Leadership Academy

We know lawyers. We know leaders.

The Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Leadership Academy is a selective 10-month leadership and professional development program for lawyers and legal professionals ready to grow as leaders in the profession and the community.

Designed for participants with a minimum of three years of legal experience, the Academy brings together a dynamic class of professionals who are committed to civic engagement, relationship-building, and continued leadership growth.

Through monthly sessions, individual coaching, leadership assessments, CLE programming, and hands-on project work, participants gain practical tools, deeper self-awareness, and meaningful connections across Greater Cleveland’s legal community.

[Apply to the Current Leadership Academy Class]

Bring Your Leadership Skills Full Circle

Academy Calendar for the Program:

Kickoff: Late September
Monthly Sessions: Typically held on Thursdays
Graduation: Early Summer

For questions, contact Academy Coordinator, Chief Relationship Officer, Melanie Farrell by email or by phone at (440) 479-2703.

What You Can Expect:

The Leadership Academy experience includes:

Individual leadership and emotional intelligence assessments with one-on-one follow-up
Goal-setting exercises and coaching opportunities
Hands-on instruction from local experts in leadership and professional development
Exposure to legal, business, and community leaders
Opportunities to serve the community through special pro bono projects
Small-group project work designed to strengthen the legal community
A minimum of 10 hours of CLE credit and more

Ideal Candidates Have:

Minimum of three years of legal experience
Passion for the legal profession
Commitment to civic engagement and community impact
Interest in leadership and professional development
Excitement for building community relationships
Desire to expand professional networks and leadership skills

Program Topics Include:

Lawyers as Leaders
Leadership Essentials
Difficult Conversations
Building Your Healthiest Brain
The Inclusive Leader
Design Thinking
Your Potential Realized

I truly cherished and valued my time I spent at the CMBA Law Academy. Not only did it assist me to become more engaged with the bar association, it also provided volunteer opportunities, networking connections, and mentorship to invest in my professional growth. It genuinely served as a source of inspiration for my professional development journey.

Julie Terry, Esq.

Commercial Underwriting Attorney, Chicago Title Insurance Company

The Leadership Academy was an excellent opportunity to connect with colleagues and explore my own personal leadership style in a welcoming environment. Hearing how other professionals in our region navigate their own challenges made me reflect on my own leadership in ways I didn't expect, which was valuable to me.

Kelly Rochotte

Associate Attorney, Employment, Housing and Civil Rights, Bolek Besser Glesius

Through this experience, I was able to learn more about who I am and gain confidence and skills to show up as the leader, professional, and human being I want to be. This came at exactly the right time in my career and helped give me the courage to pursue goals outside of my comfort zone. I will always be grateful for everything I have learned and the incredible new network of colleagues and friends I have met.

The Honorable Anne McDonough

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division

Questions?

For questions about the Leadership Academy, please contact Melanie Farrell, Chief Relationship Officer, at [email protected].

Congratulations to the 2025 – 2026 Leadership Academy Class

Stephanie Adams, The Sherwin-Williams Company

Michael Cantu, KJK

Magistrate Sharon Ditko-Bevione, Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court

Halie Evans, Brennan, Manna & Diamond, LLC

Stephen Franks, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

Zachariah Germaniuk, Douglass & Associates, Co., L.P.A.

Jacob Hailperin-Lausch, Buckley King, LPA

Katherine Ham, Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP

Grace Goodluck, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

George Kennett, Flannery Georgalis

Katie Morgan, Morgan Law, LLC

Tas Nadas, Nadas Law, LLC

Clayton Papenfus, Cavitch, Familo, & Durkin Co., L.P.A.

Maxwell Peltz, Ritlzer, Coughlin & Paglia Ltd.

Tyler Portner, Tyler Portner Law

Thomas Robinson, Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court

Kelly Rochotte, Bolek Besser Glesius, LLC

Melissa Salamon, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

Julie Terry, Chicago Title Insurance Company