In a state where 78 of 88 counties are classified as legal deserts, a new collaborative aims to bridge the gap between rural residents and legal representation. Lawyers = Justice: A Northwest Ohio Legal Collaborative, launched with support from Zoll & Kranz founding partner Michelle L. Kranz, is a three-year initiative designed to expand legal access in rural communities while creating pathways for attorneys to establish long-term practices in underserved areas.
The collaborative brings together the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Foundation, the 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. This investment underscores the severity of the problem: across Ohio, 78 of 88 counties have fewer than one attorney per 1,000 residents, leaving many without access to essential legal services.
"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," said Kranz, former president of the Ohio State Bar Association. "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 two clinic locations: one in Bowling Green and one in Lima. The University of Toledo will oversee the Bowling Green clinic, serving residents across 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 working alongside rural clients. Organizers project that the combined efforts of the clinics and fellows could expand legal access for approximately 720 people annually.
Residents are expected to receive assistance with matters that affect 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 face difficulty covering traditional legal fees.
Kranz, who served as president of the Ohio State Bar Association from 2023 to 2024 and currently holds a trustee position with the Ohio State Bar Foundation, has direct familiarity with the challenges of rural Northwest Ohio. As a Wood County resident whose family raises beef cattle, she understands the people, businesses, and land-use concerns that define the region. The shortage of attorneys reaches beyond courtroom access; it can delay estate planning, complicate property transfers, leave families without guidance in guardianship or custody matters, and limit the ability of farmers and landowners to navigate development, zoning, and environmental questions.
"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," Kranz 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."
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 also identified the initiative as a potential model for other Ohio regions facing comparable attorney shortages. More information about the initiative and its partners can be found through the Ohio State Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Foundation.
