from Cleveland 19 News: Judge holds monthly pro-bono clinics to help with legal needs

By Vic Gideon

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - The legal process can be overwhelming but a judge has set up free legal help once a month for civil cases.

“They can be the most important issues ever that have to do with your kids, your finances, your home, driving privileges, all these issues that are non-criminal,” said Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Joan Synenberg.

Judge Synenberg holds a monthly pro bono legal clinic, bringing together attorneys, Legal Aid, and social service agencies in her courtroom to help people in need with expungement, driver’s license suspensions, collections, evictions/foreclosures, child support, and child/visitation.

Since 2018, she’s enlisted hundreds of attorneys to volunteer, like Corey Sparks of Benesh Friedlander.

“We have clients with custody issues, adoption, bankruptcy, rent issues, landlord-tenant, things like that so it’s a mixed bag and that’s what makes it exciting,” said Sparks.

The Pro Bono Collaborative provides help in civil matters to defendants who are already facing criminal charges in the court. Many of the clients are currently on one of the Court’s specialty dockets. They have to register in advance.

“Grateful, protected,” said restaurant owner Angela Sharpley about the help she received. “To know that the judges in our county still think about us is really assuring.”

The Pro Bono Collaborative got its start when Judge Synenberg noticed that clients in her Recovery Court drug court program needed attorney advice with legal issues beyond their criminal charges.

“These are people that really don’t have anywhere else to turn so if it’s not us, it’s probably no one,” said Sparks. “I’m going to feel wonderful. I’m going to walk out of here on a cloud.”

“We’re all about helping here. This is what we’re about, bringing every resource we can think about together here.,” said Synenberg. “Those lawyers are making a difference by helping clients with those non-criminal matters to move their lives forward.”

The Court’s Pro Bono Collaborative was previously honored with the Ohio State Bar Association’s Innovative Court Programs and Practices Award.

The next two monthly collaboratives are Friday, May 31 and Friday, June 28 at 9:30 a.m. Registration is required by emailing Raleigh O’Brien or calling (216) 443-8875.

Source: Cleveland 19 News - Judge holds monthly pro-bono clinics to help with legal needs