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Ohioans and Issue 2: what’s next?

LYDIA KACALA lkacala@cjn.org

The issue of legalizing recreational adult use of marijuana was on the ballot for Ohio voters in the Nov. 7, 2023, election.

Issue 2 passed with 57% of voters casting ballots in support of the citizeninitiated statue and 43% voting against.

Medical use of cannabis was legalized in Ohio in 2016. e legalization of medical marijuana in the state came after other states began doing the same.

Daniel Zinsmaster, partner at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP in Columbus, and Kevin Murphy, managing partner of Walter Haver eld, and Larry Zukerman, managing partner of Zukerman, Lear & Murray Co., LPA, both in Cleveland, explained how Issue 2 came to be and what Ohioans can expect in the future.

“In 2016, voters legalized medical cannabis,” Murphy said. “And that has evolved to the point where over half the states in the country have legalized it in some form, and states like Michigan, which are directly adjacent to us, have recreational use.”

e passage of Issue 2 will lead to marijuana being regulated like alcohol, meaning in order to partake in legal recreational use of marijuana someone must be at least 21 years old, he explained. is regulation was what the campaign to get Issue 2 on the ballot and pass it focused on, he added.

Issue 2 o cially went into e ect in December 2023, so those over the age of 21 will no longer need a license to purchase marijuana, he said, and will be able to possess marijuana up to an unspeci ed amount going forward, he added.

In the current program, there are di erent licenses for the cultivation and possession of marijuana, Murphy said.

Any previous convictions of possession will

not be wiped away, as there was no amnesty, or o cial pardon for those convicted of a political o ense, attached to the statute, he explained.

As time passes, up to 40 more dispensary licenses will be awarded, as well, said. e new dispensary licenses will go to “social equity applicants,” he said.

“We don’t know exactly what that means, yet. ey (the legislature) still need to de ne that,” Murphy said. “But it could include minority applicants, economically disadvantaged applicants and female applicants.”

In some states, such as New York, having a prior conviction doesn’t disqualify someone from applying for and obtaining a dispensary license, he said.

Since Issue 2 wasn’t passed as a constitutional amendment, the Ohio Legislature has the ability to make changes to the law, Murphy said.

However, the Ohio legislature has not yet given any guidance as to how they are planning on implementing the newly passed law, Zukerman added.

While the legislature is working to implement the law, there isn’t a set timeline on when it will be implemented fully, Zukerman said.

“We don’t have any clarity as to how someone can obtain, use, or possess marijuana at this point in time,” he said. “ e only way for somebody to legally obtain marijuana in Ohio is through a dispensary. To do so a person must have a medical marijuana card.”

e slow implementation of the law can be traced back to the stalemate between the Ohio Senate, the body wanting to make more substantial changes, and Ohio House of Representatives , the body wanting to make minor changes, about what they want to see altered when it comes to the law, Zinsmaster said. e two government bodies disagree about the changes they would like to make, including possibly allowing medical dispensaries to legally sell recreational marijuana.

ere most likely won’t be somewhere for Ohioans to purchase recreational marijuana until late summer or early fall of this year, he said.

Most of the discussion surrounding the law occurred immediately after its passage, where there was an urgency behind the conversation, and it has since become a less urgent matter for the legislature, he explained.

e questions Ohioans may have will most likely get answered by the Ohio Department

Murphy

Zukerman

Zinsmaster

David Bressman

Jedidiah Bressman

Representation is key for both sides of malpractice suits

ALEXANDRA GOLDEN agolden@cjn.org

When it comes to medical malpractice cases, there are two sides needed to make a case.

ere needs to be a patient who claims to have experienced medical malpractice and a provider who may have performed medical malpractice. ere is a one year statute of limitations in Ohio from the discovery of the malpractice to le for medical malpractice should it not involve a minor or result in a death.

Bob Kish, partner at Reminger Co., LPA in Columbus, spoke to the Columbus Jewish News about what providers need for a malpractice case. e rm has o ces in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Zach Schi , attorney at Schi & Associates Co., L.P.A in Columbus, spoke about what documentation and information patients need for a malpractice case.

e providers that Kish can represent in a medical malpractice case can be on behalf of nurses, hospitals, physical therapists, dentists and long-term care facilities. He can handle cases on behalf of “pretty much anything related to the

You are our priority so your family can be yours.

medical eld,” Kish said.

Sometimes, cases go to Kish before a lawsuit is led, and sometimes they do not come to him until after a formal ling with the courts, Kish said. He is typically hired by the insurance company that provides professional liability insurance to the provider, he said.

Schi said the rm gets calls “all the time” about possible medical misdiagnosis cases, and that people who suspect malpractice may have occurred should contact a lawyer as soon as possible. Although they get calls all the time, Schi said less than 1% of cases go to a trial because “they’re very di cult.”

“You have to have a perfect storm of events in order to take one of these cases and then to win it. ey generally don’t settle,” Schi said.

For non-economic damages, which includes pain and su ering, there is a cap limit of $350,000 per person or $500,000, which means this is the most someone could recover. However, there are exceptions to the cap limit if there are permanent and substantial physical deformities such as loss of a limb or loss of ability to hear, he said.

Economic damages are something that can have a dollar amount put to it such as medical bills or out of pocket expenses and there is no cap limit. For medical malpractice situations or cases, there needs to be expert witnesses to testify, which Schi said are “very expensive to have.” e price of an expert becomes “part of the issue” regarding the damage cap.

“ ose costs really add up and then after you pay

We can help.

attorney fees and after you pay any court costs or anything like that …. You really eat up the total amount that the client could recover,” Schi said. “So, it becomes cost prohibitive in the state of Ohio to try this type of cases.”

Kish will meet with providers typically early in the case and has the records he needs if it is a single provider, he said. It varies from provider to provider on how involved they stay and if they provide feedback to Kish within the litigation process, he said.

For a provider to win, it helps if they are “likeable” because if a jury likes the person, they are going to “more likely to side with that provider,” Kish said. Documentation is also very important in these types of cases, he said.

“Sometimes we have documentation that helps us and sometimes there is no documentation, and we are relying upon the provider and the patients recollection as to what the events were,” Kish said.

It is easier in Kish’s opinion to defend judgment by the provider as opposed to inactive. is means if a provider made a decision based on the information they had, and it turned out to not be the best decision, juries are more likely to side when them if they did something rather than if they did not do anything, he said.

It is possible for cases to go to trial with no documentation, but it is unlikely for a case to go to trial or for an attorney to take on a case where there is no insurance, Schi said.

“You really have a piece of paper that you can collect against this person and if there’s no insurance to pay that for you, then there’s really not much that’s worth doing,” Schi said.

of Commerce Division of Cannabis Control, which oversees the Medical Marijuana Control Program Patient & Caregiver Registry, Zinsmaster explained.

“ e Department of Commerce Division of Cannabis Control has the authority to promulgate administrative rules, and that will ll in a lot of the blanks that were left available from the legislation and provide further mechanics for how it will come into fruition,” Zinsmaster said. “But like all things, when it comes to the rule-making process, it takes time.”

While Ohio, and many other states, have legalized recreational marijuana, it’s still illegal federally, as it’s classi ed as a Schedule I controlled substance by the Controlled Substance Act of 1970, he said. Ohioans will need to be mindful of the inconsistent state and federal laws if they choose to partake.

In August 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommended cannabis be rescheduled to a Schedule III controlled substance, he added. is would open doors for o cial medical prescriptions of marijuana, allow the Food and Drug Administration to test for further side e ects and safety and allow banks to participate in activities related to the cannabis industry.

“I do expect there to be change, but I don’t expect that change to happen imminently,” Zinsmaster said. “It will probably take months but only time will tell. And of course, politicians, as they’re running for o ce, they’re looking for issues that motivate voters (and) they may nd this to be one of those issues.”

Kish Schiff

Columbus Bar Association offers more than just membership

BECKY RASPE braspe@cjn.org

The Columbus Bar Association, which has approximately 4,000 members, focuses its e orts on creating a community for legal professionals across Central Ohio.

