7, 20251:26 pm
By Casey T. Couch
In low-income households, seeking legal advice can be financially stressful. Cleveland’s legal community, however, is putting in the hours to help ease this burden for families. From housing disputes to domestic relations, local attorneys are offering pro bono services and advice clinics for those in need of legal aid.
Pro bono, meaning “for the public good” in Latin, is a phrase used in the courtroom to describe free legal services. This surge of pro bono legal assistance is not new to Cleveland, but is more and more prevalent as clients struggle to afford legal services on their own.
Roni Sokol, attorney and owner of The Sokol Law Firm with branches located in Beachwood and Columbus, said that there is a common misconception among people who call the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association in search of legal assistance that the services will be free.
According to a July 2024 study from the Legal Services Organization, 56% of Americans mistakenly believe that they are entitled to a free attorney for all civil cases and legal problems.
While not all legal services are free, Sokol and other attorneys offer their time to local pro bono organizations and offer a couple of recommendations for those who are seeking free legal aid.
One of these organizations is Equality Ohio, a legal clinic that offers pro bono legal services to low income members of the LGBTQ+ community in Cleveland and throughout Ohio. The clinic offers many services in a number of areas that impact the LGBTQ+ community, such as legal name and gender marker changes on official documents.
“A lot of their clients are transgender, which means that their gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth,” Sokol said. “When people transition, they often want to change their name legally, so that’s something that I have volunteered to do.”
Sokol has also volunteered at The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, a pro bono organization that she recommends for any clients seeking free legal advice in civil matters such as shelter, safety or economic security.
“Legal Aid will host clinics on Saturdays at local libraries where people can come in and just get some quick advice for free,” Sokol said. “It’s a good way to get new clients and to meet other local attorneys who want to help.”
Melanie Shakarian, the director of development and communications at The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, said that there are 85 attorneys on staff, as well as volunteers like Sokol, who work to provide these free services for Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Ashtabula and Lorain counties.
“A lot of people don’t realize that when they’re getting pro bono services from legal aid, we have a full-time staff,” Shakarian said. “We try to make sure people get the information they need when they need it, and we’re upfront and honest about what the process looks like so that people can make a decision about their own legal issue with the most information possible.”
To get in touch with a Legal Aid attorney, Shakarian recommends filling out an intake application through their website at lasclev.org, calling their office or visiting one of their free advice clinics at a local community center or library.
Whether assisting with a simple name change or dealing with a complicated domestic dispute, Sokol and Shakarian agreed when it comes to pro bono servicing, “it feels good to help.”
Source: Cleveland Jewish News - Pro bono services can assist those who can’t afford attorney