To assist Ohioans with their legal needs, attorneys gave 112,000 hours of their time last year at no charge.

That’s more than $28 million in donated legal services for people of limited means in Ohio.

The numbers for 2025 reflect a continuing climb in the hours and value of legal expertise that attorneys are providing to help the public in cases involving civil matters. In 2024, attorneys reported 86,161 hours of pro bono, amounting to $21.5 million of free legal services.

The time contributed in 2025 breaks down to an average of 2,153 hours delivered every week by attorneys.

“Attorneys who perform pro bono provide legal services to help everyday Ohioans who would otherwise not be able to afford legal help,” said Sophia Chang, pro bono director for the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation (OAJF). “With only around 300 legal aid attorneys to serve almost 2 million Ohioans who qualify for the services, attorneys who volunteer their time are critical for narrowing this access to justice gap.”

The 2025 data is part of a report from OAJF, summarizing the results of the most recent annual attorney survey it conducted jointly with the Supreme Court of Ohio. The survey asks attorneys whether they volunteer their legal services in civil cases, how much time they commit to pro bono work, and what types of cases they handle. The survey for 2025 garnered responses from 4,528 attorneys – a substantial increase compared to 2024.

Attorneys are also asked about financial contributions they made to assist in the delivery of needed civil legal services. The dollars donated in 2025 reached $1.73 million, about $548,000 more than the year before.

Among the types of cases attorneys assisted with, “corporate/nonprofit” led the list at 14%. These cases encompass assisting nonprofit organizations with steps to incorporate, new federal requirements, and employment matters. Also near the top were legal issues regarding family law (12%), housing (10%), and immigration (10%).

How to Find Pro Bono Opportunities
Attorneys interested in options for volunteering their legal services to help others can turn to Pro Bono Ohio. The OAJF platform, launched in 2025, offers a central spot for attorneys to explore opportunities based on their interests and location. In its first year, more than 2,400 people visited the site, and most of the attorneys who indicated an interest in volunteering via the site have never donated their legal services before. The possibilities can be sorted by practice area, type of representation, and time commitment. They include volunteering in person at a monthly brief advice clinic, taking a case for full representation, or signing up with an organization that connects attorneys to clients virtually.

Current listings include assisting with legal issues on workforce and reentry, families and children, consumers and debt, and several other areas.

For organizations looking for volunteer attorneys, Pro Bono Ohio makes it simple to post opportunities. Legal aid and civil legal service organizations can list openings on the site and seamlessly track and manage volunteer activity.

Chang points out the gratifying upsides for attorneys when giving assistance pro bono for clients in need.

“Volunteering gives attorneys opportunities to learn new areas of law, fulfill their professional duty, and help their fellow Ohioans achieve safe and stable lives,” she said.