According to its current president Chris Vonau, its tagline is “creating better lawyers for a better community.”

And while the tagline was “recently adopted,” the sentiment has always sat at the center of their e orts, he told the Columbus Jewish News.

Vonau has served as president since June 2023, and has been a member since 2013 when he graduated from Capital University Law School in Columbus. He is a partner at Decker, Vonau & Carr, also in Columbus. His tenure as president is set to end in June, and he’ll be succeeded by Aracely Tagliaventi, who is associate general counsel at e Ohio State University’s O ce of Legal A airs in Columbus.

“( at tagline) is our leap o into this year, under the theme of reimagination and how to better meet our members where they are,” Vonau said. “We have an overarching goal of creating a better community at large. And how we do that through our association is creating better lawyers. rough that, access to justice is better; there is a

clearer understanding of the lawyer-client relationship; and more tools become available.”

How the bar association accomplishes that is “wideranging,” Vonau noted.

“And it depends on the attorney and their practice,” he said. “We have a variety of di erent services and partnerships, including education, notary services, an attorney directory and connecting attorneys through practice groups. ey get together, share the latest trends and challenges, and problem-solve and collaborate to serve the population more appropriately, making their lives easier.”

Fostering a community bound by collaboration is what keeps the bar association moving like a well-oiled machine, Vonau said.

“It is essential; the lifeblood of why a bar association exists,” he explained. “We all have a common challenge – the same tasks we typically do. So, it’s not just a complaining session. Without collaboration, we’re moving on independent tracks.”

Post-pandemic engagement and recruitment, like most other industries, continues to be a challenge, Vonau said. Many industries remain reliant on technology, too often having networking Zoom calls without cameras turned on.

“We want to be a guidepost that will bend, but not break, and share what is important,” he noted of the bar association’s desire to try and rectify these trends. “We have a model where we will ex and meet people where they are, but in-person relationships and how you conduct yourself in

“We have an over-arching goal of creating a better community at large. And how we do that through our association is creating better lawyers.”

Chris Vonau

front of other humans is exceptionally important.”

While a bar association membership is not required to practice, as “it would make recruiting much easier if it was,” Vonau said when people do buy in, “it’s much more meaningful.” Free memberships are o ered to local law students, but not because “we want to hook, line and sinker them right away” but because they want young lawyers to feel comfortable as they start their career, he added.

“We feel con dent that once they do, they will feel like they belong and reap the bene ts, as well as feel great about paying for a membership (after graduation),” Vonau said. “It’s all about that sense of community. e nice thing is you’re going to have a di erent success story or reasoning from one member to another. While (membership) is optional, we do have many diehard members that would give up much of their time, and have, to see us succeed.”

Vonau

Robert Cohen Rachel Gold Michael Schottenstein

Legal Aid works to provide representation to low-income residents

BECKY RASPE braspe@cjn.org

For many individuals, the di erence between a favorable and unfavorable legal outcome is representation.

But what can low-income, under-served and underrepresented Central Ohioans do to ensure they have proper legal representation when they need it? Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio’s mission is to ll that gap, according to development director Melissa Linville.

Formerly two separate entities, the Southeastern Ohio Legal

Services and the Legal Aid Society of Columbus merged on Jan. 1, creating Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio. Since 1966, both organizations have helped thousands of Ohio’s low-income citizens obtain and keep housing, receive public bene ts, gain and maintain economic stability and helped domestic violence survives live a life safe from abuse for both individuals and their children, according to its website.

“Legal Aid provides free legal help to low-income clients in communities that can’t usually a ord access to lawyers,” Linville told the Columbus Jewish News. “We cover civic legal issues – housing, domestic, bene ts, economic justice and tax. e two biggest areas are housing and domestic.

Legal Excellence and

Sometimes people need our help for basic needs. And if Legal Aid can’t help, there is no other entity providing this kind of service. So, we’re really all they have.”

At its Columbus o ce, Legal Aid has 70 lawyers and 100 sta that work on a pro-bono basis to help clients receive favorable outcomes. Its seven other regional o ces have a total of 40 attorneys across all locations, Linville said.

“We have a robust portfolio of attorneys that provide pro bono services too,” she said, adding they have many community partners, including a long-standing clinic at Jewish Family Service in Columbus. “We provide life changing services to people at terrible times in their lives. It is a vulnerable process to ask for help in these very personal things.”

e two entities merged because of a previous 15-year a liation, as well as both o ering very similar services and functioning under the same upper management and executive director in recent years, Linville said.

“We went through a long strategic planning and development audit, and it was just to gain clarity in our purpose and organizational structure,” she said. “Our mission, o ce and sta ng has not changed at all though. So, hopefully it is not any interruption to our clients – no matter the name we go by.”

Legal Aid plays an important part in low-income communities, Linville said, explaining their data shows that “if you have a lawyer, you have better outcomes in court.”

“Many times, on the other side, there are lawyers – like an eviction,” she said. “Many times, the landlord has an attorney and the tenant does not. I think in these areas, there aren’t just lawyers they can’t a ord. ere are just no lawyers at all. ere is such a gap in access. And in these smaller, more rural areas, there is a lack of social services in general. ere are a lot of challenges in serving people in this large, geographic area versus a smaller, rural community. We’re always trying to think about ways we can reach people with legal advice that pertains to their issue.”

Legal Aid’s volunteer attorneys are what keeps them able to do their community work. Before becoming development director a year and a half ago, Linville served as a sta attorney with the organization for 12 years. She ran a pro bono program, so “people who volunteer with us are very near and dear to my heart,” she said.

“It means so much to our clients,” Linville said. “In no way can we meet the demand, but volunteers help us reach so many more people. We use attorneys and non-attorney volunteers, but we encourage people to sign up on our website and someone will call them back to gure out what their interests are. We have a lot of opportunities for di erent commitment obligation levels, and provide a lot of training.”

To learn more, visit oslsa.org.

“Legal Aid provides free legal help to low-income clients in communities that can’t usually a ord access to lawyers.”

What to consider before choosing path to law school

LYDIA KACALA lkacala@cjn.org

Making the decision to go to law school is not one that should be taken lightly. While a law degree can open doors into careers one might not have considered, it’s also a commitment of time and e ort.

Barbara Andelman, assistant dean of admissions at Cleveland State University, and Freda Levenson, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio in Cleveland, explained what someone should think about before applying to law school and what the application process looks like.

“If you think that you’re interested in law school, it would be smart to explore volunteer opportunities,” Levenson told the Cleveland Jewish News. “It’s great to read about it and learn about it.”

For students looking to learn about the legal eld, she suggests listening to podcasts or reading books and articles that o er a perspective into the eld.

People that have completed their undergraduate degree, or are just looking into an undergraduate degree, should know that there isn’t a speci c degree that law school admissions o ces are looking for in their applicants, she explained. All the admissions team is looking for is rigorous academic preparation and that the applicant is trained in thinking and writing, she added.

“You can go into so many di erent kinds of careers with a law degree, so they should investigate and determine what they want to do with their degree,” Levenson said. “And perhaps there are internships in their eld they should explore. Just appreciate the versatility of it and explore that.” ose applying to law school should put the strongest application that they can forward, Andelman told the CJN. People don’t have to stick out for any particular reason, they just have to indicate that they are a strong student and future lawyer, she added.

An important aspect of the law application process is the personal statement, she said. e personal statement is an opportunity to give the admissions team a good rst impression, Andelman added.

e personal statement is not a creative writing

assignment or a narration of the resume that was submitted, she explained.

“What we really want to hear is how whatever you’ve done, good or bad, has a ected you, impacted you and made you the person you are today,” Andelman said.

People should also be conscious of their grammar in their statements and ensure it’s not “sloppy” and “thrown together,” Andelman said. It may convey to the admissions team that you either don’t care about the school or that the applicant may be a sloppy lawyer in the future, she added.

e admissions team reviewing the applications are not looking for quantity when it comes to internships, they’re looking for quality, she explained. ey understand that people work during college, so they don’t have the time to pursue certain extracurricular opportunities, Andelman added.

Knowing the kind of law you want to practice right away

“If you think that you’re interested in law school, it would be smart to explore volunteer opportunities. It’s great to read about it and learn about it.”

Freda Levenson, ACLU of Ohio

is also not required, she explained. People will learn and try many di erent things at law school, she added.

“Law schools don’t have majors,” Andelman said. “You don’t come out of law school an immigration lawyer, corporate lawyer or a prosecutor. You’re just coming out as a lawyer armed with tools that will help you no matter what area of law you want to practice.”

Andelman

Levenson

David A. and Jedidiah I. Bressman

Bressman Law

For most working adults, there is a work-life balance that is established so that work does not overtake someone’s personal time and vise versa. But for the fatherson lawyer duo, David and Jedidiah Bressman, this is not the case.

Not only do David and Jedidiah work together at Bressman Law, with o ces in Dublin, Columbus and Cincinnati, but David’s wife, and Jedidiah’s mom, Karen, is a paralegal. She and David have worked together for 27 years.

“ is was seven days a week, this was our lives,” Jedidiah said. “So, in the aspect of work-life balance, it really doesn’t exist. But in work-life balance in the sense of we’re always together, which is both good and bad, that aspect is pretty nice.”

Although there is not a clear line drawn between work and home, there are still some aspects the pair try to keep within the business – such as Jedidiah not referring to David as his dad in conversations with clients.

David has been a lawyer for 33 years and opened Bressman Law in Dublin in 1997.

“I can’t work for anybody else,” David said.

“Except for me,” Jedidiah added.

“Yeah, I do what I’m told,” David said.

David was the rst lawyer in his family, calling it a “lifelong dream,” he said. In elementary school, he would take aptitude tests. e results would always lean towards law, so he stuck with it, he said.

kid was talking and my dad told me I could get paid to talk, I should do that,” Jedidiah said. Jedidiah also enjoyed that his father was able to attend all his school events and didn’t have to miss anything and he wanted that too. e duo did not start working together right away after Jedidiah graduated from law school, because he wanted other experiences, but he started at the rm in May 2020. Jedidiah is junior partner at the rm and David is senior partner. It was always in the plans for him to work with his father, it was just a matter of when, he said.

Working together has been “mostly fun,” David said, with “90% of the time it being fun and 10% of it is not.”

“Since I’m not good with much else, with my hands especially, I thought law sounded good and that’s basically it,” David said. “… (My results) always came towards oral arguments and written skills and all that and since I don’t have any scienti c, math or other aptitudes, law always seemed like the good place for me to go.”

His son, Jedidiah, followed in his footsteps.

“One of the things that I really enjoyed as a

About David

Name: David A. Bressman

Age: 58

Hometown: Powell

Undergraduate: University of Dayton Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law

If I weren’t a lawyer, I would be: a professional critic of anything and everything all while wearing a shirt that reads, “Get off my lawn.” My favorite Jewish holiday is: anywhere my wife makes latkes (objectively, the best in Ohio.) My pet peeve is: Jews who seem ashamed to identify as Jews. Object I can’t live without: my TV remote.

When I was in high school, I: was an uber nerd who played Dungeons and Dragons and binged on reading fantasy novels (mostly by Michael Moorcock or J.R.R Tolkien.) In my retirement, I will: never retire. You will have to pry my keyboard from my cold, dead, hands.

“ e shifting role from being a father to a law partner was kind of a transition since I’ve always been the sole voice who decided what was going to be done in my rm,” David said. “On the other hand, when you see your kid go from being on the diaper room table to being at the court table and trying cases (and) winning cases, it’s a pride-inducing experience.”

- Alexandra Golden

About Jedidiah

Name: Jedidiah I. Bressman

Age: 31

Hometown: Westerville

Synagogue: Temple Beth Shalom

Undergraduate: Indiana Institute of Technology

Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law

If I weren’t a lawyer, I would be: a professional bowler like Keith Golden. My favorite Jewish holiday is: anywhere my mom makes latkes (objectively, the best in the world). My pet peeve is: Working with my father.

Object I can’t live without: Apple CarPlay

When I was in high school, I: was the captain of the mock trial team and the wrestling team.

In my retirement, I will: sit on a pontoon boat in the middle of a lake with a glass of bourbon and a cigar.

Ken Goldberg

Strip, Hoppers, Leithart, McGrath & Terlecky Co., LPA

For Ken Goldberg, a career in law wasn’t something he envisioned for himself until after completing his undergraduate studies.

Attending the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., Goldberg obtained a psychology degree in 1987.

“I realized pretty quickly there’s not really much you can do with psychology unless you get a masters or Ph.D. and I really wasn’t interested in that,” Goldberg said.

After that realization dawned on him, he decided he wanted to have a “skill to sell” that he could use to “make a living out of.” Finding law “interesting,” Goldberg ended up going to Capital University Law School in Columbus, where he graduated in 1992.

“Looking at di erent careers, I thought a career in law would give me a lot of options and that is what I wanted at that point in time because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” Goldberg said, who has now been practicing law for 32 years.

Goldberg was admitted to the Ohio Bar Association in 1992, the U.S. District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio in 1994 and the Sixth District Court of Appeals in 1999, according to his law rm’s website.

Before attending law school, Goldberg took two years o and moved to California with a couple of friends and worked at a ski resort in Northern California. He moved out there “not to be a permanent arrangement,” but to take a little time to enjoy life after college. He then moved to the Dublin area to attend law school.

Goldberg’s practices are domestic relations, business and receiverships and estate planning and he is a partner at Strip, Hoppers, Leithart, McGrath & Terlecky Co., LPA in Columbus. Domestic relations includes divorces, custody and child support.

“I enjoy most helping my clients to accomplish their goals,” Goldberg said of his practice.

He has been at his current rm for 27 years.

“When I rst started out, domestic relations seemed to be where I could nd work, where I could nd clients and that’s kind of how I learned about it and got more experience in it and just continued to do it because I found some enjoyment in doing it,” Goldberg said. “And then when I joined my current rm, the rm does a lot of business and receivership

About Ken

Age: 59

Hometown: Dublin

Synagogue: Temple Beth Shalom

Undergraduate: College of William and Mary

Law school: Capital University Law School

If I weren’t a lawyer, I would be: in wealth management or investments

My favorite Jewish holiday is: Passover

My pet peeve is: waiting in line

Object I can’t live without: my smartphone

When I was in high school, I: had no clue what I would be doing in life In my retirement, I will: travel and spend more time near mountains and oceans

work and that’s where I started doing more of that type of work.”

Of the cases he covers, 40% are domestic relations, 40% are business and the other 20% are estate planning and probate, Goldberg said.

He is also the only lawyer in his immediate family, but did have a late great-uncle that was a lawyer “years ago,” he added.

Although he did not pursue a career in psychology, Goldberg said he still uses his degree for his law practice.

“Practicing law has a lot to do with dealing with people and dealing with your clients and dealing with opposing parties and opposing counsel and judges,” Goldberg said. “And having a general understanding of psychology and people’s motivations, I think, is helpful to deal with people.”

- Alexandra Golden

Harlan Louis

Bailey Cavalieri LLC

When Harlan Louis was growing up, his lawyer father, Herbert, was someone who he looked up to and admired. So naturally, he decided to follow in his father’s footsteps for his own career.

“I wanted to be like him and so I thought, really from an early age, it’s what I wanted to do,” Louis said. “And the more I did other things, it kept pointing me back to doing this and I love doing it. I love my clients and working with them and helping them through their issues and putting them and their families in a better place.”

Before his dad got sick, they were able to practice together “for a short while” but “it was a lot of fun while we did,” he said. Growing up, he would go to his father’s o ce and sit behind the desk because it “seemed like the grown-up thing to do.”

“I knew at an early age that people respected him and counted on him, and I really admired that,” Louis said.

Being a lawyer for 30 years, there have been “so many changes,” Louis said. He practices at Bailey Cavalieri LLC, which has o ces in Columbus and Dayton.

When he started his law career specializing in estate planning, and trust and probate law, Louis would have clients be “really hung up” about personal things such as jewelry and family heirlooms, and children would be “really interested in those things.” at is not the case anymore, and sometimes children even don’t want those possessions, he said.

“( e new generation) just doesn’t get tied up in the stu , it’s more about the experiences and relationships,” Louis said. “ e way people view their lives and what is important, it changes.”

And while some things have changed, Louis noted others have stayed the same.

“ ere’s a universal desire to do right by your spouse, do right by your kids and leave a legacy for them or for charities,” Louis said.

Louis received his masters in tax law from the University of Florida and was a certi ed public accountant, and is experienced in tax planning, tax audits and tax appeals. is way, he can help his clients through any nancial, legal or tax matters and help them plan what happens when they get incapacitated or pass on, he said.

Ronald Petroff

Petroff, Smitherman & Associates, LLC

While deciding what career to pursue, Ronald Petro knew one thing was for sure, “science wasn’t my forte.”

Petro ’s parents are both physicians in Cleveland, but he was more into history and English, he said.

“So, I naturally gravitated towards poli-sci and history,” Petro said. “And then I knew I was going to be a lawyer early on.”

Now serving as managing partner at Petro , Smitherman & Associates, LLC in Columbus, he said the “more interesting story” is of how he became a family lawyer. When he entered law school at e Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in Columbus, the plan was to become a business and real estate attorney, he recalled.

“It turned out towards the end of my undergrad and towards the beginning and middle of my law school career, I was the friend that lots of people went to for dating advice and romantic advice, and even to the point of where they’d be like, ‘Help me write an email or a text to this person I’m pursing,’” Petro said. “So, a lot of my friends

About Harlan

Age: 57

Hometown: Grandview Heights

Synagogue: Temple Beth Shalom

Undergraduate: Miami University in Oxford Law school: University of Dayton School of Law

If I weren’t a lawyer, I would be: either a roadie with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band or my dream job was to be commissioner of Major League Baseball.

My favorite Jewish holiday is: Rosh Hashanah

My pet peeve is: being ignored and dishonesty.

Object I can’t live without: my wooden pens crafted out of bourbon barrels. When I was in high school, I: was a big nerd and voted most studious.

In my retirement, I will: have no earthly idea.

“I like being their trusted adviser to help them through and think about tough things, but that are important things for them,” Louis said. “What are their goals? What do they want their legacy to be?”

is has been his primary focus area his entire career, Louis said, noting its the same practice area as his father.

“I knew that I wanted to use that nancial and tax background and help families plan,” he said.

Louis said the most rewarding part of his job is being a trusted adviser to his client.

“Knowing that they come to me with tough questions, things that may trouble them and knowing that I can help them with that, give them a piece of mind (and) put a plan together that does what they want, serves their needs and puts their family in the position that they hoped to (is the most rewarding),” Louis said.

- Alexandra Golden

from law school told me that I was really good at the interpersonal relationships and the dynamics between couples.”

Petro originally thought pursuing family law was a “terrible idea” because of the turnover in clients in the specialty, the stress level and that its not the “most prestigious area of law.” But, he quickly found that he was good at it, he added.

“I took the advice of my parents that say, ‘Find something you’re good at, not necessarily something you like, and pursue it,’” Petro said.

Family law includes divorces, child custody, post-decree modi cations or post-decree enforcement, which he said are the four big areas. ese areas of family law are “sad and stressful, but the “happy areas of family law” are prenups and adoptions, he said, referring to prenuptial agreements between couples.

Petro ’s rst language is Russian, and he did not learn English until he went to University School in Shaker Heights from 1986 to 1999, a private school in an eastern suburb of Cleveland. Petro ’s parents came

About Ronald

Age: 43

Hometown: New Albany

Synagogue: Temple Beth Shalom

Undergraduate: Vanderbilt University

Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law

If I weren’t a lawyer, I would be: A sports agent

My favorite Jewish holiday is: Yom Kippur

My pet peeve is: When lawyers write sentences with hanging prepositions

Object I can’t live without: Wi-Fi

When I was in high school, I: Was the social chair of my group of friends

In my retirement, I will: Continue to play a lot of tennis and other racket sports

to the United States in 1979 from the former Soviet Union.

Russian is the only language his parents spoke and now his parents speak to him in Russian and he speaks to them in English. He has been able to use being uent in Russian and being bilingual sporadically in his 18 years of law.

Over the course of his career, Petro said he does not think about work when he is home and does so by turning o noti cations that pertain to work so he can choose to look if he wants to, but he is not noti ed.

e most rewarding part of Petro ’s job is when many of his clients have come to him as a second or third attorney and were told by other attorneys that something could not be done and Petro “continuously proves them wrong.” He said he is able to achieve results that the clients were told were impossible or unlikely.

“ e most frequent thing I hear is, ‘I wish I would have hired you back then,’ or ‘I wish I would have hired you in the rst place,’” Petro said. “I hear that all the time.”

- Alexandra Golden

Jodi Smilack

Gross Law Offices

Growing up, Jodi Smilack always wanted to do everything that her older sister Britt wanted to do.

So, when her sister became a lawyer, Smilack followed in those footsteps –crediting her sister for rst “sparking” her interest in law. But Smilack also “really enjoys argumentative writing and reading,” which is what led her to her eld, she said.

Where the sisters di er is Britt works in real estate and nance law, and Jodi had “zero interest in that,” she said. Taking a family law class in law school, which she found “extremely interesting,” it stuck with her, Smilack recalled.

Now, she is a family law attorney at Grossman Law O ces in Columbus.

Falling “in love” with the practice area when she was working as a clerk at a family law rm while she studied, Smilack said she likes that the practice area deals with “real, everyday problems.”

“And I also like that you get to do a little bit of everything when you’re in family law,” she added.

Smilack gets to deal with so many

Bea Wolper

di erent areas of law because cases can be custody issues, spousal support, bankruptcy or even dealing with real estate, she said.

“ ere’s just a lot of di erent components to working in family law and you learn new things all the time,” she said.

Smilack graduated from University of Illinois Chicago School of Law at the “heights of the recession” when there were very few jobs available, she recalled. Since no one was hiring in Illinois, where she took the bar exam, she moved back home with her parents and took the Ohio Bar exam.

“It wasn’t really my plan to do that but I’m happy that it turned out that way,” she said.

Smilack started at Gross Law O ces in 2011 and has been with them since, besides when she moved to southern California around summer 2017 for a year and a half. She came back to the rm in the beginning of 2019. Since she was not licensed in California, she could not practice there and ended up doing work but could not sign her name to anything, she said.

“Absence makes you re-evaluate everything and so I always had this idea

About Jodi

Age: 41

Hometown: Columbus

Undergraduate: University of Michigan

Law school: University of Illinois

Chicago School of Law

If I weren’t a lawyer, I would be: a doctor.

My favorite Jewish holiday is: Rosh Hashanah

My pet peeve is: when people let dishes pile up in the sink.

Object I can’t live without: cell phone, but I would love to not have a cell phone.

When I was in high school, I: was a varsity athlete all four years. In my retirement, I will: travel a lot.

of I want to live in California, it looks so awesome and the weather’s amazing and then being out there I don’t think matched my expectations,” Smilack said. “I love my job, so I was so happy to come back to that and I love family law and trying something di erent was not appealing to me.”

Smilack said her favorite part of her job is that she gets to help people going through the “hardest times of their lives.” She said other areas of law can be “a little less personal” and it makes her “feel good” when

Emens Wolper Jacobs & Jasin Law Firm

Being a lawyer was not originally in Bea Wolper’s life plan.

It wasn’t until she was volunteering with juvenile delinquents while going to school, and then working as a geologist, that she found her passion for law, Wolper said.

