Kirkendall Barrett, LLC

455 Delta Ave., Suite 204

Cincinnati, Ohio 45226

Fellow Young Lawyers of Ohio,

In May, there will be an election to determine the next President-Elect of the Ohio State Bar Association.
As a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, you have the opportunity to vote in this important
election. I will be casting my ballot for Patrick Fischer, and I am writing to you today to let you know
why I think Pat should serve as the next President-Elect.
Pat, a newly elected Judge at the First District Court of Appeals of Ohio, has dedicated himself to the
practice of law for nearly 30 years. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he has been named to the Top 50
Lawyers in Cincinnati by Cincinnati Magazine, to the Top 100 Lawyers in Ohio, and to Best Lawyers in
America. He has routinely been named one of Ohio’s Super Lawyers.
Additionally, Pat is very active with the OSBA (he currently serves on the Board of Governors and chairs
its Budget and Headquarters Committee). However, I didn’t meet Pat through the OSBA, and his many
accomplishments are not the only reason that he will make the Ohio bar better as its President-Elect. I
met Pat when my law firm opened in his neighborhood- Pleasant Ridge. I was a very young lawyer, both
in age and experience. Pat was an invaluable resource to me at that time, giving of his time, energy and
wisdom. While most lawyers talk about serving their communities and mentoring young lawyers, Pat
Fischer actually does it, without expectation of acknowledgment or reward. He took the time to guide a
young lawyer, because his interest in people, and in ethics and professionalism extends beyond theory.
As you may know, I am the Chair of the Young Lawyers Section of the OSBA. One of the purposes of
our Section is “to stimulate the interest of students and new members of the profession in the objects of
the [OSBA], …namely ‘to advance the science of jurisprudence, to promote reform in the law, to
facilitate the administration of justice, to uphold integrity, honor and courtesy in the legal profession…’”
When I cast my vote for Patrick Fischer for President-Elect at the Convention in May, I know that he
will help us meet our YLS challenge. I encourage you all to vote. While the voting is held during the
OSBA’s annual convention at Hyatt Regency Columbus, you do not have to register for the Convention
to vote. You may vote at the Hyatt Regency Columbus on May 4 (Wednesday) from noon to 5:30 p.m.,
May 5 (Thursday) from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 a.m., or May 6 (Friday) from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Also, if you
are not attending the whole convention, please consider joining us on May 5th for Young Lawyer Day.
Regards,

J. Ellen Kirkendall, Esq.