Dinsmore & Shohl Attorneys Lend a Helping Hand to Volunteer Lawyers for the Poor Project

June 4, 2008

Dinsmore & Shohl and the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati both celebrate their 100^th anniversaries this year and are marking the occasion by donating their time and resources to the Volunteer Lawyers for the Poor Project. Dinsmore & Shohl recently agreed to handle all of Legal Aid's expungements for Hamilton County, which will relieve much of the burden the Legal Aid Society faces from the growing number of criminal record expungements its clients seek.

Mark Vander Laan, Chair of Dinsmore & Shohl's Litigation Department spoke highly of the program. "Dinsmore & Shohl has worked closely with Legal Aid since its inception. The Volunteer Lawyers Project has provided the firm with many opportunities to assist Legal Aid clients over the years. Our lawyers come away from these opportunities with a wealth of professional development experience while at the same time, our clients receive a significant benefit in the form of knowledgeable pro-bono counsel. VLP fills a valuable niche in the community."

The Volunteer Lawyers for the Poor Project was established in 1982 through the joint effort of the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Bar Association. It now serves Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren Counties. The Volunteer Lawyers Project provides legal services to low-income citizens, linking private attorneys with indigent clients.

The Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati will celebrate their 100^th anniversary with a festive dinner program at the Hyatt Regency on June 27^th. Dinsmore & Shohl recently marked their 100 year milestone with a $100,000 contribution and volunteer commitment to nine Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliates in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.