“You could only go so far in the legal system if you weren’t a lawyer and that was very frustrating because I wanted to help them,” Wolper, of Emens Wolper Jacobs & Jasin Law Firm in Columbus, said. “So, then I decided I would go to law school and save all the juvenile delinquents in the world.”

Wolper, who got her undergraduate degrees in math and geology, worked for the public defender’s o ce before deciding she “didn’t really want to do that.” Wolper loved contracts and securities law, so she ended up being an oil and gas securities lawyer before switching to be a family business lawyer, which she has done for about 40 years.

“So really full circle I ended up helping families, which is what it seems like I always wanted to do was help people,” Wolper said.

Wolper realized she wanted to switch to family business because she worked with her husband, the late Dick Emens, and they realized that “family businesses had issues all the time,” she said.

“We decided that since we worked so well together that we could help other people work well together and help them get their businesses going to the next generation,” Wolper said.

One of the most rewarding moments of Wolper’s 46 years as a lawyer is the succession of family business and the successful transfer of ownership from one generation to the next, she said. Wolper and Emens started practicing together in the 1970s until Emens died in 2023. Together, they started the Conway Center for Family Business, a nonpro t organization in Columbus, that is “very active helping family businesses,” she said. Wolper is president of the center.

When Wolper was on a national board for a nonpro t helping family businesses, she and her late husband went to Texas and met with others who had centers. ey

she helps somebody, especially since she is dealing with “extremely important issues” that are personal to someone.

“You’re dealing with real everyday issues in people’s lives and you feel so connected to them, I think as opposed to a business that can be a little more impersonal,” Smilack said.

- Alexandra Golden

About Bea

Age: 78

Hometown: Heath

Undergraduate: The University of Cincinnati and University of Arizona (graduated from Cincinnati)

Law school: Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University

If I weren’t a lawyer, I would be: Geologist My favorite Jewish holiday is: Passover My pet peeve is: Lack of integrity

Object I can’t live without: My iPhone When I was in high school, I: Was the class clown

In my retirement, I will: Travel more and spend more time being with my family

decided when they returned to Columbus, they needed to start one, she said.

Wolper said another rewarding moment for her is seeing her colleague, Kelly Jasin, grow to be “a great lawyer” and become president of the Emens Wolper Jacobs & Jasin Law Firm. Jasin took over the role from Wolper in 2022. Wolper mentored her, now serving as chair of the board at the rm.

From an early age in childhood, Wolper found herself in the position of helping family members who needed help and friends who needed help, she said.

“Some people are born that way, just to be nurturers and helping others and …

that’s me,” Wolper said. “...I did not have a lawyer in my family or anyone I knew that I had as a mentor, it was more out of resilience and pulling myself up to do something with my life.”

Wolper went to law school “later in life” while balancing being a mother to two daughters, Renee and Jennifer, and working during the day. She attended night law school at Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University.

“I’m a pretty driven person,” Wolper said.

- Alexandra Golden

Local Lawyer Listings

Mitchell Adel

Law firm: Cooper, Adel, Vu and Associates

Age: 49

Hometown: Columbus

Undergraduate: Ithaca College

Law school: Capital University Law School

How has Judaism played a role in your career? Growing up in an extended Jewish family has helped me build a firm ethical foundation for my law practice. The teachings of my parents and grandparents guide me as I connect with clients, colleagues and the community. What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I was extremely shy all the way through my freshman year of College. I barely spoke to outside of my family. How do you strike a balance between work and home life? I have to admit that the law firm is the focus of most of my time. However, I am fortunate to have a close family and a network of friends who understand and support me with flexibility about spending the free time I have.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “Suits” Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Villa Nova

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Stay open-minded and network. Always stay dedicated to continuous learning, informed about legal developments and advocate for the importance of your discipline, whichever one you choose. Treasure those you meet and keep them close. You can never have enough people in your life. Sometimes you will need them if you have questions you cannot resolve and you should strive to be the person that others seek advice from when they are in similar predicaments.

Robert Bergman

Law firm: Bergman & Yiangou

Age: 79

Hometown: Dublin

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University

Law school: Capital University Law School

How has Judaism played a role in your career? It has instilled the values of treating clients as I would want to be treated as well as being honest and fair with them.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? That I used to raise and show

Dalmatians and Havanese.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? My wife and I take short vacations to Florida during winter and spend our summers playing golf.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “Suits”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Valentina’s and La Tavola

What advice would you give today’s law school students? To get as much practical experience as they can both before and during law school working with attorneys.

David Bressman

Law firm: Bressman

Law

Age: 58

Hometown: Powell

Undergraduate: University of Dayton

Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz

College of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? Judaism provides a framework for moral behavior and ethical decisionmaking.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? That behind my stern exterior, I am gut-wrenchingly funny and very humble about it.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? What is home life? I work with my wife and both of my children.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “A Few Good Men”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Roadhouse Wings and Grille What advice would you give today’s law school students? Don’t feel so entitled, you have to work hard to succeed.

Jedidiah Bressman

Law firm: Bressman

Law

Age: 31

Hometown: Columbus

Synagogue: Temple

Beth Shalom

Undergraduate: Indiana

Institute of Technology

Law school: The Ohio State University

Moritz College of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? Judaism has influenced my legal career by providing a strong ethical foundation, guiding principles of justice and fairness, and a commitment to community service and social responsibility, all of which have been integral to my approach to

law and advocacy.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I love to cook various types of cuisine ranging from Indian to Chinese.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? I do not. I work with my family.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “Suits”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Roadhouse Wings and Grille

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Network with any lawyer you can.

Gwen Silverberg Callender

Law firm: Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, Inc.

Age: 57

Hometown: Columbus

Undergraduate:

University of Wisconsin - Madison

Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? Sharing our traditions with coworkers who do not know anything about what being Jewish was all about.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? A significant part of my work wardrobe is from vintage and resale stores. How do you strike a balance between work and home life? By making sure I always have time for daily exercise.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “The Verdict”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Lindey’s, Sycamore or Ginger Rabbit for drinks and jazz

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Find work you are passionate about, you will be much happier doing what you love than working countless hours doing work you do not find fulfilling.

Robert Cohen

Law firm: Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP

Age: 72

Hometown: Columbus

Synagogue: Congregation Tifereth Israel

Undergraduate: Miami University

Law school: University of Cincinnati

How has Judaism played a role in your career? It has informed the values that I

have applied to my immigration practice.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “Suits” Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Cafe Istanbul

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Trust your instinct and don’t be afraid to decline a case that you think will compromise your ethics.

Gary Cowan

Law firm: Elk + Elk

Hometown: Shaker Heights

Undergraduate: University of Ottawa

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? Judaism has taught me to be empathetic to my clients, to be respectful, and to be charitable. What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? That I played competitive curling in high school and college.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? I try to keep ahead of my docket and work diligently throughout the workday.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: A book –“The Runaway Jury” by John Grisham Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Cafe Istanbul at Easton Town Center

What advice would you give today’s law school students? I would advise law school students to take “trial advocacy” and “evidence” courses as they will come in handy once they become trial lawyers.

Jacob Dobres

Law firm: Rolfes Henry Co., LPA

Age: 51

Hometown: Columbus

Synagogue: Temple Beth Shalom

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University

Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? Judaism puts a premium on doing what is right and just. I practice law with the mindset of always acting with those tenets of Judaism in mind.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I am a true crime podcast junkie. How do you strike a balance between work and home life? I’ve never regretted making

Attorneys included in this section completed a questionnaire that was emailed to attorneys and/or firms. The questionnaire was also available at columbusjewishnews.com. Some opted not to answer all of the questions and some were edited for brevity. Compiled by Becky Raspe.

my family my top priority and I would hope that my clients understand that.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “Law & Order”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Giuseppe’s

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Law school may teach you to think, but it does not teach you how to practice law. Make connections with attorneys who can mentor you in the practical parts of the job. And never underestimate the importance of a strong professional network.

