Ohio State Bar Association welcomes new team members to build on efforts to increase access to attorneys, protect the public

The Ohio State Bar Association (Ohio Bar) recently added to its talent pool as it ramps up efforts to address Ohio’s lawyer shortage, particularly in rural communities, and continues its commitment to upholding the highest ethical standards in the practice of law by investigating and holding accountable attorneys and judges when they fall short of those standards.

Attorney Amy Milam has joined the Ohio Bar team as rural and general practice counsel, and attorney Christopher Klasa has signed on as bar counsel.

Milam is no stranger to mission-driven associations like the Ohio Bar, having most recently served as associate state director of advocacy and outreach for AARP Ohio and former director of legal education and member engagement at the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. In each of these roles, she worked to advance public policy at the state and federal levels through education, increased awareness and building strategic community partnerships.

This experience will serve Milam well as she leads the Ohio Bar’s efforts to encourage more lawyers to practice in underserved communities, to inspire more young people to pursue careers in the law and to provide support to Ohio’s solo, small firm and general practitioners, ensuring they have the practice resources they need to serve their clients well and help in closing the legal services gap in their communities.

Currently 82 out of 88 counties do not have enough attorneys to meet the legal needs of the population. That includes Pike County, where Milam grew up. She went on to earn her undergraduate degree in communication studies from Ohio University, cum laude, and her J.D. from Capital University Law School. She began her legal career in private practice, allowing her to bring that important perspective to her new role.

“Ensuring all Ohioans have access to quality legal services has become a major challenge as we aren’t producing enough new lawyers to make up for those nearing retirement and younger attorneys are more likely to practice in our cities,” Ohio Bar CEO Mary Amos Augsburger said. “Amy is someone who has lived in a rural community, practiced privately and has a strong track record of bringing key stakeholders together to solve problems, and we are beyond excited to put her to work to tackle this issue.”

Klasa will serve as a member of, and staff counsel to, the Ohio Bar’s Certified Grievance and Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL) committees. Each is made up of Ohio Bar member attorneys who review complaints, investigate and, if necessary, prosecute attorney or judicial misconduct and cases against individuals who provide legal advice though they are not licensed or trained to do so. Through both efforts, the Ohio Bar works to protect the public in close collaboration with the Supreme Court of Ohio via its Office of Disciplinary Counsel, Board of Professional Conduct and UPL committee.

Klasa comes to the Ohio Bar from the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, where as its bar counsel over the last four years, he led similar efforts. At the Ohio Bar, as he did in Cleveland, he will also educate and develop resources for Ohio Bar members to keep them current on the latest developments in legal ethics.

Prior to his bar service, Klasa spent 16 years as a litigator with respected Cleveland firms, including Thomason Hine LLP and McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman Co. LPA. He earned both his bachelor’s, cum laude, and his J.D. from Cleveland State University. And even prior to becoming at attorney, he cut his teeth in law firms as both a paralegal and docket clerk.

“Chris is a terrific addition to the Ohio Bar team as we continue to do our part to uphold the highest standards in legal ethics,” Augsburger said. “Chris is perfectly suited to support and lead our volunteer attorneys on the Grievance and UPL committees as well as to provide outstanding counsel and resources to help our members keep up with professionalism standards and avoid ethical pitfalls.”

Klasa is currently working alongside the association’s current Bar Counsel Kelly Heile, who will be moving on at the end of the year following her expected election to the Butler County Court of Common Pleas. She is running unopposed.   

About the Ohio State Bar Association: Founded in 1880, the Ohio Bar is the state’s largest legal network, representing attorneys, judges, legal professionals and law students who are committed to the highest standards in the practice of law. The Ohio Bar proudly serves its members and the public through its continued work to promote justice and advance the legal profession.

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