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Longtime attorney takes the helm at the Portage County Bar Association
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: May 12, 2011
Portage County native Stephen Smith has spent most of his life following the advice his parents gave him as a child, “treat people how you would want to be treated, and don’t look down on anyone,” and it has served him well.
After almost 20 years in private practice and 12 years as acting judge in the Portage County Municipal Court, Smith recently took the reigns as president of the Portage County Bar Association.
“One of my favorite things about practicing in Portage County is the sense of justice that permeates the courts,” said Smith. “Whether you are a criminal defense attorney, prosecutor or judge, everyone is concerned about coming to a just resolution.”
Smith grew up in a large family in Kent, Ohio, and today lives right next door to the home where he was raised.
He opened his law practice in 1992, where he handles criminal, bankruptcy, probate and family law matters. In 1999, he took on the responsibility of serving as acting judge, which he said has been an invaluable experience.
“It gives you a different perspective,” said Smith. “I believe it has helped to make me a better attorney because I can see things from all sides.”
Several years ago, he was asked to become a member of the Portage County Bar Association’s executive committee, and he agreed, serving first as secretary/treasurer, and then as vice president between 2010 and 2011.
“We dealt with some important issues, including taking a position on former Chief Justice Thomas Moyer’s proposed decertification of the local grievance committee,” said Smith.
“Had it gone through, smaller counties, including this one, we would no longer have had a grievance committee, and we did not think that would serve us well. We believe it’s important for attorneys to have their local grievance committee take a look at the problem first before we send it along to Columbus. At the moment, the proposal appears to have been tabled, so we have not taken any recent actions.”
On April 4, Smith began his new position at the bar association, which entails everything from planning events and appointing committee members to working to get the organization’s website up and running, to make it easier for attorneys in the county to connect and share information.
“The website should also make it easier for the public to find their attorney or find an attorney with the expertise needed to address their legal issues. Past president, James Ickes, has pushed this project to the point where a website is expected in the next couple months,” said Smith.
Members of the bar association are also discussing the proposal to build a new municipal courthouse in Kent, but there has been no formal position taken yet.
“I’ve known him for about nine years,” said Ickes. “He came on board when I was vice president and he has been helpful ever since.
“I think he cares about doing a good job, and he wants to improve the bar for its members.”
As a partner at Williams, Welser, Kratcoski & Can, L.L.C., Ickes said he and Smith have been involved in some of the same cases, and Ickes has also been before him as judge.
“I think he is always fair and diligent,” said Ickes. “As an attorney, he takes a practical approach to the law, and he works zealously on behalf of his clients.”
“One of things I’m most proud of is that our bar association was one of the first in the state to offer help to people who were affected by the mortgage crisis,” said Smith.
“When Magistrate Robert Burger came to me to discuss the idea, it had not yet been required. The response from the bar was great. People signed up and got on board right away. We set up a free assistance program to help people through the mediation process, and I think many foreclosures were averted as a result.”
Smith’s term as president will end in April 2012. In the meantime, he has set out several goals, including expanding membership in the bar, and increasing participation by existing members.
“We have a great group of men and women practicing law in this county, and we have good experienced practitioners. These experienced attorneys have always been welcoming to the newer attorneys, and provided assistance and direction to any query. There is a lot to be learned from the more seasoned attorneys, much of which is just how to represent your client zealously, civilly and with integrity, which seems to have been abandoned in so many aspects of our lives.”
Smith said he would also like to start a committee that would serve as a referral service for attorneys who have questions on specific topics.
“They could be referred to an attorney or two with substantial experience in that area of practice, and the committee could ensure the same one or two attorneys aren’t always fielding the calls, but that the assistance is divided among many attorneys. I think this would be particularly helpful for the newer attorneys,” he said.