Your free Smart Money Choices Conference is coming soon!  Have you reserved your spot for this exciting personal finance seminar?

Where: the Akron/Canton Smart Money Choices Conference will take place at Quaker Square Inn – University of Akron, 135 S. Broadway St. Akron, Ohio 44308. 

Registration: RSVPs are requested. To RSVP, please call 1-800-228-1102 or visit www.ohiotreasurer.gov. Registration for the morning session begins at 7:30am and registration for the afternoon session begins at 12:30pm. 

What: Morning and evening sessions, taught by trained professionals, include:
•         Credit and debt management
•         Social Security
•         Retirement planning
•         Consumer Protection
•         Insurance

There will also be panel discussions on relevant financial topics to kick off the morning and afternoon sessions. Legal Aid Attorney, Tim Kozlowski, will be participating in the morning panel discussion on the hot topics of credit card laws and predatory lending.

To see a full schedule for of sessions for the day, click here.

For more information or to RSVP today, please call 1-800-228-1102 or visit www.ohiotreasurer.gov.   Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!                                                                                     

Community Legal Aid is proud to announce that 16 local law students have joined the firm as 2010 Summer Associates. During the 10-12 week session the Summer Associates will have the opportunity to experience first hand the power of the law to create positive change in the lives of low-income people throughout central northeast Ohio. The program emphasizes the responsibility which comes with practicing law - to ensure equal access to justice for everyone. 

The Summer Associates include seven students from The University of Akron, School of Law: Kassim Ahmed, Devin Capece, Barbara Fernandez, Emily Gerber, Angelina Gingo, Patrick Kelleher, and Kelsey Resnick. Six students from Case Western Reserve University, School of Law are also part of the program: Meagan Bielanin, Mark Brncik, Bridjette Brown, Serena Coppula, Julia Kazmers, and Hilary Kozma. They will be joined by two students from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University: Aaron Bernstein, and Mary Santez. Kayce Kasten of Ohio Northern University College of Law will also be spending his summer at Legal Aid.

The Summer Associates will work at Legal Aid’s Akron and Youngstown offices and have the opportunity to work closely with Legal Aid attorneys in areas such as foreclosure, housing, bankruptcy, immigration, tax, family, and consumer law as well as be involved in community education, the successful Municipal Court Project where they will assist low-income holders of credit card debt and provide support to the Volunteer Legal Services Program (VLSP.) Summer Associates will also have the opportunity to meet with local judges and community leaders to learn first hand about the needs of the most vulnerable members of our communities. Confirmed speakers include Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio of Summit County Juvenile Court and Joann Sahl, Clinician and Director of the Trial Team Program at The University of Akron School of Law
.

When asked about why they chose to spend their summer with Legal Aid, the Summer Associates have a common desire: to put what they have learned at school to use helping the least fortunate members of the community. “I am originally from Akron,” says associate Mark Brncik “and I am looking forward to contributing to the community while also getting legal experience this summer.” Bridjette Brown echoes Mr. Brncik’s commitment to community. “I grew up in the inner-city, and I am looking forward to using my legal training to educate people about their opportunities, and help them use the law to achieve their goals for themselves and their families.” Kassim Ahmen considers himself an advocate for the poor, and is looking forward to “empowering those without a voice and in need. The Summer Associate program at Legal Aid gives me an opportunity to make a real difference in peoples lives.”

“We are excited to have our 2010 Summer Associates join us,” says Legal Aid Executive Director Sara Strattan. “Throughout the summer the Associates will not only assist our attorneys and staff with a variety of tasks, but also have the opportunity to learn professional skills and become advocates for those in need.”

*2010 Community Legal Aid Summer Associates featured from left to right:

Front Row: Kayce Kasten, Serena Coppula, Julia Kazmers, Emily Gerber, Kassim Ahmed, Angelina Gingo, Mary Santez and Bridjette Brown.

Back Row: Mark Brncik, Aaron Bernstein, Barbara Fernandez, Meagan Bielanin, Devin Capece, Patrick Kelleher, Kelsey Resnick and Hilary Kozma

Registration for these trainings is now closed.

If you have already registered and would like to confirm your registration, or need information about the trainings, please read the information below or contact Alex at 330.983.2513. Please do not call with late registrations.

Legal Aid is offering FREE day long trainings for social workers in each of our eight counties (Columbiana, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, and Wayne Counties). Community Legal Aid is an Approved Provider for 6.5 clock hours CPE credit for Social Workers. Provider # MSX061007.

Legal Issues Facing Transitional Workers will address a number of legal issues that low income people are encountering as their income sources fluctuate or disappear during this economic downturn. Legal Aid attorneys will present information on the legal issues of foreclosure, loss mitigation, bankruptcy, the social security application process, and health care reform. This information will enable social workers to refer clients to appropriate legal assistance. The day will end with Litigation Bootcamp, which is a program designed to empower social workers with legal skills pertinent to their day to day work, such as how to prepare for court, how to respond to discovery, and how to maintain client confidentiality.

This CPE training is being offered FREE OF CHARGE to all social workers in Columbiana, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, and Wayne Counties. However, please note that lunch will not be provided.

If you have questions about this CPE training, please contact Alex Schmitt at 330.983.2513 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Presentation Schedule [The presentation schedule will be the same at every location/date.]

