Pro bono work is a win-win for WCVGA, attorneys
The Wayne County Volunteer Guardianship Association is partnering with local attorneys to assist in its mission of providing volunteer guardians to a person who has been deemed incompetent and who does not have family or supportive others qualified to serve as guardian.
The Wayne County Volunteer Guardianship Association has obtained approval from the Ohio Supreme Court to offer continuing legal education credit for attorneys who perform pro bono services — another term for volunteer work — for the nonprofit organization. The Supreme Court requires attorneys complete 24 hours of continuing legal education each biennium or two-year period. The purpose of this requirement is to maintain and improve the quality of legal and judicial services in Ohio.
In order to encourage a spirit of volunteerism among attorneys, the Supreme Court rule requiring continuing legal education also makes provision for other means of obtaining credit including pro bono legal service, which means legal services provided either
to a person of limited means or to a charitable organization. The Ohio Supreme Court Commission allows one credit hour of continuing legal education for every six hours of pro bono legal services performed, with a maximum of six credit hours for service performed during a biennial compliance period. Service is approved provided the legal service is assigned, verified and reported to the commission.
The WCVGA is excited to be able to partner with local attorneys to assist in its mission of providing volunteer guardians to a person who has been deemed incompetent and who does not have family or supportive others qualified to serve as guardian. When that situation arises, the Probate Court can appoint a volunteer who has been background checked, screened, and trained to step in and provide this needed service. All costs of the screening, training and application process are provided by the organization.
Local attorneys can now assist the organization through this new program by providing legal support to guardians as needed, serving as guardians themselves on more complicated cases that a traditional volunteer may not be as equipped to handle, and by helping assist in fielding questions and concerns guardians may have throughout their tenure as guardians. For their assistance with this program, attorneys can now earn continuing legal education credits for their pro bono service.
Additionally, for attending an upcoming training sponsored by the WCVGA, West View Healthy Living and the GIVE365 Fund of the Wayne County Community Foundation, attorneys can earn three hours of free continuing legal education including one credit in professionalism conduct. The training event also provides three hours of general guardianship training, thereby meeting the annual training requirement for all guardians including nonattorney volunteer guardians.
The training event will be held Oct. 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Connections Conference Center, which is part of West View Healthy Living, 1715 Mechanicsburg Road, Wooster. A complimentary breakfast will be provided. The event is free of charge to all attendees. The training is open to any guardian and/or attorney who needs to fulfill their continuing education obligation or to anyone who just wants to learn more about guardianship issues.
If interested in exploring this role or to attend the free training event, call or email the WCVGA at 330-465-2444 or waynecvga@gmail.com. Also, check the organization’s Facebook page or visit www.waynecountyguardianship.org.