Committee Descriptions
The Northern District of Ohio Chapter of the Federal Bar Association has many committees in which to get involved. To find out more about these committees, contact the chairperson listed below.
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The Bankruptcy Committee is a substantive law committee formed to better suit the needs of federal bankruptcy practitioners. The committee works with our Bankruptcy Court and its judges and with the bankruptcy bar to create programming and address concerns unique to this substantive area of law.
Our Chapter supports the FBA’s national civics initiative to educate students about the value of the constitutional and legal rights the federal judiciary upholds. For more information, please follow this link: http://www.fedbar.org/Outreach/Civics.aspx
The Community Relations & Public Service Committee will plan and coordinate all member activities with community and civic organizations and events throughout the Northern District of Ohio. One of the goals of the committee is to raise the visibility of the FBA inside and outside the legal community.
The Northern District of Ohio Chapter offers a variety of educational seminars to help attorneys improve their practice and meet requirements for continuing education. Some of our most popular offerings include: the annual “Trial Academy,” a comprehensive program that gives attorneys practical, hands-on court experience in front of the federal judges in our district; visiting author talks on issues relevant to diversity, equity, and inclusion; and twice-yearly seminars providing new lawyer training and prerequisites for admission to practice in the Northern District of Ohio. We also offer a variety of seminars on other topics that include professional responsibility, constitutional law, bankruptcy, white collar law, and professional and business development. Members save on the cost of FBA-sponsored CLEs and can attend our annual “Ethics, Professionalism and Substance Abuse” CLE free of charge.
The Criminal Law Committee is a substantive law committee formed to better suit the needs of federal criminal law practitioners. The Committee works with out Court, our Federal Defender's office and our U.S. Attorney's office to create programming and to address concerns unique to the federal criminal law practice.
It is the goal of our Diversity Committee to promote the diversity of our membership and to work to expand to all groups the opportunities to practice in the Northern District. The Committee works with our Court and with our fellow diverse bar associations to create programming and address concerns of our diverse body of lawyers and judges.
The Membership Committee encourages lawyers and law students to join and become active members in the Northern District of Ohio Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. To further this objective, the Membership Committee disseminates information regarding the benefits of membership and the positive contributions that the Northern District of Ohio Chapter continues to make on a regular basis to our communities.
The Newsletter Committee, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, shall be responsible for the preparation of a Chapter Newsletter to be distributed to the Chapter membership at regular intervals deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors. The Newsletter Committee shall take steps as are necessary to select the content of such newsletter, prepare the newsletter layout, and to arrange for printing and distribution of such newsletter.
The Nominations and Elections Committee shall consist of a chairperson, the President-Elect, and at least 3 other members. The Committee shall have charge and control of the nomination and election of officers and directors as provided in Article V, Sections 3 and 4 of the by-laws.
The Program Committee, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, shall plan and conduct informative and entertainment programs consistent with the objectives of the Chapter, as provided in Article II of the by-laws.
The Publicity and Media Relations Committee, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, shall inform the members of the Chapter and public about chapter activities and matters of interest through the preparation and distribution of announcements, press releases, and other such communications channels deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.
The Younger Lawyers Committee is comprised of all members of the chapter who are 36 years of age and under or who have been admitted to practice for 3 years or less. Our committee works hand-in-hand with our local federal judges on projects meaningful to the profession and to the community at large. For example, it was the Younger Lawyers that worked with Magistrate Judge Hemann to organize the "A Book of Your Own" book drive that collected over 5000 books for Cleveland City School students. More projects are always in the works, as are events planned to provide our younger members with the opportunity to work with and learn from our federal judiciary.
Our Chapter is committed to providing programming and resources to meet the needs of those who have served our country as veterans, including those who are lawyers. Currently, we are actively engaged in the FBA’s Wills for Veterans Initiative. For more information, please follow this link: http://www.fedbar.org/Outreach/Wills-for-Vets.aspx.
