What is the Speakers' Bureau?

Legal Aid’s Speakers’ Bureau connects knowledgeable Legal Aid attorneys and staff with community groups to provide valuable information and resources at no cost. The Speakers’ Bureau offers free presentations on a wide variety of legal topics, such as foreclosure, financial and legal literacy, wills and advanced directives, and landlord-tenant law. To see a full list of topics and descriptions, please review our Presentation Topics page. Legal Aid is always looking for new ways to expand our outreach efforts, so if you are seeking information we don’t currently offer, please let us know and we can work with you to develop an appropriate presentation topic.

Presentations given by Legal Aid attorneys, volunteers, and staff often vary in format and length, and range from dispersing information on the need for Legal Aid in our community at a local Progressive Democrats meeting, to presentations on expungements and improving your credit at local prisoner re-entry facilities.

Speaker’s Bureau participants have reached out to professional organizations, residential facilities, churches, businesses, and community organizations and agencies, including:

• Haven of Rest
• Akron-Summit County Public Libraries
• Stark County Department of Job and Family Services
• Good Year Tire and Rubber Company
• Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority
• Oriana House
• Portage County Family and Community Services
• The Chapel
• Stark and Summit County Community Action Agencies
• Open M
• Counseling Center for Holmes and Wayne Counties
• Steere Enterprises
• Summit County Progressive Democrats

How to Request a Speaker

To request a speaker or presenter for your group, Legal Aid must receive a request, preferably four weeks or more before the event. Because of high demand and the limited availability of speakers, we cannot guarantee that all requests will be filled.

Please note: Many events are covered by volunteer or non-attorney staff members. If you require an attorney, you will need to discuss this with a Speakers Bureau representative when they contact you.

The request process is handled online through the Speaker Request Form. The form will ask you for basic information about the event (date, time, location audience, topic, etc.) that will be needed to process your request.

You will be asked to indicate the topic to speak on. We have several standard presentations specially developed by staff to meet a variety of needs. Please review the Topic Options to choose the topic most applicable to your group. Should no option meet your requirements, please choose Other and you can discuss your requirements with a Speakers Bureau representative.

While the form asks for a specific date and topic, flexibility helps immensely in securing a speaker. The form provides an opportunity to list up to 3 possible dates; please use the Additional Information section to indicate greater flexibility. Our coordinator will work with you on potential options.

When you submit your request the completed form will automatically be sent to the Speakers Bureau Coordinator. The Speakers Bureau Coordinator will then follow up with you about your request once it has been reviewed. If you do not hear from a representative within one week, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We look forward to working with you.

  Review Available Topics

  Request a Speaker for Your Event

How Can YOU Get Involved?

Are you an attorney who loves public speaking and would like to serve the legal needs of the poor? Legal Aid’s Speakers’ Bureau is a great opportunity for you to use your skills and expertise to empower low income individuals or educate lay advocates in our community. With the help of volunteers, Legal Aid can provide more families with crucial information to help them prevent or minimize legal problems.

To get involved or to learn more about volunteering with Legal Aid’s Speakers’ Bureau, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .