For nearly a decade, CWRU School of Law has been working with the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA) on an exciting project – the Cleveland Legal Collaborative. Former deans Berg and Scharf consulted with CMBA leaders to help design an incubator for recent law graduates interested in a bridge to practice while serving underserved clients under the mentorship of experienced attorneys. CWRU Law School was one of the first institutions to provide a multi-year grant to support the initiative and when the Collaborative launched this summer, three CWRU School of Law grads made up the first class of Fellows.
Under the Collaborative, select recent law school graduates receive an 18-month paid fellowship at CMBA with an in-depth curriculum exploring the nuances of representing underserved community members -- those who fall within 200 – 400% above the poverty line (the Justice Gap). The Collaborative Fellows receive office space at CMBA, access to online research tools, and are partnered with seasoned lawyers who serve as mentors and teachers. The Fellows learn to balance their practice, manage clients and develop new businesses while focusing their efforts on those who are caught in the justice gap. With one-on-one mentoring and ongoing, practical instruction, this partnership provides high-quality, fixed-fee/low-fee/no-fee legal services to those individuals who do not qualify for Legal Aid or who have issues Legal Aid cannot address.
The inaugural cohort of Collaborative Fellows, who began work at CMBA on July 1, were CWRU School of Law grads Joe Javorsky, Abby O'Leary and Tyler Portner.
Joe Javorsky is a Northeast Ohio native who recently completed his legal studies as part of a career change. Before studying law, Javorsky had a successful career in adult education. After completing his B.A., Javorsky spent over a year teaching English in Nagoya, Japan. He returned to the U.S. and pursued a master’s degree in liberal arts. Afterwards, Javorsky spent several years teaching ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) at Kent State University and Cuyahoga Community College. In 2013, Javorsky transitioned into a technical training role for five years during which time he traveled across the U.S. and overseas providing technical training to beverage producers (e.g. Coca-Cola) on their high-speed vision inspection equipment. Javorsky transitioned to law after enrolling at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 2019. During his studies at CWRU Law, Javorsky sought out volunteer opportunities with local organizations including the CMBA, Cleveland One World Day, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Catholic Charities and the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education (assisting with the Ohio high school mock trials). As a licensed attorney, Javorsky now seeks to educate members of the community about relevant legal topics in addition to assisting them with their legal needs.
Abby O'Leary is a 2024 Case Western Reserve University School of Law graduate with a strong commitment to public service. Her academic achievements are impressive, graduating in the top 10% of her class at Case and earning the Stephanie Tubbs-Jones Public Interest Law Scholarship. O'Leary has interned at legal aid organizations, including the Milton and Charlotte Kramer Law Clinic and the Legal Aid and Defender Association in Detroit, Michigan. Through this work, she has advocated for immigrants, represented low-income clients facing eviction and secured funding for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors. O'Leary is passionate about increasing access to justice. At Case, she served as an Admissions Fellow, informing prospective students about the law school and legal careers. She is also committed to social justice issues. While interning at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, she hosted listening sessions with community members on hunger and disability access and presented her findings at the White House Conference on Hunger.
Tyler Portner is a 2019 graduate of Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Admitted to practice in Ohio, Washington, D.C. and New York, he brings a multi-jurisdictional perspective to his work. Since 2021, Portner has run his own negotiation-focused practice. His expertise encompasses a wide array of legal matters, including contract disputes, real estate transactions, intellectual property and corporate acquisitions. Portner's commitment to serving the community is evident in his pro bono and low bono work. He represents individuals in various legal matters, demonstrating his well-rounded legal background. He holds certifications from the National Association of Certified Mediators and has completed extensive mediation training programs.
Case Western Reserve University School of Law is thrilled to have assisted the CMBA in launching this incredible initiative, which will launch the public service careers of its graduates and provide significantly expanded access to justice to the Cleveland community. We congratulate the CWRU alumni Collaborative Fellows!