GREATER DAYTON VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT

The Greater Dayton Volunteer Lawyers Project (GDVLP) is proud to be at the center of pro bono legal services in our community – together, we are DaytonStrong. You have always given your time, talent and treasure to low-income individuals facing challenging circumstances. Last year you dug deep, as many of you assisted survivors of the Memorial Day tornados and then the Oregon District shooting. In 2020, despite personal and professional challenges navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, you have again proven your dedication to help those in our community in their darkest hours.

The VLP’s mission is to provide “innovative opportunities for attorneys to perform pro bono civil legal services to benefit persons with limited financial resources.” This year, we have woven into our mission our commitment to ensuring the safety of volunteers, staff, and clients in the provision of pro bono legal services. The GDVLP has thrived historically when large groups of people are in our offices or at a remote location connecting volunteers, clients and staff to engage in service delivery. The days of providing services in this manner came to a halt at the beginning of the pandemic and we suspect we will not return to this model of service delivery in the foreseeable future.

The community benefits because we make the focus on you, our volunteers, by developing pro bono initiatives tailored to your interests. Want to use the talents you use in your daily practice, and extend it to the pro bono community? Or are you looking for mentorship and support as you learn about a new area of the law? Do you prefer to take on individual clients, whether in litigation or non-litigation matters, and in particular areas of the law? Are you looking for courtroom experience, in a comfortable and supported environment? Whatever your interest and availability, we have pro bono opportunities suited to you in our seven county service area that includes Montgomery, Greene, Clark, Darke, Miami, Champaign and Preble counties. Here are just a few of the opportunities available:

1. Domestic Relations.

Attorneys looking for courtroom experience but without the technology and firm resources should consider this option. VLP staff paralegal Kathy Miller takes care of client scheduling and communications, and produces all paperwork. Kathy takes care of filing, service of process, and producing final decrees. In Montgomery County, the Court schedules all of your clients sequentially on the same morning for efficiency. Our protocols focus on uncontested divorces but should a matter become contested, it is your decision whether to continue representation or have us engage replacement counsel.

2. Bankruptcy.

VLP only assists with Chapter 7 bankruptcies and staff paralegal Sharon Igli acts as your paralegal throughout the process, similar to our handling of divorce matters. Opportunities are also available for nonattorneys to interview clients about their debts and preparing petitions for filing by attorneys.

3. Debt Collection Defense.

Attorney volunteers “triage” client needs and then paraprofessional volunteers generate pro se paperwork or letters the clients can use to handle creditors.

4. Employment Matters.

Provide counsel and advice remotely and if a client has claims to pursue, you decide whether to represent the individual or we assign replacement counsel.

5. Probate Matters. As with employment matters, you work with clients remotely to assess strategy. If appropriate, you provide ongoing services after the initial consultation.

By Kelly A. Henrici Esq. Executive Director, GDVLP kelly@gdvlp.org 937.461.3857

6. Wills/Advance Directives.

Using our standard forms and with staff assistance, you can help low income seniors have peace of mind that comes from having these important documents.

7. Individual Representation.

Opportunities are available in a wide variety of subject areas such as foreclosure, guardianship (ward only), breach of contract and tort claims.

Our volunteers tell us all the time they get great satisfaction out of helping low income individuals with matters that give them physical, emotional and financial security and well-being. If you encounter a difficult client while providing services, we’ll have your back and together figure out a strategy to make the situation right.

While most of you get enough satisfaction from the act of volunteering, the Ohio Supreme Court lets you get one hour of CLE for every six hours served through the GDVLP, up to six CLE credits per biennium. And please know that our malpractice coverage covers your efforts, and is primary if you are already covered.

We are so extremely grateful to our volunteers in 2020. You, too, are navigating troubled waters in a COVID world yet you are carving out time to serve those less fortunate. The American Bar Association has designated October as Celebrate Pro Bono month and with everything our community has experienced this year, it is the perfect time to celebrate you, our volunteers, and thank you for all you do and will continue to do through the GDVLP. Thanks to generous support from the Eichelberger Foundation, your GDVLP has a special surprise for anyone volunteering in 2020!!

Dayton Bar Foundation

Help Build Our Foundation.

The Dayton Bar Foundation (DBF) is the charitable giving arm of the Greater Dayton Legal Community. Your contribution will enable the DBF to continue to fulfill its mission of funding innovative local organizations in their quest to improve our community by promoting equal access to justice and respect for the law. In the past few years your contributions helped to fund grants to: - Greater Dayton Volunteer Lawyers Project (GDVLP) - Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE) - Legal Aid of Western Ohio (LAWO) - Life Essentials Guardianship Program - Law & Leadership Institute - Wills for Heroes

University of Dayton School of Law

Write, Call or Email: Jennifer Otchy, Chief Executive Officer Dayton Bar Foundation 600 Performance Place 109 N. Main Street Dayton, Ohio 45402 Phone: (937) 222-7902 Email: jotchy@daybar.org

109 N. Main St., Suite 600 Dayton, OH 45402–1129 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

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