In criminal cases, an attorney will be appointed to represent anyone, that cannot afford to hire a lawyer, charged with an offense that carries the possibility of a jail or prison sentence. A public defender or private attorney will be appointed for those indigent criminal litigants.
In civil cases, the court does not appoint lawyers. You may qualify for free legal assistance. Contact Legal Aid of Western Ohio (LAWO) for information about free legal assistance in civil cases. The law does not require an attorney for you to bring a lawsuit or to defend a lawsuit. However, having a lawyer involved improves the likelihood of a better outcome.
