Megan McCombs Heydlauff
EDUCATION
Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio Juris Doctor, May 2009, Magna Cum Laude • Concentration in Children & Family Law • Completed Basic Mediation and Divorce Mediation Training • Children and Family Advocates Student Group Member
Denison University, Granville, Ohio Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, Minor in Spanish, May 2006, Cum Laude • Senior Student Interviewer, Denison University Office of Admissions • Delta Gamma Fraternity: VP, Member Education; Director of Scholarship; Honor Board Member
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Family and Youth Law Center at Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio Formerly known as the National Center for Adoption Law and Policy Senior Attorney, January 2018-present Staff Attorney, August 2014-January 2018 • Manage the Permanency Roundtable Ohio Pilot Project in partnership with Casey Family Programs, the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services, and the Public Children Services Association of Ohio • Conduct research and provide analysis of state and federal statutes and case law • Provide adoption education to inmates and staff of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction • Review and draft recommended changes to current Ohio Statutes for various partner organizations including the Supreme Court of Ohio and the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services • Create toolkits including recommended legislative changes, educational materials, and best practice guidelines for the Supreme Court of Ohio • Represent clients, including adoptive families, former foster youth, and families at risk of involvement with the child welfare system with civil legal issues • Coordinate Adoption Academy, a biannual, eight-week educational series for prospective adoptive families • Present on issues related to Adoption/Child Welfare/Juvenile Justice law and policy to outside organizations including: Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State Bar Association, Capital University, and the Public Children Services Association of Ohio • Provide oversight and management for partnership projects, including The Ohio Adoption Photolisting and AdoptUSKids (adoption recruitment websites) • Act as the AdoptUSKids Ohio contact for families interested in learning about adoption from foster care • Provide counsel to nationwide inquiries regarding adoption, child welfare, and juvenile justice laws and policies • Coordinate and oversee the Family and Youth Law Center student fellowship program and junior fellowship program • Faculty representative for the Children & Family Law Advocates student organization
Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio Adjunct Professor, August 2014-present • Instructor of the Summer Adoption Law Institute, an intensive adoption law course • Instructor of the Foster Youth Advocacy Clinic, a clinical law school course
Law Offices of Elaine S. Buck, Ltd., Upper Arlington, Ohio Associate Attorney, December 2009-August 2014 • Represented clients in adoption, domestic relations, and estate planning cases • Attended court appearances, settlement conferences, and depositions • Drafted pleadings, memoranda, agreements, and other legal documents; conducted legal research
Law Clerk, May 2008-December 2009 • Completed legal research assignments in the area of estate planning, adoption, and domestic relations • Assisted with preparation of domestic relations, adoption, and estate planning documents
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations & Juvenile Division, Columbus, Ohio Extern to the Honorable Kim A. Browne, January-April 2008 • Completed legal research and writing assignments
The National Center for Adoption Law and Policy, Columbus, Ohio Currently known as the Family and Youth Law Center at Capital University Law School Intern and Research Assistant, May 2007-April 2008 • Researched/synthesized procedural safeguards in child welfare cases and open adoption statutes for website publication and responses for world-wide inquiries to the Center from adoptive families and attorneys News and Case Summary Project Team, January 2007-January 2009 • Prepared news article summaries and case abstracts relating to adoption and child welfare • Synthesized new and relevant case law for publication to the professional community
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
City of Upper Arlington, Upper Arlington, Ohio Member, Upper Arlington City Charter Review Commission, January 2018-present
Supreme Court of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio Mentor, Lawyer 2 Lawyer Mentoring Program, February 2017-December 2017
Denison University, Granville, Ohio Alumni Reunion Committee Member, 2016 Denison Alumni Recruiting Team member, 2006-present