Pro Seniors' Helpline Referral Attorney Panel (HRAP)
Private attorneys throughout Ohio who participate on the Pro Seniors referral panel help to bridge the justice gap for older Ohioans who can benefit from in-person consultation from an attorney in their community.
Whether you choose to accept only contingent or full-fee referrals, or offer a reduced fee or even pro bono services for income-qualified seniors, your participation in the panel can grow your practice and benefit older Ohioans.
As a panelist, you agree to accept referrals for clients who need more service than the counsel and advice that our Legal Helpline can provide over the phone. These vetted clients need more personal attention, such as transactional documents, filing a lawsuit or estate planning.
Pro Seniors’ Legal Helpline offers free legal advice to Ohioans age 60 and older. While many problems can be solved over the phone, some cannot. That’s why the HRAP was created.
Today, the HRAP has attorneys throughout Ohio who have agreed to accept Legal Helpline referrals on full, reduced, contingent or pro bono fee basis. When appropriate, the Legal Helpline also refers clients to local legal aid offices and other community resources available to assist them.
Ohio attorneys: Help to Bridge the Justice Gap
As an Attorney, How Do You Qualify?
• Be, and continue to be, an attorney in good standing with the Supreme Court of Ohio;
• Maintain an office separate and distinct from any other business or residence;
• Be actively engaged in the private practice of law;
• Carry, and continue to carry, professional liability insurance equivalent to at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 in the aggregate, which insurance is acceptable to Pro Seniors;
• Represent clients in a professional and businesslike manner in all respects;
• Meet the minimum Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits in areas of expertise indicated; and
• Abide by HRAP rules and procedures.
What Are the Benefits?
In addition to fee-paying clients, you are entitled to:
Legal Fact Sheets: You can receive, at no charge, pamphlets prepared by Pro Seniors on areas of elder law; and
Elder Law Consultations: Call Pro Seniors’ staff attorneys, who practice exclusively in elder law, for technical assistance on behalf of your HRAP and non-HRAP clients.
Earn CLE Credit:
Attorneys may receive 1 hour of CLE for every 6 hours of pro bono legal service they perform, up to a maximum of 6 CLE hours in a biennial compliance period.
Attorneys should notify Pro Seniors if they have earned CLE credit based on referrals from Pro Seniors.
Pro Seniors will submit the attorney’s CLE credits to the Ohio Supreme Court CLE Commission.
For CLE purposes, “pro bono” means no cost legal service provided by an attorney to a client of limited means, when that client’s case has been assigned by an organization recognized by the CLE Commission. Pro Seniors is recognized by the Commission.
Requesting Pro Bono CLE Credit
To receive CLE Credit for time spent on one or more Pro Seniors pro bono referrals, Complete the “Referral Concluded” form sent with the referral, including the hours spent on the case, and return the form to Pro Seniors.
Pro Seniors will report your total time spent, and corresponding hours of CLE credit, and submit to the CLE Commission. NOTE: You cannot receive CLE credit for a “reduced fee” case.
How Do I Join the Panel?
It’s easy! Mail, email or fax the following to Pro Seniors:
• Your completed registration form;
• The declarations page of your professional liability insurance
More details about HRAP are available here.
For answers to any questions you may have, please call our Helpline Managing Attorney, Mike Walters, at (513) 458-5532.
Thank you for your interest.
Case Closed: You Can Pay Your Fee Share Online
When you complete your case, you can submit your documentation via email, and pay your Fee Share online using the form below.