Columbiana County

When: Tuesday, June 1st, 2010, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Where: Columbiana Public Library, 322 North Middle Street, Columbiana, OH 44408 (Map)

Mahoning County

When: Thursday, June 3rd, 2010,  9:00am - 5:00 pm

Where: The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Main Branch, 305 Wick Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44503 (Map)

Medina County

When: Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010 9:00 am- 5:00 pm

Where: Medina County District Library, Medina Branch, 210 Broadway Street, Medina, OH 44256

Portage County

When: Friday, June 4th, 2010, 9:00 am- 5:00 pm

Where: Reed Memorial Library, 167 West Main Street, Ravenna, OH 44266 (Map)

Stark County

When: Friday, June 11th, 2010, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Where: United Way of Greater Stark County, 4825 Higbee Avenue NW, Canton, OH 44718 (Map)

Summit County

When: Thursday, June 10th, 2010, 9:00 am- 5:00 pm

Where: Akron-Summit County Public Library, Main Branch, 60 South High Street, Akron, OH 44308 (Map)

Trumbull County

When: Tuesday, June 8th, 2010, 9:00 am- 5:00 pm

Where: City of Warren Community Services Building, Large Conference Room, 418 Main Street SW, Warren, OH 44483 (Map)

Wayne County

When: Wednesday, June 9th, 2010, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Where: Wayne County Public Library, Main Branch, 220 West Liberty Street, Wooster, OH 44691 (Map)

If you have questions about these upcoming CPE trainings, or other community education events, please contact Alex Schmitt at 330.983.2513 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Akron Lawyer's Free Advice Clinic

What: A free, walk-in clinic for residents of Summit County. Volunteer lawyers will be on site to provide free, confidential legal advice in a variety of areas of law. Throughout the day, informational presentations will be offered a a wide range of legal topics (see schedule below).

When: Monday, May 3, 2010, from 9 am-12pm and 1pm - 4pm

Where: The Job Center, 1040 E. Tallmadge Ave., Akron, OH 44310 (Map)

Registration: No registration is necessary. This is a walk-in clinic. Clients may arrive starting at 8:30 am.

Questions?: Call The Volunteer Legal Services Program at 877-401-0088

This clinic is sponsored by Community Legal Aid, The Akron Bar Association, and Russell M. Pry, Summit County Executive. Other participating agencies include: Open M, The Job Center, the University of Akron, Summit County 2-1-1, Haven of Rest, Summit County Prosecutor's Office, AMHA, Office of Consumer Affairs, Mature Services, and the Social Security Administration.

Akron Sidebar Event - Join Community Legal Aid at the Akron Bar Association on Thursday, April 29th from 5-7pm to kick off Law Week!

What: Cinco de Mayo themed Sidebar event to celebrate our volunteers and kick off Law Week with an evening of networking, hors d' oeuvres, drinks, and more!

When: Thursday, April 29th, 2010, from 5:00 -7:00 p.m.

Where: Akron Bar Association, 57 South Broadway Street, Akron, OH 44308

Questions?: Contact Margaret Lazzerini at 330.983.2643 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

2010 Jammin' For Justice

What: Join Community Legal Aid and the Akron Bar Association for a lively night of free food, drinks, exciting raffles, and a music showdown between local bands. The proceeds of the concert will benefit the pro bono legal service programs of Community Legal Aid and The Akron Bar Association. For more information visit the Akron Bar Association website.

When: Friday, May 7th, 2010, 6:00- 10:00 p.m.

Where: Musica, 51 E. Market Street, Akron, OH

Ticket cost: $15 per person or 2 for $25. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, Musica, or the Akron Bar. Cl Association.

Questions?: Contact Margaret Lazzerini at 330.983.2643 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Canton Repository recently printed this article detailing the plight of Minerva trailer park residents in danger of losing their homes and the efforts of Legal Aid Attorney Dawn Spriggs to preserve the park.

Click here to see the original article or read on below.

Minerva Trailer Park Residents Fear Losing Their Homes
MINERVA —
Looking back, the first sign of trouble may have been when workers hired to chop down the diseased trees in the neighborhood abruptly walked away last summer, leaving heaps of branches behind.

They said they never got paid.

Then the on-site repairman for Minerva Hillside Terraces stopped making repairs. And the mobile home park’s owner, David Audino, didn’t come around as often — then he wasn’t around at all.

But for the residents living in the 20 homes in the mobile home park, their concerns amounted to neighborhood gossip and rumors. Until late October, when the village of Minerva threatened to shut off their water Dec. 1.

Audino, who has owned the park since 2001, had stopped paying the water and sewer bills for the park at 15571 Lincoln St. SE. He owed the village more than $7,000 in past-due charges.

And it wasn’t the only bill Audino didn’t pay. Within months, the park faced foreclosure and county health officials deemed it a public health nuisance.

Residents, most of whom are elderly and live on fixed incomes, felt helpless and a bit angry that Audino abandoned them.

Check out these two recent articles, printed in The Vindicator, about the continuing foreclosure crisis and Legal Aid's efforts to assist families in saving their homes

"I hope they have a heart"  - Legal Aid foreclosure attorneys work to save a disabled Youngstown woman's home.

Facing Foreclosure - As the number of foreclosures in northeast Ohio increases, Legal Aid attorneys strive to provide relief before foreclosures are filed.