CONTACT: Kenneth A. Brown, OSBA, 800-282-6556 or 614-487-4426
Columbus, OHIO (August 19, 2009) – David Barbee would be the first to admit that he gets emotionally involved as the volunteer staff attorney for the Mahoning County CASA/GAL Program (Court Appointed Special Advocates/Guardian Ad Litem), but as a father of four young children he finds it difficult to suppress his emotions when he hears the heartbreaking stories of abused and neglected children.
Barbee, an attorney with the Youngstown firm of Roth, Blair, Roberts, Strasfeld & Lodge, has been volunteering for the last six years at the Mahoning County CASA/GAL Program. He has provided countless hours of legal advice, providing pro bono (without pay) services such as filing legal paperwork, preparing volunteers for court and representing the program in appeals.
“CASA has extremely dedicated staff and volunteers who are working in the juvenile court system to advocate for the best interests of children who have gone through so much in their young lives,” Barbee said. “It is satisfying for me to help them through the legal process in order to find the best ways to help the children.”
For his volunteer service to CASA, Barbee recently received the Mahoning County Bar Association’s Distinguished Service Award. He humbly accepts the recognition but feels he is just one of the many lawyers in Ohio who give of their time and talents. He stated, “Every lawyer has a passion or interest outside of the office or courtroom, and it’s nice to discover opportunities to put our legal training to use in ways that support our communities.”
Barbee has been a member of the Ohio State Bar Association since 1989 and is a member of the Association’s Insurance Law Committee. His past pro bono work included service to the Community Legal Aid Services’ office in Mahoning County for victims of predatory lending.
Barbee earned his bachelor’s degree in history from The King’s College in New York, and he graduated from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1986. He lives in Columbiana with his wife, Sarah, and their children, ages 2 through 9. He is active in his community as a youth soccer coach and as a member of The Old North Church in Canfield.
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. The OSBA CLE department has served Ohio’s legal professionals for more than 40 years and provides a full-service curriculum.
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