70 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG
JANUARY 27, 2017
Strategic Counsel. Effective Advocacy.
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Miller Goler Faeges Lapine llp Steven Miller Michael Goler Jay Faeges Kenneth Lapine Deborah Michelson David Kunselman
216-696-3366
www.MGFL-LAw.com
CONGRATULATIONS 2017 Super Lawyers Brad Bennett, George Crisci, Jon Dileno, Deanna DiPetta, Jonathan Downes, Michele Jakubs, Jeffrey Wedel, Andrew Zashin, Stephen Zashin 2017 Rising Stars Amy Keating, Ami Patel, Christopher Reynolds, David Vance, Patrick Watts
workplace & family law | cleveland 216.696.4441 | columbus 614.224.4411 | zrlaw.com
LOCAL LAWYERS
ANDREW NOVEMBER Balin Law KRISTEN MOTT | STAFF REPORTER @KristenMottCJN kmott@cjn.org |
After switching his major several times while pursuing his bachelor’s degree at the University of Cincinnati, Andrew November finally settled on criminal justice, inspiring him to seek a career in law. “That was probably the first area of interest that clicked with me. I felt so natural doing it,” November said. Graduating with his bachelor’s degree in 2006, November attended the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, earning his degree in 2009. But job prospects were bleak in Cleveland at that time during the recession. Instead of giving up, November remained persistent. “I knew I wanted to be a court attorney, that’s all I wanted to do. I probably contacted every attorney I could think of in Cleveland. I sent my current boss (Paulette Balin) email after email,” November said. “She finally responded and gave me an opportunity. She said, ‘If you want to be in court, you can work for me.’ I was in court nine days later after being sworn in as an attorney.” November joined Balin Law in Mentor in 2009. He exclusively practices disability litigation with a focus on representation before the U.S. Social Security Administration. He also represents veterans who have illnesses or injuries sustained in service. Recently, November has shifted his focus to disability discrimination for deaf individuals. He credits his wife, Keri, who was born profoundly deaf, for expanding his horizons. She’s also the one who taught him American Sign Language. “She’s opened my eyes to this world of advocacy that’s needed for the deaf population, especially here in Cleveland. I had zero familiarity with it before. … As far as I know there are no other attorneys in this area who know sign language,” he said.
Andrew November
City: Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood Firm: Balin Law Areas of practice: Disability litigation November takes his passion for disability rights into the community, too. He serves on the deafness advocacy committee for the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center and is a trustee and chair of the disability section for the Ohio Association for Justice. He’s also an executive member of the MetroHealth N.E.T Council of Emerging Young Professionals. For November, the most rewarding aspect of his career is the advocacy work and being able to help people who can’t help themselves. “I have clients who come in just ready to give up and who are so firmly convinced that the system is set up that way. They expect it. They’re beat down and they’ve been told no so many times,” he said. “You see the same pattern of discrimination and for people with disabilities, it makes their lives contentious. It makes their lives a fight. It’s nice when I can do that fight with them.”