Columbus, OH – On Thursday, The Buckeye Institute sent a proposed amendment to the Ohio Supreme Court to license legal paraprofessionals and help the more than 6.5 million Ohioans living in areas with an insufficient number of attorneys gain access to legal assistance and advice. 

“Chief Justice Kennedy has consistently acknowledged that Ohioans living in small communities and rural areas do not have easy access to qualified legal professionals who can help with basic legal needs,” said David C. Tryon, director of litigation at The Buckeye Institute. “The Buckeye Institute’s proposed amendment takes a crucial step toward addressing Ohio’s legal deserts.”

By licensing and regulating legal paraprofessionals, The Buckeye Institute’s proposed amendment 1) builds on the Rural Practice Incentive program and other initiatives championed by Chief Justice Kennedy; and 2) allows licensed legal paraprofessionals to perform limited legal tasks without attorney supervision in the areas of family, civil, criminal, administrative, and juvenile law. Furthermore, specific education, training, and examination requirements will ensure that legal paraprofessionals are well-prepared to carry out these tasks. The proposed amendment regulates legal paraprofessionals in a manner comparable to that of Ohio attorneys, thereby reducing the administrative burden of managing the program. 

Tryon continued, “By licensing legal paraprofessionals, as other states have done, the Supreme Court of Ohio can significantly enhance access to justice for Ohio’s most underserved communities.”

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