Ohio Law Students Help Ease Foreclosure Mediation Process

Ohioans undergoing foreclosure mediation who can't afford to hire an attorney now have another option. ""Capital University Law School"":http://www.law.capital.edu recently developed a program to connect law students with people going through foreclosure.
[IMAGE] Upperclass law students volunteer their time for the pro bono program to help homeowners understand the mediation process.

""I have learned a lot about what people going through the foreclosure and mediation process have to deal with,"" said student Ashlie Depinet. ""I was worried in the beginning that the homeowners would be angry about the whole situation and might take it out on me, but overall, they have been very nice, have asked good questions, and really seem happy to get the information we are providing them.""

The students, who usually speak to the homeowners during supervised telephone calls, don't offer legal advice since the state prohibits law students from doing so. Instead, they answer questions about mediation and help the homeowners understand what's ahead.

[COLUMN_BREAK]

""We're working hand in hand with the Foreclosure Mediation Project at the Franklin County Courts,"" said Professor Peggy Cordray, who designed the program. ""That project is extremely well run and has been a terrific success. They do around 1,800 foreclosure mediations per year, and in almost half of them the parties are able to agree on a solution rather than having to go forward with the lawsuit.""

The students do their pro bono service from the Public Interest Center at Capital University Law School. The time they donate to the project counts towards the law school's Pro Bono Recognition Program, which honors students who do more than 50 hours of pro bono work.

""We wanted the students to be part of the process in a way that was both appropriate and useful and that was approved by the agencies who are currently working in the process,"" Cordray said.

Representatives at the Franklin County Foreclosure Mediation Project, the Ohio Attorney General's Office, the Ohio Supreme Court, Columbus Legal Aid, the Equal Justice Foundation, the Ohio Poverty Law Center, the Franklin County Treasurer's Office, and HUD-approved counseling agencies helped write and approve the script the students use when working with the homeowners.

The script covers everything from how mediation works and what documents homeowners should bring to where they should park when going to the courthouse.

Students must complete three stages of training, including visiting the courthouse to observe a foreclosure mediation session, before taking part in the program.