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Community Legal Aid hosting open house events to share new executive director’s vision
TRACEY BLAIR
Legal News Reporter
Published: June 2, 2017
Even before he graduated in 1996 from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Steven McGarrity knew he wanted to help low-income people with their legal needs.
He was hired at Community Legal Aid in 1997, and became the nonprofit law firm’s associate director in 2009.
“Within months, I was hooked. Twenty years later, I’m still here,” McGarrity said.
The 48-year-old Warren resident took over as Community Legal Aid’s executive director Feb. 27 after former leader Sara Strattan retired.
Community Legal Aid serves the legal needs of eligible people in central and northeast Ohio. It offers free legal information and representation, and free education to those who work with the poor and elderly.
There are staffed offices in Akron, Canton, Warren and Youngstown, and appointment-only offices in Lisbon, Medina, Ravenna and Wooster.
McGarrity was chosen as executive director after a five-month, nationwide search that included board members, managers and union members.
“Steven shared an inspiring vision for the future of Legal Aid under his leadership,” Board Chair Nancy Grim said in a news release. “Clearly evident was his commitment to social justice, coupled with his hands-on experience as a staff attorney and associate director.”
McGarrity was born and raised in Los Angeles.
He graduated from California State University, Northridge, with a degree in political science.
“I came to Ohio to go to law school at Case,” he said.
The youngest of six children, McGarrity’s father was an engineer for Hughes Aircraft Co. and his mother was a nurse.
“My older sister is also a lawyer, but I beat her to it,” he quipped.
McGarrity and his former high school English teacher wife, Vivian, have two children, ages 6 and 9.
“My wife’s Greek, so we’re pretty involved in the Greek community,” he said. “My kids do Greek dancing and Greek school. I also chant at church.”
In his spare time, McGarrity enjoys tinkering with technology.
“I’m a gadget freak,” he said. “I’ve also done a lot with technology at our firm.”
In 2015, McGarrity was named a Where Health Meets Justice fellow, funded through the National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership.
McGarrity’s proudest moments include taking on credit and collection cases after the financial crisis hit for despondent clients who felt there was no hope.
“People thought there was nothing they could do if they were sued,” he said. “We were achieving a 60 percent dismissal rate of those cases because the debt collectors were not complying with the law at all.
“I love seeing the positive impact we have on clients. When we’re able to help a victim of domestic violence and they come back and tell us how grateful they are? That’s really what it’s all about.”
Legal Aid has been hosting Open House events at their offices to allow the public a chance to meet the firm’s new executive director, hear his vision for Legal Aid and tour the offices.
An Open House is scheduled for June 5 at the Warren office, 160 E. Market St., and June 20 at the Youngstown office, 11 Central Plaza.
Both events will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and refreshments will be served. RSVP to jconnolly@communitylegalaid.org.