In a state where 78 of 88 counties are classified as legal deserts, a new collaborative effort is launching to bridge the gap between rural residents and legal representation. Lawyers = Justice: A Northwest Ohio Legal Collaborative, a three-year initiative supported by four Ohio legal institutions, will place attorney fellows and law students in two clinics to serve residents across 10 counties.
The collaborative, announced today, 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. 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, will fund the program.
Michelle L. Kranz, founding partner of Zoll & Kranz and former president of the Ohio State Bar Association, is a key supporter. "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," she said. "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."
The program will operate through clinic locations in Bowling Green and Lima. The University of Toledo will oversee the Bowling Green clinic, serving residents in 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 in the region, while providing up to 40 law students with supervised, hands-on experience. Organizers project that the combined efforts could expand legal access for approximately 720 people annually.
Residents will receive assistance with matters affecting daily life, including family law, estate planning, real estate, consumer protection, small-business concerns, criminal law, and agriculture-related issues. Fellows will also provide representation to individuals who earn too much to qualify for legal aid but struggle to afford traditional legal fees.
Kranz, who resides in Wood County and raises beef cattle, understands the unique challenges of rural Ohio. "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," she said. "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."
The shortage of attorneys in rural areas has far-reaching implications, delaying estate planning, complicating property transfers, and limiting guidance on guardianship or custody matters. It also affects farmers and landowners navigating development, zoning, and environmental questions.
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 shortages.
For more information about the collaborative, visit the Zoll & Kranz website or the Ohio State Bar Foundation's site. The initiative represents a proactive step toward ensuring that all Ohioans, regardless of geography, have access to legal representation.
