Brian Smith provides aggressive, experienced, and effective legal representation to every person served, so they feel confident that their rights are protected, their interests are served, and their results are maximized.
Mr. Smith uses his trial and negotiation skills in a successful practice where he has developed expertise in representing men and women in felony and misdemeanor criminal matters, OVI/DUI cases, and unemployment appeals. He strives to provide personalized representation, making each and every case and client his most important case.
Mr. Smith offers flat fees and payment plans whenever possible for criminal and DUI/OVI cases. He also understands that hiring a lawyer while unemployed can be very difficult, so whenever possible for unemployment appeal cases he offers contingency fees with no fee until he wins back-payments for his clients.
Mr. Smith also provides legal representation to labor unions by successfully representing them during contract negotiations, arbitrations, before federal and state courts, the National Labor Relations Board, the Ohio State Employment Relations Board, as well as the Department of Labor.
Mr. Smith resides in Huron, Ohio with his main office in Rocky River, Ohio. He provides representation along the northern coast of Ohio, from Cleveland to Toledo.
- University of Akron School of Law
- J.D.
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- Honors: While at Akron, Mr. Smith served as an assistant and associate of the Law Review, having an article of his own published in 2005. After graduating, Mr. Smith served as an instructor at Akron, preparing law students for the rigors of legal research, writing and oral arguments. While studying at Akron, Mr. Smith was awarded the Ernest Karam Award of Academic Excellence, the Federal Bar Association Constitutional Law Award, and multiple Excellence for the Future Awards. He graduated summa cum laude in the top of his class.
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- Kent State University
- B.A. (1996) | Psychology major
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- Attorney
- The Law Offices of Brian J. Smith, Esq.
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- Partner
- Sivinski & Smith, LLC
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- Associate
- Masters & Sivinski
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- How to Obtain a Union Contract in the Public Sector, ATU 268 Membership Meeting
- Top Attorneys in Cleveland & Columbus
- Cleveland Magazine
- Ohio State Bar  # 0079861
- Member
- Current
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- Ohio Employment Lawyers Association
- Member
- Current
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- Cleveland Employment Lawyers Association
- Member
- Current
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- Ohio Bar Association
- Member
- Current
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- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
- Member
- Current
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- Ohio
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- 6th Circuit
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- Free Consultation
- Credit Cards Accepted
- Contingent Fees
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Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
For many DUI, OVI and criminal matters I offer fixed flat fees with payment plans.
- DUI & DWI
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- Employment Law
- Employee Benefits, Employment Contracts, Employment Discrimination, ERISA, Overtime & Unpaid Wages, Sexual Harassment, Whistleblower, Wrongful Termination
- Arbitration & Mediation
- Business Arbitration, Consumer Arbitration, Family Arbitration
- Traffic Tickets
- Suspended License
- English: Spoken, Written
- Q. Couple both charged with misdemeanor one child endangerment. Is there anyway i can make a plea to get hers dropped.
- A: If you have been charged with child endangerment, you should get an attorney. If you cannot afford one, you can ask the court to appoint one. I do not know enough about your case to answer whether the State would drop charges against one parent if the other parent pleads. It does not typically work that way, though there may be many methods for an attorney to help resolve this.
- Q. I am applying for a school bus driving job. I had a DUI 15 yrs ago. Will this show up on the abstract?
- A: In Ohio, traffic offenses - including DUIs - remain on a person's record. They do not drop off at any time in terms of background checks. However, auto insurance companies typically only look back so far. One would expect that a school would see a prior Ohio DUI conviction if it ran a background check.
- Q. Can a judge order payment before my final pre-trial?
- A: You should clarify this with the attorney you already have. In my experience, I am familiar with a court that will permit a reduction of an OVI when the prosecutor agrees, but only if the person is able to pay a portion of their fines at the time they enter the plea to the reduced charge. I am also familiar with some courts that have a blanket rule against any offers to reduce OVIs. Of those two options, the first is better, but only so long as the person is able pay the fines.