TOLEDO, Ohio - A new three-year initiative, Lawyers = Justice: A Northwest Ohio Legal Collaborative, aims to expand legal access for rural residents and create pathways for attorneys to build long-term practices in underserved communities. The collaborative brings together the Ohio State Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Foundation, University of Toledo College of Law, and Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit College of Law. Funding includes a $1.465 million grant from the Ohio State Bar Foundation, supplemented by in-kind contributions from the participating law schools and the Ohio Bar.
The initiative is the brainchild of Michelle L. Kranz, founding partner of Zoll & Kranz and former president of the Ohio State Bar Association. Kranz emphasized the stakes: "A legal problem can threaten a family's stability, a farm's future or a small business's survival, and those consequences do not become less serious because the nearest attorney is an hour away. This initiative addresses today's need for counsel while creating a real reason for young lawyers to put down roots in the communities they serve."
Lawyers = Justice will operate through clinic locations in Bowling Green and Lima. The University of Toledo will oversee the Bowling Green clinic, serving residents across Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Ottawa, and Wood counties. Ohio Northern will expand its existing Lima clinic to reach income-eligible residents of Allen, Auglaize, Hardin, Putnam, and Van Wert counties. Each year, the program plans to support four newly licensed attorney fellows as they develop sustainable private practices, while providing up to 40 law students with supervised, hands-on experience. Organizers project that combined efforts could expand legal access for approximately 720 people annually.
Residents will receive assistance with matters such as family law, estate planning, real estate, consumer protection, small-business concerns, criminal law, and agriculture-related issues. Fellows will also represent individuals who earn too much to qualify for legal aid but struggle to afford traditional legal fees.
The rural attorney shortage is a pressing issue: 78 of Ohio's 88 counties are classified as legal deserts, with fewer than one attorney per 1,000 residents. This shortage delays estate planning, complicates property transfers, and limits guidance in guardianship or custody matters. It also hampers farmers and landowners in navigating development, zoning, and environmental questions.
Kranz, a Wood County resident whose family raises beef cattle, understands these challenges firsthand. "Rural communities need lawyers who understand that a land-use decision, an estate plan and the future of a family operation may all be connected. Building that kind of trust takes time. By pairing practical service with training and mentorship, Lawyers = Justice gives new attorneys the opportunity to become part of the community rather than simply pass through it."
Recruitment of attorney fellows and law students is expected to begin in September 2026, with both clinics targeted to be fully staffed and operational later in the fall. The participating organizations have identified the initiative as a potential model for other Ohio regions facing comparable attorney shortages.
For more information about the collaborative, visit Ohio State Bar Association and University of Toledo College of Law.
