Free Legal Help for Tenants and Landlords in Ohio

Legal aid organizations, right-to-counsel programs and official court self-help resources in Ohio, gathered from the state, county and city pages on this site.

Right to a free lawyer in eviction cases

Statewide: No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases. Ohio Rev. Code ch. 1923 (no counsel provision)

• Cuyahoga County (Cleveland): Cleveland Housing Court FAQ: if the court determines you cannot afford an attorney (in matters where the right applies), the court will arrange appointed counsel at no cost; tell the judge at the start of the hearing. The City of Cleveland's eviction right-to-counsel program is a city program (see city page). Source
• Akron: Pilot program (since Sept. 15, 2025): Community Legal Aid represents eligible Akron tenants. Priority goes to households at or below 100% of the federal poverty level with children, then to people 60 or older with a disability. Source
• Cincinnati: Partial. The Access to Counsel Pilot Program (CMC Ch. 868, Ord. 416-2023) offers brief advice or full representation to tenants at or below 60% of area median income who face an eviction filing or have received a notice to leave in the past 60 days. Tenants are ineligible if they received program rental assistance in the prior 12 months. It is a funded pilot, not a guaranteed right. Source
• Cleveland: Yes, for tenants in Cleveland Housing Court eviction cases with household income at or below 100% of the federal poverty line and at least one child in the household. Source
• Columbus: No guaranteed right to counsel. The city funds the Legal Aid Society of Columbus Tenant Advocacy Project to represent tenants at eviction court (for example, $1.5 million under Ord. 2089-2023). Tenants are screened for eligibility at court. Source
• Toledo: Yes, city-funded (Ord. 418-21): Legal Aid of Western Ohio represents eligible Toledo tenants facing eviction, reported as at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Funding was reported to be reduced in 2026. Source

Free legal aid organizations

• The Legal Aid Society of Columbus — Civil legal aid for low-income residents of central Ohio; check eligibility.
  Serves: Franklin County (Columbus)
• Franklin County Municipal Court Self Help Resource Center — Court self-help center (information, not representation).
  Serves: Franklin County (Columbus)
• The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland — Linked by Cleveland Housing Court; free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents.
  Serves: Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), Lake County
• Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio — Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents; check eligibility.
  Serves: Hamilton County (Cincinnati), Butler County (Hamilton, Middletown, Fairfield), Clermont County, Warren County
• Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE) / Legal Aid of Western Ohio — Regional legal aid with a Greater Dayton office; check eligibility.
  Serves: Montgomery County (Dayton)
• Community Legal Aid — Legal advice and representation for qualifying clients (listed by Akron Municipal Court).
  Serves: Summit County (Akron), Stark County (Canton, Massillon, Alliance), Mahoning County (Youngstown)
• Legal Aid of Western Ohio (LAWO) — Linked from the Toledo clerk's eviction page; also UT College of Law Legal Clinic (419) 530-4236 and Toledo Bar modest-means program.
  Serves: Lucas County (Toledo), Wood County
• Legal Aid Society of Cleveland — Serves Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Lorain counties. Elyria office: 1530 West River Road North, Suite 301 (440-324-1121); walk-in intake Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Intake by phone 888-817-3777 or online.
  Serves: Lorain County (Elyria, Lorain)
• Community Legal Aid - Warren Office — 160 E Market St., Suite 225, Warren, OH 44481; 330.535.4191. Staffed offices open weekdays 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-4:30 p.m. Serves eight northeast Ohio counties including Trumbull.
  Serves: Trumbull County
• Community Legal Aid Services — Serves eight northeast Ohio counties including Portage; Ravenna outreach location at 250 S. Chestnut St., Ravenna, OH 44266; phone 330-535-4191 or toll-free 1-866-584-2350.
  Serves: Portage County
• Legal Aid of Western Ohio (LAWO) - Springfield office — 20 S. Limestone St., Ste. 220, Springfield, OH 45502; intake (877) 894-4599.
  Serves: Clark County
• Legal Aid (listed by Richland County Probate Court) — The Richland County Probate Court's local contacts list gives Legal Aid at 888-534-1432.
  Serves: Richland County

Find a tenant or eviction lawyer in Ohio

If you do not qualify for free legal aid, a bar lawyer referral service can match you with a landlord-tenant lawyer for a low-cost first consultation.

• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Lawyer Referral & Information Service (Cleveland area)
  The referral and the initial phone consultation with the attorney are free.

Official court and state resources

• Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5321 (Landlords and Tenants)
• Ohio Revised Code § 1923.04 (Notice to leave premises)
• Supreme Court of Ohio - Access to Justice / eviction resources

Legal aid groups set their own eligibility rules (usually income-based). Call ahead or check their site.

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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.