Login | October 18, 2024
Legal Aid honors local attorney’s volunteer efforts
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: October 17, 2024
When he was 14 years old, Youngstown native Richard N. Schwartz was asked to participate in a Mahoning County Juvenile Court jury panel to hear cases involving other juveniles charged as delinquents in minor offenses ranging from driving without a license to theft.
"It was an interesting concept that spurred my interest in the law at an early age," Schwartz said. “It also demonstrated to me the importance of having representation when appearing in court.”
Now decades later, the retired attorney continues to volunteer with Community Legal Aid Services Inc. in Mahoning County, representing individuals from underserved areas in a variety of civil matters since the 1990s.
“While I retired a few years ago, I keep my Ohio law license active so that I can continue to represent clients,” said Schwartz. “I handle landlord/tenant cases, social security disability, bankruptcy and domestic relations issues.
“It gives me a great deal of personal satisfaction that I am able to help,” said Schwartz. “So many of our local residents are unable to pay for an attorney and this limits their access to the justice system.”
This year the nonprofit law firm paid tribute to Schwartz’s extensive efforts, selecting him as the recipient of Community Legal Aid’s Mahoning County Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year Award.
“I was surprised that I was chosen,” said Schwartz. “There are so many volunteer attorneys that give back so it was truly an honor.”
The award ceremony took place on Sept. 9 during the Mahoning County Bar Association’s Opening of Courts luncheon, which was held at the Daniel L. Rossi Auditorium at Fellows Riverside Gardens.
Since Schwartz was unable to attend, Elsa Reale-Gottfried, managing attorney of Community Legal Aid’s Volunteer Legal Services Program, accepted the award on his behalf, thanking Schwartz for the countless hours he has volunteered in the last 18 months.
“Richard has been taking cases for decades,” said Reale-Gottfried. “He has helped over 40 clients from 2023 to 2024 alone through his volunteer efforts at our Clarence Darrow Court clinics and family law clinics.
“He is truly committed to assisting the low-income community, whose residents simply don’t have the means to retain an attorney,” she said.
“He is a kind-spoken gentleman, who is knowledgeable, diligent, attentive and very patient. He listens carefully to our clients and does whatever he can to help them.
“For Richard, serving as a legal aid volunteer is truly a calling,” said Reale-Gottfried.
Schwartz grew up on the north side of Youngstown and graduated from Rayen High School.
“My father (Milton) and I were both born at Northside Hospital and we both graduated from the same high school.”
Schwartz received his bachelor’s degree in political science from The Ohio State University and earned his juris doctor from California Western School of Law in San Diego.
“I was always interested in law and politics and I thought law school was the best vehicle to pursue those interests and help the public,” said Schwartz.
After graduating from California Western in 1972, Schwartz received a Ford Foundation grant to attend New York University as a senior fellow at the Criminal Law Education and Research Center (CLEAR Center), obtaining an LL.M. in criminal justice.
He began his career in California at the state public defender office in Oceanside.
Two years later he joined the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles.
“I loved working there,” said Schwartz. “The people we represented were underserved and helping them was very inspiring and fulfilling.”
In 1981, he moved back to Youngstown and started a solo practice on North Phelps Street.
“Ohio allowed me to transfer my law license from California without having to sit for the Ohio bar exam,” said Schwartz. “My practice initially involved criminal defense, so I accepted appointments to represent indigent defendants. I also handled civil law cases.”
He met his longtime wife Diane in 1987. They dated for six months before getting married.
“She was the love of my life,” said Schwartz. “She was an x-ray surgical technician and my spiritual bodyguard. She passed away on Dec. 1, 2022 after a long illness.”
Later, Schwartz leased office space from prominent trial lawyer Don L. Hanni Jr.
“At the time, Don was the chairman of the county Democratic Party and hosted political meetings and dinners for national and state political leaders, including President John F. Kennedy.
“I remember the incredible photos of JFK that adorned the office walls at a dinner sponsored by Don at Mount Carmel. President Kennedy was a true patriot.”
In 1998, Schwartz accepted a position as a staff attorney at the UAW-GM Legal Services Plan (later known as UAW-FCA-Ford-General Motors Legal Services Plan) in Lordstown.
“I represented GM autoworkers in civil law matters that were not related to their jobs,” said Schwartz. “For example, if an autoworker purchased a defective washing machine or had a problem with a home construction negligence issue I would handle it. I also assisted with estate planning, probating of estates and social security disability cases.
“It was a legal benefit that the company provided to hourly employees under their collective bargaining agreements,” said Schwartz.
In addition to his work at the UAW-GM Legal Services Plan, he volunteered at Legal Aid, which he began doing in the 1990s when it was known as Northeast Ohio Legal Services.
When he retired from his staff position in 2019, he resumed operating his solo practice for a couple of years.
While he has no plans to reopen his law office, the Liberty Township resident said he will continue to provide services to Legal Aid clients.
“I really enjoy helping the residents of Mahoning County and I encourage other members of the bar in northeast Ohio to volunteer their services to legal aid as well,” Schwartz said.