Arthur Elk

Law firm: Elk + Elk

Hometown: Cleveland

Synagogue: Park Synagogue

Undergraduate: Case Western Reserve University

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? It is the balance and symmetry in my career.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I enjoy riding motorcycles.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? I try to leave work at work, but that can be difficult at times.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “Billions” What advice would you give today’s law school students? Pursue your visions.

David Elk

Law firm: Elk + Elk

Hometown: Moreland Hills

Synagogue: Park Synagogue

Undergraduate: Case Western Reserve University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? It taught me how to care about people and how important it is to give back to the community.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I played class C hardball and JCC softball while attending college. How do you strike a balance between work and home life? I try to spend as much time as possible with my family.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “The Lincoln Lawyer”

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Listen to what your client is telling you and always do your best for them.

Mindy Elk

Law firm: Elk + Elk

Hometown: Highland Heights

Undergraduate: Arizona State University

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? It has helped me to be more empathetic with people and the challenges they’re facing.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I rode horses and competed in horse shows for most of my childhood. How do you strike a balance between work and home life? I try to adjust my schedule and workload when needed to accommodate both work and family.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “Suits”

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Find a mentor to help guide you through the first few years after law school.

Jeffrey Fish

Law firm: Buck & Fish Ltd.

Age: 58

Hometown: Pickerington

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University

Law school: Capital University Law School

How has Judaism played a role in your career? Learning the importance of compassion and integrating that into my family law practice.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I enjoy cooking. Our family having dinner together every night was important and, even though our kids are out of the house, I still cook four or five nights each week.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? Making time for family and one’s self has to be a priority. It can be difficult to do, but once the work day ends, I try to leave work at the office.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: Most TV series and movies are unrealistic portrayals of the law and legal system so I generally avoid them. For purely entertainment purposes, maybe “LA Law” or “Boston Legal.”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: For fine dining, there is no other option than The Refectory; for Italian, it would be Scali Ristorante; a steakhouse, then probably Jeff Ruby’s.

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Seek out a mentor or mentors.

Scott Friedman

Law firm: Friedman & Mirman Co., L.P.A.

Age: 52

Hometown: New Albany

Synagogue: Temple Israel

Undergraduate: Miami University

Law school: Capital University Law School

How has Judaism played a role in your career? Professional relationships and networking with other Jewish professionals are very important to my career.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I love to sing karaoke.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? It is not always easy, but I try to work reasonable hours and spend time with friends and family as much as I can.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “Goliath” with Billy Bob Thorton is a great legal series.

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Ocean Club

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Keep an open mind to the areas of law you eventually want to practice including, whether you want to practice law or use your law degree in other ways.

Tod Friedman

Law firm: Schottenstein Stores Corporation

Age: 61

Hometown: Bexley

Synagogue: Temple Israel and Beth Jacob

Congregation

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University Law school: Syracuse University College of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? Judaism teachings provide a strong moral compass. What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I am Eagle Scout.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? I strive to set aside time with no interruptions but that is very difficult.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “Suits”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Ocean Club or Avenue

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Think like a lawyer but always be nice.

Nelson Genshaft

Law firm: Strip Hoppers

Leithart McGrath & Terlecky

Age: 75

Hometown: Columbus

Synagogue: Congregation Tifereth Israel

Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? Much of my volunteer time has been with Jewish agencies and many of my friends have come through volunteer work. How do you strike a balance between work and home life? Just manage your time. It’s easier than ever to work from home.

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: South Village Grille, Lindey’s and Figlio

What advice would you give today’s law school students? In any project, transactions or litigation, details matter.

Rachel Gold

Law firm: Kegler, Brown, Hill + Ritter

Age: 34

Hometown: Bexley

Synagogue: Temple Israel and Beth Jacob

Congregation

Undergraduate: Indiana University

Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? My Judaism has provided me with a clear moral and ethical compass that I use when analyzing any client issue or client project.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? I am very into scheduling and using my calendar. If it is on my calendar, it usually gets done, so I apply this strategy to my home and social life as well.

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: No Soliciting Bar

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Learning the substantive law and legal thinking is important for any law student, but to be a good lawyer, it is important to be an effective communicator.

Ken Goldberg

Law firm: Strip, Hoppers, Leithart, McGrath & Terlecky Co., LPA

Age: 59

Hometown: Dublin

Synagogue: Temple Beth Shalom

Undergraduate: The College of William and Mary Law school: Capital University Law School

How has Judaism played a role in your career? Judaism is my ethnicity and my culture so even though I’m religiously agnostic, I identify as a Jew. I’m certain Judaism has helped me more than hindered me throughout my career.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? Family comes first. Most clients have families too and understand that approach.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “A Few Good Men” (“You can’t handle the truth!”) Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Cameron’s Bistro

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Find a good mentor whether it’s a lawyer you know or a colleague where you work. There’s lots to learn after law school ends.

Keith Golden

Law firm: Golden & Meizlish Co., LPA

Age: 71

Hometown: Columbus

Synagogue: Temple Beth Shalom

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University

Law school: Capital University Law School

How has Judaism played a role in your career? It was a driving force in my goal of obtaining a professional degree and I carry the principles of Judaism in my tool bag. What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? That I do not measure client success by how much my fees are.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? I am successful at drawing a clear line of distinction between the two. Favorite legal movie or TV series: “Perry Mason”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Scali’s

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Do not overlook the option of a law degree as a secondary tool.

Robert Goldstein

Law firm: Robert R. Goldstein, Attorney at Law

Age: 58

Hometown: Columbus

Synagogue: The Torah Center

Undergraduate: Case Western Reserve University

Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? Judaism provides the basic Torah values which provides the essential moral compass for my life.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I went to law school totally on a whim. How do you strike a balance between work and home life? Turning my phone off for Shabbat

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “Night Court”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Saba

What advice would you give today’s law school students? There are lots of easier ways to make a living.

Hugh Greentree

Law firm: Internal Revenue Service

Age: 64

Hometown: Columbus

Synagogue: Congregation Tifereth Israel

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University

Law school: The Ohio State University

Moritz College of Law

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “My Cousin Vinnie”

Andrew Grossman

Law firm: Grossman Law Offices

Age: 53

Hometown: Bexley

Synagogue: Beth Jacob

Congregation

Undergraduate: University of Kansas

Law school: Capital University Law School

How has Judaism played a role in your career? My strong values, sound moral compass and compassion all come from being raised Jewish and all play a huge role in my professional life.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? Putting down my phone is a great start. I’m still working on that. Favorite legal movie or TV series: I prefer

movies and shows that aren’t related to the law. I get plenty of law during the day. Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Giuseppe’s What advice would you give today’s law school students? Be open-minded to areas of law you may not have initially considered. There are a lot of fields, and it’s important to really understand a variety of them before setting off on a career path.

Eric Hoffman

Law firm: Hoffman Law

Age: 64

Hometown: Berwick

Synagogue: Beth Jacob

Congregation

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University

Law school: Capital University Law School

How has Judaism played a role in your career? My Jewish upbringing has grounded me in knowing the importance of “treating others as you would like to be treated yourself.” As a trial lawyer, I am in court every day. It’s a real people person job. I know that others know that I am Jewish and I make no effort to hide it. I am proud of my heritage and truly believe that we are a “light unto the nations.” What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? That I often wake up in the middle of the night worrying about whether I have done everything I can to present our best case to the court.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? I set aside time every day to exercise and set aside the Shabbat for family and spiritual growth.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “My Cousin Vinny”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Saba

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Make it like a job

Jordan Hoffman

Law firm: Hoffman Law

Age: 29

Hometown: Columbus

Synagogue: Beth Jacob

Congregation

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University

Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? Judaism has provided me with the framework to make decisions and pursue purposeful endeavors in my career. What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? During summer weekends, one of

my favorite hobbies is cycling through the stunning corn fields around Columbus. How do you strike a balance between work and home life? I prioritize observing the Sabbath and dedicate evenings to spending quality time with my family.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “Suits”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Saba

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Enroll in classes taught by professors whom you can connect with beyond the confines of the classroom.

