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Ohio State Bar Association, 1700 Lake Shore Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43204
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kenneth Brown – 800-282-6556 or 614-487-4426

OSBA Leadership Academy Begins New Class

Columbus, Ohio (January 4, 2011) – The Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) this week will begin the second class of its Leadership Academy designed to identify future leaders in the legal community and provide them with support and training.

"Last year we initiated the Leadership Academy to help prepare young lawyers to become leaders in their firms, in their communities and in the legal profession. This program provides participants with access to the vast resources of the Ohio State Bar Association and the legal community, and will help them assume leadership roles in the coming years," said Carmen V. Roberto, OSBA President.

Specifically, OSBA's Leadership Academy seeks to:

• Identify and train lawyers for future opportunities for leadership in the Association, the profession and in the community;
• Nurture effective leadership with respect to ethical, professional and community service issues;
• Raise the level of awareness among lawyers regarding the broad range of issues facing the legal profession and to build relationships among legal leaders across state and experience levels; and
• Create a cadre of lawyers upon which the OSBA, state and local government entities, local bar associations and community organi¬zations can call upon for leadership and service.

This interactive leadership training program is conducted during a seven-month period. Sessions cover issues such as leadership, ethics and professionalism; state and local government; access to justice; community service, economic development; etc. Participants learn skills to become effective writers and public speakers. They become problem solvers and effective lawyer leaders. Speakers and mentors include leaders from the bench and bar, state and local government and the community. At least 12 credit hours of CLE are available for the program. At the conclusion of the program, each participant is asked to prepare an individual leadership plan based on their experiences in the Academy.

"This year's class includes lawyers who are already involved in their communities and have demonstrated their leadership potential by their actions," said Roberto. Members of the new class include lawyers from large and small firms, in large cities and small towns, from a variety of legal disciplines. Here is the list of the 2011 participants:

Class size for Academy programs is limited to 24 lawyers. Candidates must be in practice at least five years but less than 10 years. Invitation to the Leadership Academy is made by the president of the Association upon nomination. Selection is based on many factors, including stated commitment to the goals of the Academy; and diversity (geographic, gender, ethnic, racial, age, disability, etc.).

The Ohio State Bar Association, founded in 1880, is a voluntary association representing approximately 25,000 members of the bench and bar of Ohio as well as nearly 4,000 legal assistants and law students. Through its activities and the activities of its related organizations, the OSBA serves both its members and the public by promoting the highest standards in the practice of law and the administration of justice.