Civil Litigation Clinic Expands Services

Akron, Ohio, Oct. 12, 2006 - The Civil Litigation Clinic at The University of Akron has expanded its services to include domestic relations and is now assisting low-income clients with divorce cases that do not involve children.

All clients must be referred to the clinic by Community Legal Aid Services Inc. and meet legal aid eligibility requirements. Low-income prospective clients may call 800-998-9454 to determine eligibility for services.

UA law students who already have or who are eligible for an internship certificate from the Ohio Supreme Court provide the legal assistance. This certificate is granted to students who have completed at least two-thirds of their law school credits and allows the students to work for a public agency under the direct supervision of an attorney.
Students working in the Civil Litigation Clinic are supervised by Civic Litigation Clinic Director William Rickett.

The Civil Litigation Clinic opened last year with the purpose of representing low-income tenants. To date, UA law students have completed more than 50 full cases that involved court actions and have provided countless consultations.

"We are happy with a successful first year and are looking forward to expanding our outreach to persons needing assistance with domestic relations issues," says Rickett. "We are starting with simple divorce cases and hope to expand to other domestic relations issues."

According to Sara Strattan, Community Legal Aid Services executive director, the clinic increases the resources of Legal Aid and helps provide services to people that Legal Aid might otherwise have to turn away.

"We are very impressed with the caliber of University of Akron law students and are grateful for the work that they do," says Strattan. "It also is wonderful that the school recognizes the importance of lawyers volunteering their time. Programs such as the Civil Litigation Clinic create a culture of pro bono representation that hopefully will last throughout the careers of these lawyers."

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