Legal Aid Society 142 W. Center St. P.O. Box 6029 Marion, OH 43301 (740) 383-2161 (888) 301-2411 E-mail:  DSmith@columbuslegalaid.org Website:  www.columbuslegalaid.org Business Hours:  Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Contact:  Donald Smith What it does: The Legal Aid Society uses its legal skills and expertise to improve the quality of life for the poor and powerless.  It helps low-income residents and senior citizens in the areas of family law, government benefits, housing, consumer rights, and senior citizen legal issues.  These areas include loss or denial of governmental benefits including OWF, food stamps, medicaid, medicare, Social Security, SSI and unemployment compensation cases, evictions, foreclosures, lockouts, utility shutoffs, divorces, domestic violence, custody, visitation problems, consumer problems, wills, and more. Generally, clients must have income below 125% of the current official Federal Poverty Guideline or be at least 60 years old.  Legal Aid Society will provide legal assistance in civil cases to low-income individuals who cannot afford to hire an attorney, but does not handle criminal cases where an attorney would be appointed to clients.
Fast Facts:  In general, Legal Aid expects to have at least an 80% success rate in the cases it handles. Serves about 180 low-income residents a year in Union County. Has a staff of three fulltime attorneys, one part-time attorney, two fulltime paralegals, and two secretaries working in the Marion office. Though located in Marion, Legal Aid rents office space in Union County to meet with local clients and has a toll free number for clients to contact them.