Nonprofit Legal Education Series Going Strong in Central Ohio
On April 29, ACC Central Ohio Chapter, United Way of Central Ohio (UWCO), Barnes & Thornburg*†, and CPBO co-hosted the third in a series of free legal education programs for nonprofits, which the co-hosts developed as a supplement to CPBO’s Clinic in a Box® program.
The topic of discussion included leases and other real estate issues. Presenters Laing P. Akers, of counsel, Barnes & Thornburg; Janice L. Gresko, managing counsel, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company**; Jason Kirkham, senior counsel, real estate & procurement, Exel Inc.; Paul Nesbitt, senior corporation counsel, American Cancer Society, Inc.; and Kate Steffy, assistant general counsel, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, provided important information on legal issues related to tenant rights and obligations, insurance, landlord and tenant defaults and remedies, financing, and more. Following the presentation, interested attendees met with volunteer attorneys who provided brief advice on real estate matters specific to their organizations.
When developing this series, the co-hosts understood that their efforts would bring needed assistance to nonprofit organizations unable to afford legal services. The series has also benefited the co-hosts. According to ACC Central Ohio Chapter Pro Bono Committee Co-chair Eric Henricks, the program “is drawing in some volunteers that may not be as closely involved with the ACC chapter, and allows them to be more closely connected to the chapter. It allows those volunteers to be an expert in a different setting, which supports career growth.” Bill Nolan, managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg LLP’s Ohio office, adds “We continue to enjoy playing a small part in this great collaboration to educate Central Ohio nonprofits on legal issues of importance to them. The program supplements direct pro bono service efforts by strengthening the organizations that directly provide services, and is a good way to get more of our lawyers involved in pro bono and community efforts.”
Once again, The PBEye congratulates the co-hosts on a successful program and looks forward to reporting on future installments in the series! In-house pro bono leaders interested in co-hosting a Clinic in a Box® program or developing a legal education or similar program should contact CPBO Director Eve Runyon.