Russell Kutell

Law firm: Frost Brown Todd LLP

Age: 56

Hometown: Columbus

Synagogue: Temple Beth Shalom

Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania

Law school: Georgetown University Law Center

Kimberly Land

Law firm: Bailey Cavalieri LLC

Hometown: Canal Winchester

Undergraduate: University of Dayton

Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I am a sci-fi fanatic.

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Rubino’s

Kevin Lenson

Law firm: Elk + Elk

Hometown: Moreland

Hills

Undergraduate: University of WisconsinMadison

Law school: University of Toledo College of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? Judaism has kept me focused on speaking the truth, treating others with kindness and being striving to being humble.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I can name all the U.S. presidents in order in under 30 seconds.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? I try my best to separate work from home life however, but, I am available to my clients 24/7 so sometimes,

they overlap.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “12 Angry Men”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: The Pearl

What advice would you give today’s law school students? You learn a lot more about the law and yourself practicing law then you do in law school. So, it is best to secure a clerkship or internship while in law school because what you will learn is invaluable.

Joseph Lipps

Law firm: Bailey Cavalieri, LLC

Age: 38

Hometown: Cincinnati

Synagogue: Temple Israel

Undergraduate: University of Michigan

Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? It’s easy to establish a good rapport with other Jewish attorneys because we can always find some common acquaintance through summer camp, synagogue or otherwise.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? By catching up on work when the kids are in Sunday/Hebrew School

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “Better Call Saul”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Chapman’s Eat Market

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Take time to enjoy/ develop your hobbies because it will be increasingly difficult to find the time when you’re a practicing attorney.

Steven Loewengart

Law firm: Fisher & Phillips LLP Columbus

Hometown: Dublin

Synagogue: Temple Beth Shalom

Undergraduate: Northwestern University

Law school: University of Cincinnati College of Law

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I was an professional singer before becoming a lawyer.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? I really try to meld the two and always remain available to my clients and colleagues to the best of my ability no matter the time zone (We are a national firm). Modern technology makes that possible. You just have to take care to say,

“I’ll get back to you ASAP” when being constantly “on” catches up to you.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “The Verdict,” of course

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: The Pearl

What advice would you give today’s law school students? In spite of current challenges, the law is still a great profession which can distinguish you and open many doors. Just be prepared to approach your career options with careful planning and a creative path if you don’t at first find your niche. Analytical, critical thinking is needed more than ever in many endeavors.

Harlan Louis

Law firm: Bailey Cavalieri, LLC

Age: 57

Hometown: Grandview Heights

Synagogue: Temple Beth Shalom

Undergraduate: Miami University

Law school: University of Dayton School of Law and University of Florida Levin College of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? Judaism has instilled a sense of ethics and justice in my work. Our Jewish Community is also a tremendous source of guidance and support.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? It’s great to be a Florida Gator. How do you strike a balance between work and home life? LOL! I probably don’t. Favorite legal movie or TV series: “A Few Good Men”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Skyline Chili

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Work hard. Work to understand your client’s needs and goals. Don’t be afraid to tell folks - and yourselfthe difficult truths.

Pamela Maggied

Law firm: Pamela N

Maggied CO, LPA

Age: 71

Hometown: Columbus

Synagogue: Congregation Tifereth Israel

Undergraduate: Ohio University

Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? I was unemployed right after law school. My father ran into Mitch Cohen at the JCC and Mitch was looking for help.

Connections!

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? Unless it’s icy or raining, I walk to and from the officethree miles a day.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “Boston Legal.” I enjoyed the humor, and the absurd situations and results.

Local restaurant you’re taking outof-towners to: Mazah Mediteranean in Grandview

Jodie K. Meizlish

Law firm: Golden & Meizlish Co., LPA

Hometown: Columbus

Synagogue: Temple Beth Shalom

Undergraduate: Kent State University

Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? My belief system has provided guidance in regard to my understanding of individuals’ issues and has promoted treatment with tolerance and kindness

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I enjoy yelling out the answers to Jeopardy almost every evening!

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? With great effort and advance planning - the biggest challenge was when my children were growing up!

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “The Good Fight”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Sargam - if they like Bhutanese food!

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Learn all that you can every day, take many extra steps to go the distance in solving problems.

Ronald Petroff

Law firm: Petroff, Smitherman & Associaters, LLC

Age: 43

Hometown: New Albany

Synagogue: Temple Beth Shalom

Undergraduate: Vanderbilt University

Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? That I am fluent in Russian.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? Good dinners with family and friends

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “A Few Good Men”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Lindeys

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Go to medical school.

Larry Pliskin

Law firm: Law Office of Larry Pliskin

Age: 57

Hometown: Bexley

Synagogue: Temple Israel

Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania

Law school: Boston University School of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? It has taught me to be honest in business and to help repair the world. What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I often mispell words. How do you strike a balance between work and home life? Because I work out of my home, my dog helps keep me balanced. If he senses that I’ve been working for too long, he will come into my office and “remind” me that it is time to take him on a walk!

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “The Lincoln Lawyer”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Sababa Mediterranean Grill

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Be open to change in your career path over time.

Sarah Pollyea

Law firm: Sarah Pollyea Law, LLC

Age: 48

Hometown: Gahanna

Synagogue: Congregation Tifereth Israel

Undergraduate: Indiana University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? Living pursuant to “tikkun olam” has shaped my career and my life. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to receive a legal education and I strive to use my legal skills and abilities to give back to my community in every way possible.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? That I am very involved in my local community and very proud to have grown up, currently live in, and serve Gahanna. I am on the Gahanna Rotary Board and I sit on the board of directors for the Gahanna Chamber of Commerce. I was

also appointed by the Mayor to serve on the Gahanna Planning Commission and I’m also Chairwoman of the Gahanna Property Appeals Board.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? This is definitely my biggest challenge as a practicing attorney in solo practice and I’m constantly trying to strike that balance. I work so hard on business development and networking and I hate to turn down work. But it is also important to set boundaries for good mental health, too.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “Suits” Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: The Top. It’s such a fun supper club-type atmosphere with the best food and drinks! Everyone always loves it and has a great time.

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Develop a strong work ethic, but also understand that working smart can be as important as working hard.

Frederic Portman

Law firm: Agee, Clymer, Mitchell & Portman

Age: 76

Hometown: Bexley

Synagogue: Temple Israel

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University

Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? Getting continuances on days when trials, court and hearing dates fall on Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah. What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I really hate strawberries.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? Home life should always be first but most attorneys I know are thinking about their clients and cases 24/7. If one is looking for a stress-free career, it won’t be found in the practice of law. However I view it as positive stress that keeps me energized, entertained and challenged. It is a journey seeking knowledge of the human condition.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “The Verdict” starring Paul Newman

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Giuseppe’s

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Try to get a job as a law clerk as it’s the best way to preview your future.

Seth Preisler

Law firm: Chodosh & Chodosh

Hometown: Bexley

Undergraduate: Miami University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? I take great pleasure and pride in being able to help members of my community. In these times we should all do what we can to strengthen that community and look out for one another.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? That I am a wrestling coach for Bexley High School and still get on the mats with the athletes everyday.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? I don’t have standard work hours. I work on and think about cases all the time. While I try to be in the office everyday, I’ll take my daughter for a walk at 1 p.m. and answer work emails at 1 a.m.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “My Cousin Vinny”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Scotty’s

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Have an open mind about your practice area.

Kenneth Rubin

Law firm: Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

Age: 47

Hometown: Bexley

Synagogue: Congregation Agudas Achim

Undergraduate: Northeastern University

Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? Judaic learning methods provide the base for analyzing problems. Judaism as a whole keeps me grounded in the commnity.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I have a tattoo I got in Tel Aviv. How do you strike a balance between work and home life? Family life is very important; however, work provides for the life we have and, given the practice of law is a customer service business, sometimes has to take precedent.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “My Cousin Vinny”

Local restaurant you’re taking outof-towners to: G. Michael’s, of blessed

memory.

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Look at the practice of law as a customer-service profession, not a 9-5 job. Hard work in law school pays dividends for years after school. Explore judicial clerkships – closest thing to medical residencies the law has.

