Community Legal Aid Services Hosts University of Pittsburgh Summer Associate

Ten law students from around the region, including Sarah McDermott from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law,  are spending their summer helping to provide free civil legal services to the low-income and elderly residents of Central Northeast Ohio.  Community Legal Aid’s summer associates program teaches law students about the overwhelming legal needs faced by the most vulnerable members of our communities and helps them to understand the responsibility which comes with practicing law: to ensure equal access to justice for everyone. 

The summer associates also provide a valuable resource for Legal Aid staff who are constantly faced with far more requests for assistance than they are funded to provide.  The summer associates work closely with Legal Aid attorneys, and have the opportunity to take part in training opportunities focused on poverty law.  Ms. McDermott is spending the summer working in the Special Populations division. “I sought this position because of my interest in the unique needs of senior citizens,” says McDermott. “I’m interested in elder law because of the close relationship I had with my grandparents. I’ve really enjoyed my experience this summer and would love the opportunity to be involved with Legal Aid in the future.”

“Our summer associates are an invaluable resource,” says Executive Director Sara Strattan. “They assist our attorneys and staff with a variety of tasks, allowing our attorneys to devote more time to more cases.  In the process, they are learning skills that will help them in their professional goals, and as advocates for less fortunate members of our community.”

Coordinator Rebekah Sullivan agrees, and says the goals of the program include “giving them hands-on legal experience that is rewarding and will prepare them to be skilled and caring attorneys in the near future.”

Legal Aid has been providing a wide range of legal services for those with nowhere else to turn for more than 50 years. Callers to our HelpLine receive advice and referrals on a wide range of legal issues. Legal representation is prioritized based upon the extent of available resources. Legal Aid staff members speak to community groups and provide training about poverty law issues.
       
Community Legal Aid receives generous financial support from the following organizations: The Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation, The Legal Services Corporation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, The Internal Revenue Service, United Ways of Greater Stark, Medina, Orrville Area, Portage, Summit, Trumbull and Wayne/ Holmes Counties, Area Agencies on Aging, 10b, District XI and Western Reserve, Departments of Job and Family Services in Columbiana (PRC), Mahoning (PRC), Portage (PRC), and Summit(PRC and Title XX) Counties, The City of Akron Community Services Program, the Akron Bar Association and Akron Bar Association Foundation, Equal Justice Works, the Wean Foundation, the Ohio Housing Trust Fund and donations from individuals, foundations and law firms throughout central northeast Ohio.