Cleveland State University College of Law alumni Vincent T. Lombardo ’81 and Barbara J. Stanford ’80 both fondly remember their days in law school. The duo recalls separately taking Evidence with (now Professor Emeritus) Stephen R. Lazarus and how much each enjoyed the course.
While CSU|LAW set Lombardo and Stanford on a path to career success in the legal field and beyond, their most lasting memory is having met each other in law school. They married in 1982.
“I am forever grateful to CSU|LAW for giving me a legal education – and the opportunity to meet my wife! I had always wanted to be an attorney and CSU|LAW allowed me to fulfill my dream,” explained Lombardo.
They decided to give back to the law school that has meant so much to them by including CSU|LAW in their estate planning with a legacy gift.
Lombardo and Stanford have designated their legacy gift to the Moot Court Endowment. Lombardo was a member of moot court during his time in law school and credits the practical training he received in legal research, legal writing, and oral arguments participating in moot court as part of what set him up for career success.
“We want future students to be able to take full advantage of the Moot Court Program, to travel everywhere to compete and to be the best ambassadors for CSU|LAW,” the couple explained.
Lombardo began his career in private practice. Then, in 1984, he was appointed an Assistant Ohio Attorney General. He served for the next 27 years, representing the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, the State Employment Relations Board, and the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. Lombardo received the Ohio Attorney General Professionalism Award for exemplifying the professional standards that the OAG seeks for all employees. In 2022, he was inducted into the CSU|LAW Hall of Fame.
Before attending law school, Stanford earned a BFA in Art from Carnegie Mellon University. After graduating from law school, she practiced law for a few years in private practice before resuming her career as an artist full-time. Stanford’s media include painting, drawing, and printmaking. She’s had several solo exhibitions, as well as having been juried into several group exhibitions, and her work is included in corporate as well as private collections.
Though Stanford shifted away from legal practice, she still values her legal education. “I believe strongly in the importance of lawyers in maintaining a free and just society, and CSU|LAW contributes to that end,” said Stanford.
In addition to giving to the law school, Lombardo is an active member of the CSU|LAW community. Believing that those in the legal profession should pay their success forward to current and future law students, he has judged practice rounds for the Moot Court Program and has mentored over 60 law students through the Cleveland State University Law Alumni Association’s mentor program – and has recruited over 80 attorneys to be mentors. He is a Past President, Honorary Trustee, and Life Member of CSULAA, and has received the CSULAA President’s Award three times, the CSULAA Greatest Mentor Award, and the CSU|LAW Moot Court Alumnus of the Year Award.
He currently chairs the CSULAA Annual Recognition Luncheon Committee. The Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at noon and is expected to draw over 700 people!