Joshua Sanders

Law firm: Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP

Age: 49

Hometown: Granville

Synagogue: Temple Israel

Undergraduate: Ohio Wesleyan University

Law school: Capital University Law School

How has Judaism played a role in your career? We talk about tikkun olam often at services and I try to bring that to my practice. I like to think that I am repairing a small piece of the world for every one of my clients.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I am a complete sucker for any type of facial products. I have a serious addiction to different pre-shave oils, moisturizers, aftershaves, pore cleansers, etc. My teenage daughters make fun of me for my product collection.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? My wife does a wonderful job of keeping me balanced. She is a doctor and works a lot but yet finds time for us and our whole family. I truly just follow her lead.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “A Few Good Men”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Station. They have a wonderful patio and right next to the bike path. Great place to grab brunch and enjoy a cup of coffee.

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Your law degree can open up so many doors and provide a lifetime of opportunities.

James Schottenstein

Law firm: Schottenstein Legal Services Co., LPA

Age: 77

Hometown: Columbus

Synagogue: Congregation Agudas Achim and Congregation Torat Emet

Undergraduate: University of Wisconsin Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law (Juris Doctorate);

New York University LLM (Taxation)

How has Judaism played a role in your career? My religious beliefs and practices have served as a foundation to both my legal career and my endeavors in real estate and business. While I am far from becoming a biblical scholar, the essence of being a righteous person is similar to trying to maintain ethical standards in both business and the practice of law.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? Few colleagues and clients are aware that I was a main character, known only as “Pongi”, in the book “Be True to Your School,” written by nationally-syndicated columnist and former classmate Bob Greene.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? Even though I’m now in my 52nd year of practice, I still average about 60 hours of work per week; however, as I am licensed in both Ohio and Florida, I have found how to blend work and play. I am keenly aware that my friends and family will remember me for the time I spent with them and not for how hard I worked.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “The Practice;” “Boston Legal;” “Judgment At Nuremberg”; “My Cousin Vinny”

Local restaurant you’re taking outof-towners to: Ocean Club has been a consistent go to winner. Of course there are places in the Short North, German Village and Dublin’s Bridge Park, but for my money Ocean Club is still excellent. What advice would you give today’s law school students? The best advice I received and can repeat is to join the local bar associations, join committees and call or seek assistance from experienced attorneys as passing the bar is a license to make mistakes or to spend way too much time reinventing the wheel. Most experienced lawyers are willing to offer assistance to new members of the bar. They were a great help to me when I first started.

Michael Schottenstein

Law firm: Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter

Age: 37

Synagogue: Congregation Tifereth

Israel

Undergraduate: Syracuse University

Law school: The Ohio State University

Moritz College of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? I consider giving back to the community to be the duty of every attorney. Over the years, I have dedicated the vast majority of my communal

involvement to serving on boards and committees with JewishColumbus, the JCC and, previously, with Young Jewish Columbus and the OSU Hillel. I have learned so much and met some incredible people through those experiences. I am certain I wouldn’t be the attorney I am today without them.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? In middle school, three classmates and I (with the guidance of a great teacher) won first place at the Bayer/National Science Foundation Awards. Our idea was to use decomposing compost piles to help provide hot water for people living in places without readily available running water. We called it the “Hot Rot.” Given that it would be a surprise, you can guess that it never quite took off.

How do you strike a balance between work and home life? I try to block out dinner time to the kids’ bedtime as many nights a week as I can to unplug and be with my wife and kids. I’m not always successful, but I’m working on it.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “My Cousin Vinny”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: The Top Steakhouse What advice would you give today’s law school students? Be kind, be helpful and, generally, be someone who your classmates like to be around. You never know when your paths will cross again or when you may need a favor from them.

Douglas Segerman

Law firm: Luper Neidenthal & Logan, L.P.A.

Age: 54

Hometown: Bexley

Synagogue:

Congregation Tifereth Israel

Undergraduate: University of Cincinnati

Law school: University of Cincinnati College of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? It is interesting, because one of the primary traits of Judaism is following the laws. Judaism has helped me understand how laws need to be applied in a fair way so that everyone is treated equally under the law.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? That I love to play No Limit Texas Hold Em and am a speed walker. How do you strike a balance between work and home life? Although I do bring work home with me, I try and avoid bringing the stresses along with the work. I have always made sure that my work schedule

remains flexible enough that I can make it to important children and family events. Favorite legal movie or TV series: “Justified” or “Bosch”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: The Mad Greek

What advice would you give today’s law school students? 1. Focus on what you are passionate about. 2. When you are a lawyer make sure you focus on what is in the best interest of the client. 3. be willing to always think outside of the box.

Jodi Smilack

Law firm: Grossman

Law Offices

Age: 41

Hometown: Columbus

Undergraduate: University of Michigan

Law school: University of Illinois Chicago

School of Law

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “Suits”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Schmidt’s

Beatrice Sowald

Law firm: Sowald

Sowald Anderson

Hawley & Johnson

Hometown: Columbus

Synagogue: Beth Jacob Congregation

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University

Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I used to be a square dancer. How do you strike a balance between work and home life? The present situation has changed the balance.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “Perry Mason”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: The Top What advice would you give today’s law school students? Get a good mentor.

Heather G.

Sowald

Law firm: Sowald

Sowald Anderson

Hawley & Johnson

Hometown: Columbus

Undergraduate: Case Western Reserve University

Law school: Capital University Law School

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I have made mosaic artwork, knotted macrame hangings and created acrylic

paintings over the years. I would like to try my hand at ceramics next.

Favorite legal movie or TV series: “My Cousin Vinny”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: The Barn in Gahanna

David Stein

Law firm: Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

Age: 59

Hometown: New Albany

Synagogue: Congregation Tifereth Israel

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University

Law school: Capital University Law School

How has Judaism played a role in your career? Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof. We are each commanded to pursue justice in our own way, using just means. I am privileged to serve a profession dedicated to justice. What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I won the sixth grade spelling bee. How do you strike a balance between work and home life? Be intentional in separating work from “home.”

Favorite legal movie or TV series: The hearing in “Animal House” - Otter’s words were very well spoken.

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Block’s Bagels

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Stay humble.

Asriel Strip

Law firm: Strip, Hoppers, Leithart, McGrath & Terlecky Co., LPA

Age: 87

Hometown: Blacklick

Synagogue: Temple Beth Shalom

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University

Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

How has Judaism played a role in your career? It reminds me to be kind and respectful to all people.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? They would be surprised at my old age, the fact that I have been in practice for 64 years and in the same bowling league for 62 consecutive years. How do you strike a balance between work and home life? This is an area in which I do not do well as I normally end up taking my case load home with me mentally. My one real escape is time in my workshop. Favorite legal movie or TV series: “To Kill

a Mockingbird”

Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Lindey’s

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Strive to determine what area of law attracts you most so that you have some idea as to where you would like your practice to take you.

Benjamin S. Zacks

Law firm: Zacks Law LLC

Age: 63

Hometown: Columbus

Synagogue: Congregation

Beth Tikvah and Congregation Tifereth Israel

Undergraduate: University of Arizona and The Ohio State University

Law school: Capital University Law School How has Judaism played a role in your career? It Is a foundation for ethical conduct, learning, debating and discussing how rules and laws affect people and business.

What would a client and/or your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? I enjoy painting and creative arts. How do you strike a balance between work and home life? Family as in Judaism is paramount if we are remembered for how we act towards those we love and support and what kind of human being we are. We manifest this balance in the work we do. Favorite legal movie or TV series: I have watched “Suits,” but generally watch what movies my family members watch as we relax and spend time together. Local restaurant you’re taking out-oftowners to: Chapman’s Eat Market and Sow Plated

What advice would you give today’s law school students? Be kind and patient. Our work is demanding. Our work is always changing. Try to focus on details and how in a changing world you owe responsibility to your health, your family, profession and society. Try to be true to all your masters without compromise.