Chicago, Ill.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; Dayton, Ohio; Covington, Ky.; Indianapolis, Ind. and Phoenix, Ariz.

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP is pleased to announce that the firm was presented with Just the Beginning’s Law Firm Partner Award at the 2^nd Annual JTB Fall Friendraiser & Reception on Nov. 13 in Chicago. Just the Beginning is a not-for-profit organization of judges, lawyers and other citizens dedicated to developing educational programs to inspire and foster careers in the law among students of color and from other underrepresented groups, from middle school through law school.

The award spans all cities where Just the Beginning has a presence and is given to the law firm partner whose volunteerism and support has impacted Just the Beginning and its students. “Taft volunteers truly enjoy working with Just the Beginning and enthusiastically support the organization’s mission,” commented Daniel R. Saeedi, Taft Chicago attorney and JTB liaison.

Taft Indianapolis attorney Julian Harrell also works closely with Just the Beginning. He has been impressed by the organization’s growth and dedication to the future of underrepresented students, noting that “JTB’s commitment to helping students is apparent. It is a true pipeline organization dedicated to diversifying the landscape of the legal community.”

As indicated above, Taft partners with Just the Beginning in both our Chicago and Indianapolis offices. Following are two recent examples of our involvement:

• This summer in Chicago, Taft hosted a Legal Ethics Day for JTB’s high school summer institute students. Taft Chicago attorneys and other corporate attorneys worked with the Chicago-area high school students, who were placed directly in legal hypotheticals and asked what they would do as the attorneys. The hypotheticals centered around four ethical topics: the attorney-client relationship, conflicts of interest, social media issues and the duty to report. The students offered insight and perspectives on these issues, and the attorneys guided the students toward understanding the reasons why certain ethical rules exist. Leading the topic discussions were Taft attorneys Rachel L. Schaller, Judith S. Sherwin, Erin Lynch Cordier and Megan K. McGrath.
• Earlier this year in Indianapolis, Taft hosted oral arguments for JTB’s Summer Legal Institute. Throughout the program, students visited law firms and federal court, heard from numerous lawyers, judges and law students, and honed their writing and speaking skills. Taft attorneys Thomas A. Barnard and Julian Harrell, both members of Taft’s diversity committee, volunteered for the program and attended the closing ceremonies. Both attorneys were impressed by the students’ critical-thinking and problem-solving abilities, skills that are important in any professional or academic environment.

Across the firm, Taft attorneys and staff members actively participate in the communities we serve, volunteering for public service projects focused on strengthening our neighborhoods, schools and charitable organizations.

Taft attorneys Kim Copp, Julian Harrell, Rachel Schaller and Dan Saeedi