What is the Legal Assistance Fund?

Legal Assistance Fund (LAF) is a trust fund established to benefit Ohio school districts. Member districts contribute a small sum annually. The collective power of the small contributions becomes quite significant.

What is its purpose?

The LAF operates much like OSBA’s legislative lobbying efforts, but in the courts instead of the General Assembly. While our lobbyists try to get favorable laws enacted, the LAF tries to achieve favorable interpretations of those laws from the courts.

What are the benefits to my district?

• The most important benefit is favorable judicial decisions. Even if the lawsuit involves another school district, that favorable judicial precedent can have a great positive impact in your district;
• The LAF will offer direct assistance to your district if it is involved in a lawsuit of statewide significance; and
• Your school district will receive quarterly reports of recent Ohio school law developments.

How does it work?

Three trustees of the LAF review applications from individual participants and decide which cases are worthy of assistance. They use two criteria:

• Is there a significant legal issue involved in the case?
• Is the issue of statewide significance to all boards of education?

What types of assistance is provided?

A district may receive:

• direct financial assistance to pay for part of its litigation expenses;
• consulting legal counsel paid for by the LAF to assist the board of education's attorney;
• a friend-of-the-court brief paid for by the LAF to argue the board's position to the court;
• a combination of the above.

Has the LAF been successful?

Since 1977, the LAF has contributed more than $1,045,000 toward this program of assistance for boards of education in some 255 lawsuits. The LAF has dealt with such important and diverse subjects as sovereign immunity, employee nonrenewal, partial strikes and board liability.

What does it cost?

All districts pay only $250 per year.

How big is the LAF?

The LAF was formed in 1977 with just 55 districts participating. By 2006, the number of participating districts had increased to 513.

How do we join?

For additional information about the LAF, write the OSBA Legal Division, 8050 N. High Street, Ste. 100, Columbus, Ohio 43235 or call at (614) 540-4000 or (800) 589-OSBA.