Membership

Throughout the year, FBA-NDOC sponsors a number of events that provide opportunities for our members to network with fellow practitioners as well as federal judges. These include:

• “Brown Bag Lunches,” which bring our members together in an informal setting with members of our local federal judiciary;

• A Summer Associates Reception which gives law clerks and legal interns an opportunity to network with each other as well as federal judges and federal practitioners;

• A members-only summer networking event at an interesting local venue. In the past, we’ve visited Severance Hall, the restored Capitol Theatre and the Cleveland Museum of Art;

• Networking breakfasts hosted by member at their law firms, allowing federal practitioners to discuss issues with colleagues and build their referral networks;

• The annual State of the Court luncheon, our signature event, typically attracts members and guests from throughout our region;

• Special events honoring federal judges upon their investiture or their retirement;

• Collaboration with law schools throughout the region including the University of Akron, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland-Marshall and the University of Toledo.

The FBA-NDOC offers a variety of training seminars to help attorneys improve their practice and meet the requirements for CLE credits. These include everything from new lawyer training seminars to the popular “Iron Lawyer” competition in which attorneys compete by presenting their closing arguments from recent cases. Other popular topics include bankruptcy, white collar crime, antitrust and law office management. Members save on the cost of FBA-sponsored CLEs and can attend our annual “Ethics, Professionalism and Substance Abuse” CLE free of charge.

Members have the exclusive opportunity to submit articles for publication in the Chapter’s award-winning e-newsletter, Inter Alia, which is distributed to more than 10,000 attorneys admitted to practice in the Northern District of Ohio.

Our Chapter is very proud of its involvement in the community and support for those less fortunate. Each year, we participate in a variety of pro bono activities including mentoring high school students for Mock Trial competitions and staffing brief advice and referral clinics for Legal Aid.

Thanks to the generosity of Cleveland-based financial advisory firm Stout Risius Ross, Inc., law students throughout Northern Ohio can take full advantage of the networking and learning opportunities afforded by membership in the FBA-NDOC without putting a dent in their budget. Stout Risius Ross will underwrite the cost for law students at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, the University of Akron and the University of Toledo to become Law Student Associate Members of the FBA. For more information, contact your law school representative:

• Cleveland-Marshall College of Law – Michael Borden, Associate Dean and Professor, m.borden@csuohio.edu

• Case Western Reserve University School of Law – Professor Jonathan Entin, jle@case.edu

• University of Akron School of Law – C.J. Peters, Dean and Professor, cpeters1@uakron.edu

• University of Toledo – Heather Karns, Assistant Dean, heather.karns@utoledo.edu
 

Or contact Michael Montgomery, mmontgomery@bakerlaw.com.