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Columbus Bar inc

Columbus Bar inc
Professional Development Center
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Heather Clingerman

Law School: Capital University, 2012

Court Admissions: Ohio

Bar Memberships: CBA

Why did you decide to be a solo attorney participating in Columbus Bar inc?
Columbus Bar inc offers attorneys a unique opportunity to strike out on their own while still maintaining some of the support offered in a traditional, multi-attorney law firm. I had considered opening my own law practice, but found the task intimidating. I read many disciplinary opinions involving solo attorneys who had problems with properly managing their small office. This program provides much needed support to make sure solos get the expertise they need so that these office management problems do not arise. The structure of the program provides mentoring and networking that can help new solos develop proper office plans. With this support, I know I can successfully begin my own practice and have proper management procedures in place from the start.

What area(s) of law does your solo practice focus on?
My law firm will focus on child and family law. This will include divorce, dissolution, child custody, child support, alimony, prenuptial agreements, same-sex agreements, guardian ad litem, adoption, surrogacy agreements and juvenile law.

What made you choose your primary area of law?
After I started working with the National Center for Adoption Law and Policy, I discovered I have a real passion for family law issues, particularly child welfare. While not all family law issues involve children, many do, and it is important to recognize how family law decisions impact the children. Further, adoption and surrogacy provide many people with a way to create a family and is a very rewarding area of the law. When I decided to primarily practice family law, I considered what ideas prompted me to go to law school in the first place, the idea that I wanted to help people. I feel that family law will allow me the greatest opportunity to directly impact people's lives.

What will make your law firm unique?
I intend to provide compassionate, personal services to my clients. I understand that family law issues can be extremely emotional and difficult for all parties involved. I want to show my clients that these issues can be handled in a way that can minimize stress. I believe in providing clients with excellent legal advice and representation as well as customer service. No one should have to wonder what is going on with their case, so I will strive to make myself as accessible as possible to all my clients.

Summary of previous employment:
I am currently volunteering with Southeastern Ohio Legal Services where I am taking on pro bono domestic relations cases. While in law school, I clerked for a couple of attorneys who practiced in domestic relations and criminal defense. I also worked with the National Center for Adoption Law and Policy as a student intern. There, I focused on updating the Center's child welfare and adoption law databases and researched current law for a foster youth initiative. During my final summer of law school, I had the opportunity to work as an extern for the Honorable Justice Lanzinger at the Supreme Court of Ohio.

Describe your personal interests and hobbies:
When I'm not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband, son and our two dogs. I enjoy traveling and discovering new places to visit, both in Ohio and beyond.

Questions about Columbus Bar inc?

Contact Jocelyn Armstrong at 614/340.2030 or at jocelyn@cbalaw.org