Community Legal Aid Services Inc - Akron, Ohio

Jessekia

Huge waste of money! They simply are volunteers with no clue on divorce cases in my opinion but I wish I would have been told that prior to dishing out money.

You can use google and get much further than the help from these guys. $1200 deposit, $50 monthly recurring charges for nothing. Seriously!

Save your money and hire a real attorney or advocate for yourself because that's basically what you're doing. Lesson learned and I hope this helps the next person.

Laurie V.

What I found on the website I I called after that it's not my fault there was a fire next door damage and the landlord here Chesapeake pointe apartments did not do the repairs that was required by section 8 apartment because landlord didn't stand up to their part of the contract. I called legal aid in here and she told me to watch the webinar on the internet that they could not go to court with me to help me that I had to repair myself I'm 65 years old and disable.

CJ S. B. O. W.

I actually liked the staff, but make no mistake they definitely didn’t take my divorce case which i prepared myself for, just another road block for me to get through!! The entire system is unbalanced, they just work there!

Miz B.

If I could give -0.5 stars I absolutely would, I’ve been trying to get help on a case that happened years ago, I was in need of their assistance to appeal a landlord problem that was paid years ago the landlord was saying that they were never paid which was absolutely untrue LEGAL AID PAID THEM through a check, I’ve been calling over and over again trying to get help and finally the housing attorney Andrew Nehauser returned my call, only to tell me that they couldn’t help in anyway even though I’m eligible for help which doesn’t make any sense whatsoever because COMMUNITY LEGAL AID HANDLED MY ENTIRE CASE I never had any of the paper work and that is what I’m told, they can’t help and I have to reapply to see if a paralegal will help me and I filled out everything again just to be told THEY CAN NOT HELP ME at this time. This is absolutely ridiculous this how you treat people when you’re claiming you help people and at every turn it’s nothing but a struggle to even be heard? I’m very very confused, if the client has done what they’re supposed to do why would it be this difficult for you to help them and THIS COMMUNITY LEGAL AID HANDLED every aspect of it? How unprofessional this is sad and I see why everyone gives them 2 or less stars shame on them they’ve been saying NO NO NO NO, every time I try to seek services through them they just deny me and they help who they want to help that says a lot. Andrew Nehauser is the one to handle my type of case or even a paralegal at that I’m very disappointed DO NOT EVEN BOTHER trying to apply

Sabrena C.

I called to ask a question. The guy was rude and hung up on me. Definitely would not refer. Try PrePaid legal or Google you will likely get better results.

Goldencat F.

You can have a wide range of experience with this agency. Personally I would give them a one or two star rating, but that wouldn’t be entirely fair because the problems are not all their fault.

They are pretty much volunteers so that is one thing to take into consideration and most of them have been really nice caring people, but their hands are tired by the policies that limit what they are able to do for you.

for example - case that might result in monetary damages. Cannot take it and are not allowed to refer you to somebody who could, if it is “money bearing case “.(!!!)

what makes me angrier is being told to find a private attorney, when those people will not go on contingency anymore since Covid. And I have been quoted retainer fees from $1200-$4000 just to get cases going… the same problem exists with Akron law school.😡👹🥺😭😱

so if you are sick with cancer, for example it’s a really bad situation and you fall through the cracks.

if you can’t take care of yourself to the point that you need a home health aide you are not gonna be running around talking to Attorneys even if it’s phone or Internet.

if you don’t have money, you are out of luck even if the court waves the filing fee for you.

How are you supposed to know where to get the information how to do a case by yourself They cannot or will not tell you that. They will just keep telling you they cannot take the case and you can talk to a private lawyer.😢😭😡👹

And then a couple of times the paralegal or whoever she was , had to check with her supervisor, and for various reasons they didn’t want the case. For example, in my situation the magistrate would not give a protection /restraining order without physical violence having been documented(!!?) psychological harm and doctors certified health effects not enough.😓😮‍💨😭

couldn’t advise me on what is legal to do to keep myself safe other than a personal alarm- basically useless in most neighborhoods- the violence will have happened by then, and the cops won’t be there for a while even if somebody calls them!(Bad neighborhood type of city rules)

again guess what- go see a private lawyer or you can do it yourself and handle the confrontation and all of that on your own. if I have the time and health and etc.

And then they send you to the “eviction clinic “ even if it’s unrelated to that, but you have a problem with landlord- tenant relations, or a dispute between residents at your community that is not being resolved by management or law enforcement.

Apparently they don’t have a guideline they can give you for other resources or step to try to get that handled yourself. That is really less than helpful! it gets peoples hopes up and then drops you like a rock, and kicks you off the curb. Because you wasted your time.

And the problem is still going on. And now you have to move even if nothing is your fault.

the perpetrators and bad management get off Scott free.👹😡🥺😭 but you get stuck with the bill for having to move and if anything else happens to you… which could’ve been avoidable. But then I suppose a personal injury attorney might be able to take your case because of management liability or maybe the company at your community would be liable also.

But how do under educated and disadvantage people get help when Legal Aid is understaffed and is handcuffed by so many regulations? How do we even lobby our representatives to change that?

if Legal Aid or the university could take cases with monetary damages they would not be so shorthanded - even caring attorneys need to make a living. They might be willing to go on contingency - donating half to the institution.

Why aren’t there guidelines for you so that you can do the basics? like the “eviction clinic “ and the “Credit clinic “?

Landlord-tenant disputes are super common.

Lots of communities don’t have advocacy group. Lots of people are ignorant about their rights for emotional support animals. or their rights and responsibilities for having a pet in a rental unit.

Christy G.

Recommended their services to a friend. She was treated rudely, and received no help at all. Terrible customer service.

A N.

This place doesn’t even deserve 1 star.

Tried getting help with custody and the guy was rude and stated I needed to get a private attorney. Well then don’t advertise that you can help with custody cases then.