Michael Lawson works as a senior attorney for SEOLS. “I love that I get to help people who would otherwise simply be dragged along by society, with no real voice. I get to be their voice. I get to help others. It is a very satisfying role. I switched from owning my own private practice to be a part of bettering the world,” he says about his work with SEOLS. 

Bar & Court Admissions

• State of Ohio 
• United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio 
  

Bar Activities

• Ohio State Bar Association, Member 

Publications

• Clarke v. Royal 20 AP 366, 10th District Appellate Court: It was a wrongfully withheld deposit case. A few issues were discussed by the court that were ultimately upheld. The landlord wrongfully evicted Michael’s client and kept her deposit. Michael’s client won her deposit back, doubled by the applicable statute and got judgement against her landlord for attorney fees. The attorney fees awarded to her included the appeal process as well. This case is cited by Iskin, Blacks Law, and the publication that the Supreme Court of Ohio issues to new judges and magistrates for Ohio Landlord Tenant Law. 
  

Education

• Capital University Law School (J.D., 2014) 
• Shawnee State University (B.A. in business, summa cum laude, 2009) 
  

Personal

Outside of work, Michael enjoys being outdoors doing activities like camping, kayaking, fishing, gardening, hunting, or just going for a hike. On occasion, Michael can be found after work or after court, still in his dress attire, fishing one of the local rivers. So, if you see a guy in a suit fishing, say hi! It's probably him.