RESUME OF

LAURA CREED

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Cleveland, OH,  Legal Support Coordinator and Managing Attorney Court Resource Center  October 2019 –

● Designed, developed, and currently manage the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Court Resource Center, which provides support and services to self-represented litigants.
● In its first 40 days of operation, the Center has had 526 requests for support and services from self-represented litigants, with an average of 13/day, and covering a wide range of mainly civil matters as well as criminal.
● Support and services at the Center include:
     • Information about the legal system and Court processes.
     • Forms, directions, and other practical assistance.
     • Resources, including examples of forms or pleadings to be used as a guide,
       pamphlets, and legal reference materials.
     • Referrals to appropriate agencies and non-profits.

Legal Support Coordinator and Magistrate
May 2016 – October 2019

● Served in this newly created position to address the Court of Common Pleas initiatives on Access to Justice.
● Provided assistance to unrepresented litigants in navigating the Court.
● Coordinated and presented continuing legal education programs for court personnel and the legal community.
● Presided over both ex parte and full hearings on Petitions for Civil Stalking Protection Orders.
● Reviewed and distributed summaries of recent Supreme Court and appellate decisions of interest to the Bench and judicial staff attorneys.
● Presided over hearings and issued Magistrate Decisions on a variety of legal topics.

Chief Judicial Staff Attorney – working for Judge Michael J. Russo
November 2009 - April 2016

In addition to my regular duties as a Judicial Staff Attorney listed below:
● Appointed as a Magistrate in March 2015 to hear Petitions for Civil Stalking Protection Orders.
● Conducted orientation and training for new judicial staff attorneys.
● Advised and mentored staff attorneys on best practices for maintaining standards set by individual Judges and the Court.
● Convened staff meetings to discuss legal and other issues relating to the Court of Common Pleas.
● Responsible for procurement and distribution of requested legal materials.
● Researched legal issues and prepared memoranda to advise Judges and Administration.
● Organized and presented continuing legal education programs of interest to the department.

Assistant Chief Judicial Staff Attorney - working for Judge Daniel O. Corrigan and then his successor, Judge Michael J. Russo, December 1998 – October 2009

In addition to my regular duties as a Judicial Staff Attorney listed below:
● Assisted the Chief Judicial Staff Attorney in managing human resource issues for the department.
● Answered questions from judges, attorneys, and pro se litigants.
● Mentored and helped train department of 30+ judicial staff attorneys on a one-on-one basis and through group continuing legal education seminars.

Judicial Staff Attorney - Judge Daniel O. Corrigan and Judge Anthony O. Calabrese, Jr.

November 1995 - November 1998

● Conducted case management conferences, settlement conferences, and final pretrials.
● Researched criminal or civil issues and drafted orders and opinions.
● Successfully settled many civil cases through mediation during settlement conferences.
● Reviewed all civil motions, focusing on dispositive motions, and prepared recommendation memorandum.

Laura W. Creed, Esq., Owner, Private Practice, Cleveland Heights, OH 
1993-1995

● Effectively assisted clients with probate cases, UCC filings, advance healthcare directives, real estate transactions, domestic relations matters, and contracts.
● Developed company standards and practices for contracting with new clients, and redesigned and revised an employee manual for a corporate client.

Paolano Law Office, Cleveland, OH,  Associate, Domestic Relations/Family Law practice

1992-1993

● Successfully handled domestic relations cases - beginning with initial client interview, drafting of pleadings and motions, discovery, through to final hearings.
● Designed and implemented shared parenting plan template for use in the practice.

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION
● Louisiana State University School of Law - Juris Doctor, May 1992, Summer Study Abroad Aix-en-Provence, France, 1990
● University of Texas at Austin - Bachelor of Business Administration, Finance, May 1989
● Fundamentals of Mediation – Supreme Court of Ohio, June 2020

ADMISSIONS
● Ohio, 1993
● Louisiana, 1992 (Voluntarily Inactive)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
● Eighth District Judicial Conference - Life member
● Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation Fellow - since 2019
● Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association – Member since 2005
• Board of Directors 2019 – 2022
• Governance Committee – 2019 – 2020
• Leadership Academy – established leader cohort 2019 – 2020
• Appointed Court Rules Committee 2016 – present
• Diversity & Inclusion Committee 2018 – present ; Stokes Scholars Subcommittee
• Women in Law Section Co-Chair 2017 - 2019
• Women in Law Section Secretary/Treasurer 2016 - 2017
• Chair Food for Thought Program 2015 - 2016
• Group Leader Food for Thought Program 2011- 2014
• Women in Crisis and Fairhill Partners – Legal Brief Advice Clinics Co-sponsored with the Cleveland Legal Aid Society
• Women Honoring Women Program 2018
• Mock Trial Judge
• 3 R’s program

PRESENTATIONS
● Ohio Judicial College: Curriculum and course planning 2015 - 2019
● Ohio Association of Magistrates:
     • Anatomy of a Case – Opening the Case Spring Conference 2016
     • Civil Stalking Protection Orders Fall Conference 2019
● Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association:
     • Moderator for Authentic Leadership Panel – March 2019
     • Moderator for Judicial Panel - March 2018
     • “Bullying in a Deposition” - March 2016
     • New Lawyer Training/Boot Camp – 2006-2016
     • Best Practices in Mediation and Settlement Conferences - November 2015
     • Women in Law Panel Discussion “Balancing Work & Life” - October 2012
● Cleveland Marshall College of Law: “All About Judicial Clerkships” 2014 - 2017
● Case Western Reserve University School of Law: “Practice Area and Table Talk” 2014 and 2015
● Cleveland Association of Civil Trial Attorneys: “Jury Selection in Civil Trials” 2010
● Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas: “Policies and Procedures Seminar” 2000-2006
     • Cleveland Law Library: “Appellate Procedure” 2006

ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN THE CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN BAR JOURNAL
• “Court Resource Center: Adapting Through COVID-19 for Access to Justice” May 2021
• “Diversity & Inclusion at the Court of Common Pleas: a Story of Energy and Collaboration” March 2019
• “Food for Thought – Helping Women to Survive and Thrive” April 2018
• “Judge Matia goes to Washington” July 2017
• “Women in Law – Entirely Unremarkable?” April 2017
• “Access to Justice Attainable for All” October 2016

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
• Shaker Heights Chapter of the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland
• Chapter Chair 2020 - 2021
• Chapter Co-Chair 2018- 2020
• Board Member 2017 – 2018, 2021 - 2022
• Legacy Fellowship Committee 2018 -
• Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple
• Board of Trustees 2018 -2024
• Committee Chair – Strategic Plan Work Group on Engagement
• Caring Community Committee – 2020 President’s award
• Canopy Child Advocacy Center (CAC) Advisory Committee
• Court Process Workgroup – 2018 -
• Trauma-Informed Court Training – February 2020
• Right to Counsel (RTC) Advisory Committee - 2021