Legal Affairs
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CCLB 04-16-07 A 13 CCLB 4/12/2007 3:25 PM Page 1 APRIL 16-22, 2007 CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS 13 INSIDE 16 FIRMS STAY STATESIDE BUT HELP CLIENTS GO GLOBAL LEGAL AFFAIRS SHORT TAKES ■ LORAIN COUNTY LEGAL AID: Jessica Baggett has joined the Lorain County office of the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland as managing attorney, while Philip Althouse is working as a staff attorney in the office. Ms. Baggett has served as a magistrate in the Lorain County court system for the past 12 years. She also was an instructor at Tiffin University, Lorain County Community College and David N. Myers University. Mr. Althouse, who also is a registered nurse, has maintained a private practice in Cleveland for the past 16 years and recently worked as a contract attorney for Legal Aid’s Lorain County office. ■ GOING INTERNATIONAL: Two Northeast Ohio attorneys are among those selected as American Marshall Memorial Fellows by the German Marshall Fund of the United States. David A. Ruiz, a litigation associate with Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP, is among those who will travel to Europe this year in an intensive three-week study program designed to give emerging American leaders a more comprehensive understanding of Europe. Mr. Ruiz litigates and tries cases for public and private companies involved in complex business, commercial and antitrust disputes. He also serves as a pro bono attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. Tracy A. Turoff, an associate at Giffen & Kaminski LLC, also has been selected. Prior to joining Giffen & Kaminski, Ms. Turoff worked as assis- tant prosecutor for Cuyahoga County and she was previously awarded the Pancoast Research Fellowship, which sent her abroad to study youth participation in politics and government in Western Europe. American Fellows meet formally and informally with a range of policy- makers and prominent members of the business, Summer programs allow students, law firms to audition government, political, nongovernmental organi- zations and media communities. each other in order to find the perfect career fit ■ NOT WILLING OR READY: More than half Story by CHRISSY KADLECK ■ [email protected] of all adult Americans do not have a will, a percentage that has remained virtually unchanged over the past three years, according to a new survey, conducted fter interviewing at 20-some weeks or 30 years because that is my goal for Martindale-Hubbell Cleveland law firms, Bradley W. going in.” lawyers.com. On the other hand, living wills Harrison decided to “summer” Essentially, summer programs are a (also known as medical with his top choice — Jones Day. chance for law firms and students to directives) have jumped in popularity since 2004. Two in five adults now A transplant to Cleveland from audition for one another: Law firms look- have living wills in place, a full 10% more than A those who had one just three years ago. Detroit, Mr. Harrison was only slightly ing to land the best and the brightest get more than one-third of his way through to check out the performance of potential Case Western Reserve University School associates, while students have the chance of Law when he landed on the short list of to try out their prospective employers. SNAPSHOT up-and-coming legal talents that would “The idea is for them to get a chance to likely join the firm’s Cleveland office after look at us, and for us to get a chance to HELP WANTED graduation. look at them,” said Michelle Fischer, Increased demand for legal services is “I really looked to my summer as a guide chairwoman of recruiting for the Cleve- fueling steady hiring activity in the legal industry, according to a recent survey. to the nuts and bolts of what it’s like to land office of Jones Day, which will bring Five in-demand positions are: work at Jones Day,” said Mr. Harrison, in 25 summer associates representing 15 who is now a first-year associate at the schools this year. “The vast majority of 1. Licensed attorneys (5+ years of experience) firm. “In that 13 weeks, I am trying to our new associates — across the firm — 2. Corporate attorneys decide if this is a place I could spend 13 come out of our summer program.” 