COLUMBUS, Ohio – A new three-year initiative aims to address the critical shortage of attorneys in rural Ohio, where 78 of the state's 88 counties are classified as legal deserts, having fewer than one attorney per 1,000 residents. The collaborative, named Lawyers = Justice: A Northwest Ohio Legal Collaborative, is designed to expand legal access for rural residents and create pathways for attorneys to build sustainable practices in underserved communities.
Announced on August 3, 2026, the initiative 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.
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. 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," Kranz said.
The collaborative will operate through two clinic locations: one in Bowling Green, overseen by the University of Toledo, serving residents across Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Ottawa, and Wood counties; and an expanded clinic in Lima, overseen by Ohio Northern, reaching 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 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 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.
Kranz, a Wood County resident whose family raises beef cattle, has direct familiarity with rural issues. "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," she said.
The shortage has wide-ranging impacts, from delayed estate planning and complicated property transfers to limited guidance in guardianship or custody matters and restricted ability for farmers to navigate 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 by fall. The participating organizations see this initiative as a potential model for other Ohio regions facing similar shortages.
For more information about the initiative, visit the Zoll & Kranz website.
