Legal Aid moves, hosts Open House in Canton
New offices, across the street, to provide better access to clients
Community Legal Aid is getting new office space in Canton…across the street.
The non-profit law firm will be moving from its current location in the Renkert Building to its new home at 401 North Market Ave. The move follows the sale of the Renkert Building to the Downtown Canton Land Bank in December 2017.
With the Land Bank’s plans to redevelop the building, Legal Aid’s Steven McGarrity said, “it was time to move on.”
“The Renkert Building has been a great home to Legal Aid for many decades,” said McGarrity, the organization’s executive director. “We’re excited to become United Way’s downstairs neighbor and look forward to even greater collaborations with them and their partner agencies.”
The move is also giving Legal Aid the opportunity to refresh its client service space for the first time in many years. The new office will be more conducive to client needs, including a private room where walk-in applicants can apply for legal help.
“General meeting spaces, like our conference, will now be housed in the back offices,” McGarrity explained, meaning employees will no longer have to walk through the lobby and disrupt clients waiting to meet with their advocates.
The new offices will also feature dedicated work spaces for volunteers.
Along with improved client and volunteer spaces, Legal Aid is also excited to be unveiling a new branding model for its office.
“This move has given us the opportunity to reimagine our brand and better align the look and feel of our offices with our organizational culture and values,” McGarrity explained.
A new color palette, modern furniture, and updated décor are just a few of ways the non-profit is doing this. But the changes are not merely cosmetic.
“Visitors will also see throughout our office the values that Legal Aid holds dear and the vision we’re hoping to achieve for our clients and the community,” shared McGarrity. “We really see this as a way to bring those ideals front and center, in a tangible way.”
Legal Aid will officially be moving into their new offices at the beginning of June. Clients or visitors wondering about appointments or where to meet their advocates should call the office at (330) 456-8361 if they are unsure of where to go.
The group will host an Open House for the public on July 10th at 4:30, for anyone to stop by and see the new space.
“We’ll have food and refreshments and will be offering tours of the new office,” McGarrity said. “We’ll also have some local staff members sharing a bit about the exciting new projects they’re working on in the community”
The event is open to the public, and McGarrity encourages anyone in the community to stop by.
“It’s a great opportunity,” he said, “to come see the new space and learn about the new era of Legal Aid.”
