[Above] At the Legal Help Center in Northern Kentucky with SupremeCourt of Kentucky Justice Michelle M. Keller, center, and Glenda Harrison,executive director of the Kentucky Access to Justice Commission, right, are then-Chasestudents and 2025 graduates Charles Bilott, left, and Chloe Lorenzen, and,right, alumnus Aaron Osborne.
While the legal help centers for prose litigants in Kentucky are a commonwealth-wide program of the Supreme Courtof Kentucky, the center in Northern Kentucky has a significant connection to Chase College of Law. The three centers – based in Lexington, Louisville and Covington – are the creation of the Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission, chaired by Justice Michelle M. Keller, a Chase alumna, and the Covington center utilizes Chase students from the college’s pro bono program and Chase alumni among its overall lineup of volunteers.
“When interviewed after the opening of our first Legal Help Center in Fayette County [Lexington] in 2022, I stated that the concept of these centers would be a ‘game changer’ for access to justice in the commonwealth,” Justice Keller recalls.“Since that time, we have opened additional help centers in Louisville and Covington. Not only have we provided access to our courts for 5,000 Kentuckians, but we have assisted our judges and clerks, who have often been overwhelmed with the processing of legal matters for so many unrepresented litigants.
“This has been asuccessful partnership with our local attorneys, judges, clerks, law schools andKentucky’s four civil legal services organizations.”
Within the Chaseconnection in Northern Kentucky are alumnus Aaron Osborne and students LoganVoges, Jennifer Holt and others who volunteer through the college’s pro bonoprogram.
“Each visit to thehelp center is different, and each patron’s needs are different,” says Mr.Osborne, an associate in the firm of O’Hara, Taylor, Sloan, Cassidy, Beck. “Youmight assist with a straightforward divorce petition one moment and then helpsomeone navigate a complex pro se case the next. Regardless of the issues thepatrons face, we’re always able to provide clarity, direction and real help tosomeone who needs it.”
The experience hasbeen similar for Ms. Voges, who will graduate in 2027: “On the very first day Ihad to help a few people file for divorce, which involved filling out forms.Each person who comes to the courthouse seeking legal assistance brings aunique experience. I have worked with people who needed help finishing theirprobate forms, helped on name changes, even child custody agreements.”
For Ms. Holt, whowill graduate in 2026, the center has provided something of an on-ramp to afuture practice. “Many things I've learned at Chase have applied to thisexperience. Being able to apply writing skills to actual motions to helpclients was very impactful.”
The benefits forcenter clients and student volunteers are exactly what Justice Keller anticipated.
“As a proud Chasealumna, I want everyone to know that our law students have stepped up tovolunteer at the legal help centers in unprecedented numbers. The response fromour Chase students has been outstanding, but most importantly, I canconfidently say that the experience has been incredibly valuable to thesestudents.They are learning critical skills, such as effective clientinterviewing, pleading drafting and problem solving.”
Along with in-person assistance, the centersalso haveguided interviews that allow self-represented litigants to answer a series ofquestions and create ready-to-file pleadings, says Glenda Harrison, executive director of the Access to Justice Commissionand a Chase alumna.
“The most common issues on which patrons at the centers seekassistance are family law, including dissolution of marriage, childcustodyand child support, expungements, small claims court cases, probateof small estates and, currently, name changes to address Real IDissues.The centers do not provide information on state or federalcriminal law matters,” she says.
For clients and student volunteers, the centers provide alot of help on a variety issues, both immediate or in preparation for futurepractices.
How to Help
To volunteer at a Legal Help Center, email Glenda Harrison, KentuckyAccess to Justice Commission executive director, at glenda.harrison@kyaccesstojusticecommission.orgfor details or to request a SignUpGenius link for a specific center.
