Kristen Finzel Lewis is the Advocacy Director for SEOLS. She joined SEOLS in 2001 and became a senior staff attorney in 2010. She is responsible for leading systemic advocacy efforts across the rural service area, in collaboration with each of the SEOLS offices and substantive teams.  Kristen works closely with substantive law team leaders to help shape community advocacy and support litigation efforts.  As part of the OSLSA Senior Leadership Team, Kristen also works with other leaders in the program to support the development of SEOLS attorneys, address gaps in legal services to low-income and marginalized communities across our rural service area and bring greater awareness of legal rights and remedies to the clients and communities we serve. 

“The value of our work is apparent in our outcomes," says Kristen. "Saving families from the loss of their homes through foreclosure or eviction; ensuring that parents are able to provide safe and stable homes for their children; protecting families from abuse, whether by an abusive family member or even by an abusive system; ensuring that parents can buy adequate food for their families and get the medical care that they and their children need to live full and productive lives. Our work changes lives in a myriad of ways every day.” 

Bar Admissions and Activities

• Tuscarawas County Bar Association (Past President), Member 
• Ohio State Bar Association, Member 
• Rural Practice Subcommittee, Member 

Education

• Marshall-Wythe School of Law (J.D., 2021) 
• Westminster College (B.A. in Political Science, cum laude, 1997)

Personal

Kristen was born and raised in Northeastern Pennsylvania and moved to Ohio after graduating from law school. Through the years, she has served on numerous non-profit boards, including Southeast, Inc. and Starlight Enterprises, Inc. and volunteered with a number of organizations including Habitat for Humanity and Big Brothers Big Sisters.  In her free time, Kristen enjoys spending time with her dog and her family (in that order).