CLE for Attorneys - Pro Bo "Know"

Whether you are a seasoned pro bono volunteer or looking to begin service, this CLE is for you. Participants will receive solid background information in four areas of high pro bono volunteer need: expungement, housing, family/custody & employment. This information can be used while issue spotting and providing brief advice in our legal clinics and other pro bono programs.

Click on this link to register for this CLE hosted by the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association: https://bit.ly/ProBoKnowCLE

Family/Custody Discussion

Speaker:

Jennifer Himmelein,
Brouse McDowell

About Our Speaker:

Jennifer Himmelein focuses her practice in family law, including domestic relations, juvenile, probate and mediation. She has extensive experience handling a variety of cases in Domestic Relations Court, including but not limited to, divorce, dissolution, legal separation, child custody and visitation, parental alienation, domestic violence, spousal and child support, post-decree modifications and disputes, registration of foreign orders, property division disputes, contempt proceedings, and a myriad of other enforcement actions. She also frequently helps draft prenuptial agreements for couples, including same-sex couples. In Juvenile Court she has handled paternity, child support proceedings, custody and visitation disputes, and other private custody and support disputes between unmarried parents, as well as, guardianships of minors and minor name change application proceedings in Probate Court. Jennifer regularly serves as a Court-appointed Guardian ad Litem in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Lake and Geauga Counties. She also teaches Guardian ad Litem courses for the Ohio Supreme Court Judicial College. Jennifer has participated in extensive divorce-related mediation training and is certified as a Parent Coordinator. Jennifer also conducts private mediations related to divorces and parenting issues.

She is certified as a Family Relations Law Specialist by the Ohio State Bar Association. She was selected by Ohio Super Lawyers to the Rising Stars list (2018- 2021) and is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated through

Martindale- Hubbell. She is a member of The Legal Aid Society's Pro Bono Committee, a Board member for the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA), Chair of the CMBA’s Associate Governance Committee, and Chair of the CMBA’s Justice For All Committee (JFA).  She was named a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and was recently awarded the John and Ginny Pro Bono Award 2020 by the Ohio State Bar Foundation, recognizing her exceptional pro bono legal work.

Jennifer received her JD, cum laude, from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, and her BA, summa cum laude, in Paralegal Studies and Criminal Justice from Kent State University.

Employment Discussion

Speaker:

Jason R. Bristol,
Cohen, Rosenthal & Kramer LLP

About Jason:

Jason R. Bristol is an advocate for working people. He represents employees from the shop floor to the C-suite, and has recovered millions for his clients through negotiation and litigation.  Law and Politics Magazine has described him as a “Super Lawyer” in plaintiffs’ employment litigation. Handling class and collective actions under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and various state laws, he has recovered millions of dollars in unpaid wages and overtime compensation for workers across the United States.  He also handles employment and civil rights cases involving illegal discrimination based upon age, gender, race, national origin, sexual orientation, and pay inequity.  In addition to his litigation practice, he routinely serves as a mediator in complex wage and hour disputes.

He started his career in 2000 at a boutique class action firm where he litigated class cases involving retiree pension benefits, environmental disasters, consumer fraud, and employee benefits.  He joined CRK as a Partner in 2004 where he developed the firm’s plaintiffs’ employment class action practice.

Housing Discussion

Speaker:

Joseph T. Burke,
Polito Rodstrom Burke LLP

About Joseph:

Joseph T. Burke has practiced law for eighteen years and the last ten he has maintained his own practice. Joe commonly appears in municipal and Mayor’s courts throughout northeastern Ohio including: Rocky River Municipal Court, Lakewood Municipal Court, Cleveland Municipal Court, Berea Municipal Court, Garfield Heights Municipal Court Elyria Municipal Court, Avon Lake Municipal Court, Lorain Municipal Court, Oberlin Municipal Court as well as North Ridgeville Mayor’s Court, Sheffield Lake Mayor’s Court, Sheffield Village Mayor’s Court, Independence Mayor’s Court as well as Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas and Lorain County Court of Common Pleas. His experience in handling DUI cases is as varied as the Courts, Judges and Prosecutors he faces.

Each court handles the prosecution of DUI cases uniquely and it is imperative to retain an attorney who is experienced, respected and familiar with the Court, such as Joe. His experience combined with his passion in defending clients, communicating with the client as to what they can expect, and of going the extra distance for clients is unmatched.

Expungement Discussion

Speaker:
Aaron Baker,
Cuyahoga County Public Defender's Office
About Aaron:

Aaron Baker is a graduate of John Carroll University and the University of Akron School of Law, and is an Assistant Public Defender with the Appellate Division of the Cuyahoga County Public Defender, currently responsible for all expungement screening for eligibility for current clients.