PBPO’s Nonprofit Legal Checkup Receives National Recognition
FREE LEGAL SERVICES FOR LOCAL NONPROFITS CELEBRATED DURING NATIONAL PRO BONO WEEK
Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio’s programming receives national award and local attorneys are honored for their pro bono work
Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio (PBPO) led the local celebration of National Pro Bono Week, from October 19 – 25. National Pro Bono Week is annually coordinated by the American Bar Association as an opportunity to call attention to the need for pro bono participation and to thank the attorneys who provide pro bono service.
PBPO recognized its cadre of 1,200 local attorney volunteers, who have helped provide over $13.8 million of legal services and education to local nonprofits, at no cost, since 2015. PBPO’s volunteers represent many of the region’s largest companies and firms.
One of PBPO’s 2025 programs, its Nonprofit Legal Checkup, received a national award on October 19 from the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC). The ACC Southwest Ohio Chapter and Thompson Hine served as presenting partners of this program that connected nine local nonprofits with 40 pro bono attorneys for one-on-one, free legal assessments. The Legal Checkup was selected for the Outstanding Chapter Achievement Award – Best Partnership Program, a recognition that celebrates the ACC Southwest Ohio Chapter’s leadership role in this this innovative, collaborative initiative. This video shares more about the award.
“Pro Bono Week gave us the opportunity to highlight the incredible impact of pro bono work in our region. Attorneys who commit to pro bono service with PBPO provide business legal services and education to nonprofits, at no cost, to help strengthen their operations. With our partner companies and firms, we have provided nearly $14 million in legal services to our region’s nonprofits,” said Erin Childs, PBPO President & CEO.
PBPO is currently seeking additional attorney volunteers to help respond to the heightened need for its services. The legal landscape in the U.S. is evolving and many of the changes are directly impacting nonprofit organizations. As the region’s only organization providing free business legal services and education to nonprofits, PBPO is serving as the go-to legal resource for the nonprofit community. In just the first half of 2025, PBPO addressed nearly 300 legal matters and is on pace to complete 600 projects this year—100 more than in 2024. To volunteer, please visit https://pbpohio.org/for-attorneys/.
ACC Southwest Ohio Chapter, Vice President and President Elect, Julie R.L. Herrmann (center) accepts the Best Partnership Program Award on October 19, 2025.
(L to R) Tiffany Reece Clark, President, ACC Southwest Ohio Chapter, Barkha Patel, PBPO Director of Education and Senior Counsel, and Erin Starkey, PBPO Senior Counsel, led the award-winning Legal Checkup programming in February 2025.