3. First-year associates See STAGE Page 17 4. Paralegals (3+ years of experience) 5. Legal secretaries Source: 2007 Salary Guide from Robert Half Legal ISTOCKPHOTO CCLB 04-16-07 A 14 CCLB 4/12/2007 9:09 AM Page 1 14 CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS WWW.CRAINSCLEVELAND.COM APRIL 16-22, 2007 LEGAL AFFAIRS learning,” she said. As general counsel, she’s ONTHEJOB constantly being educated. She MARIA G. ALFARO-LOPEZ “Maria was intrigued by the does not handle litigation for the General counsel Catholic Jesuit mission of the university — outside counsel is John Carroll University university,” said the Rev. Robert L. used for that — but she must Niehoff, John Carroll’s president. handle everything else that comes through her office. By CHRISTINE GORDILLO “She was taken by the community Typical issues facing a university [email protected] service we bring to Northeast Ohio … and her professional background general counsel include contract and document review and drafting, t is fortunate that Maria G. was perfect” for us, he said. advising on property leases, Alfaro-Lopez places a premium Indeed, public service and higher employment issues, government on learning. As general counsel education have been threads that regulations, intellectual property for John Carroll University, run through Ms. Alfaro-Lopez’s 27- issues and student affairs. Ishe’s constantly learning about year legal career. A first-generation “It does create a challenge,” Ms. areas of law that are new to her, Mexican-American, Ms. Alfaro- Alfaro-Lopez said. “You can’t do it even after nearly 30 years as an Lopez always dreamed of being a all.” attorney. lawyer. Growing up in the Latino But that’s part of the job that she Being a university general community of Pontiac, Mich., she likes, when she can seek advice counsel “is always very diverse,” said she “saw the need to have from peer resources such as the Ms. Alfaro-Lopez said, “but if lawyers to help those who don’t National Association of College you’re open to learning, it’s not a know the ins and outs of the legal and University Attorneys and problem.” system.” colleagues from her municipal Ms. Alfaro-Lopez, who joined government days. “You get to know the Jesuit college in December and “Being a Latina and a little bit about a lot of areas, but also serves as its secretary to the can’t become an expert on any one board, has spent her first few female in leadership, it’s issue,” she said. months on the job learning how important I give back and Many people do not realize the things work at John Carroll, share what I’m learning complexity of issues general counsels making “preventative work” a top must handle. priority. with others.” “Universities have a broad range She is reviewing and developing – Maria G. Alfaro-Lopez of legal relationships that most policies to limit the school’s expo- general counsel, people don’t associate with sure to litigation, and devising ways John Carroll University educating students, such as to streamline the contract review owning real estate, investing and approval process, a big chunk endowments, managing federal of a college general counsel’s work- She put her service ethic to work research dollars, issuing bonds load. quickly. Her undergraduate and law school days included intern- and hiring a very wide variety of A perfect fit ships with the Mexican American employees from … faculty to physical plant workers to athletic For Ms. Alfaro-Lopez, leaving Legal Defense and Educational coaches,” said Georgia Yuan, presi- Michigan — where she grew up, Fund, and one of Ms. Alfaro- dent of the National Association of where her family is and where she Lopez’s first jobs as a lawyer was College and University Attorneys spent her entire career — was not for a legal aid group in Wayne and general counsel of Smith easy. But she decided the job at County, Mich. College in Massachusetts. JESSE KRAMER John Carroll provided the perfect She then moved into higher Maria G. Alfaro-Lopez, general counsel for John Carroll University, joined the environment to satisfy her passions: education with positions as a To-do list Jesuit college in December and also serves as its secretary to the board. learning, serving and justice. university attorney and assistant general counsel for Wayne State Once Ms. Alfaro-Lopez is more University and then the University settled in her role at John Carroll, of Michigan, where she spent nine she would like to pick up where years. she left off in Michigan as far as OVERWHELMED BY OPTIONS FACING YOUR BUSINESS? She eventually left academia to community service goes. serve in various municipal govern- “Being a Latina and female in ment positions, the most recent as leadership, it’s important I give city attorney for Highland Park, back and share what I’m learning Mich. with others,” she said. “I see that But it was in helping others happening (in Northeast Ohio), I Confused by which direction to take? Look that Ms. Alfaro-Lopez realized she just don’t know what it will look like to Roetzel & Andress for the legal guidance wanted to return to higher educa- yet.” tion. Another priority is transitioning you need. her family to the Cleveland area. A learning experience Her husband, an immigration Our more than 200 attorneys, practicing in In one of her mentoring roles for attorney, is holding down the fort young Latinos a few years ago, Ms.