Login | January 31, 2025
Summit Legal Defenders office expands services, changes locations
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: January 31, 2025
The Summit Legal Defenders office has expanded its services and changed locations.
On Oct. 28, 2024, attorneys and staff moved into the first and second floors of 80 S. Summit St. in Akron.
The nonprofit legal agency serves as the public defender for Summit County, representing indigent residents in a variety of civil, criminal and juvenile matters.
Summit Legal Defenders Director Andrea Whitaker said the new space was needed to accommodate the increase in staff members over the last four years.
“When I started here in January 2021, after longtime director Joe Kodish left, we had less than 20 people working in the office,” said Whitaker. “Now we have 44 full-time employees, including 34 attorneys.
“In our old office in Cascade Plaza we were spread across various suites in the building, making it difficult to collaborate,” she said. “Now our space supports collaboration among attorneys and staff.”
The new office features multiple conference rooms and open areas, which Whitaker said encourages attorneys to congregate and “brainstorm” about legal issues and other topics.
“We often find attorneys talking about their cases and bouncing ideas off each other in ways the old office couldn’t facilitate,” she said.
In addition to its new location, Whitaker said Summit Legal Defenders has expanded its services to include felony cases before the Summit County Common Pleas Court. It also represents parents in contested adoptions in Summit County Probate Court and assists both parents and youths in Summit County Juvenile Court.
Within the past year, the office has also hired two social workers who are available to meet with clients, which Whitaker said leads to “better outcomes” and “reduced recidivism.”
The office now has a food pantry and can provide bus passes to clients who need them to ensure they can get to court.
“Additionally we have increased our community partnerships with various organizations throughout Summit County,” said Whitaker.
Internally, she said management has been restructured and better support and training have been added for attorneys.
“We have a robust intern program so that law students can come work with us to learn about public defense,” Whitaker said.
The office’s technology has also been upgraded and employee benefits have been improved, she said.
“We strive to offer a supportive working environment for our staff so we can provide respectful, diligent and responsive representation to our clients.
“The changes in the office have been pretty significant,” said Whitaker. “I’m extremely proud of the growth and the services we provide to the residents of Summit County.”