Legal Ease

It’s easy to understand why the clients of Palecek, McIlvaine, Hoffmann & Morse, Co., LPA, look to this sharply focused team of legal professionals for judicial guidance. Straight talk, a diverse list of services and a dedication to the community are just some of the reasons this firm’s history has been anything but brief.

By: Ken McEntee
Date: 04/01/2008

The need for legal assistance doesn’t always come at a convenient time—and it often brings on considerable stress. The last thing you need to worry about at such a time is whether or not you’ve hired the right lawyer.

“It’s important when you need an attorney that you go with somebody you have confidence in,” expresses Mary Jo Morse, a partner at Palecek, McIlvaine, Hoffmann & Morse, Co., LPA, Wadsworth’s oldest and largest law firm. “Is the attorney an expert in the matter you need help in? When you talk to the attorney, do you have a sense of confidence that they are looking out for your best interests? Those are the questions you need to ask yourself.”

The six attorneys at the 37-year old firm take pride in the firm’s reputation of versatility and familiarity, and the respect it has earned in the community. By handling a full gamut of legal matters—from business law, divorce and other domestic issues, to criminal defense, financial situations and estate planning—they’ve raised the bar for client service.

“There are a lot of lawyers out there, but we are the place where clients can come and find all of these services under one roof,” explains Tom Morris, who, with eight solid years of experience, is the firm’s newest member. “Say you need to do estate planning, then your son gets a DUI, and you also require legal advice for your business. That can be a very tough job for a solo practitioner. But with us it’s straight-forward and convenient.”

Founding co-partner Jim McIlvaine agrees. “We’re large enough and experienced enough to handle the majority of individual and business issues you might have, but we’re not so large that we have to charge an exorbitant fee to cover a big overhead,” Jim says. “Our goal is to be a full-service law firm that is responsible to our community.”

If you need evidence of community service, let the record show that co-founder Tom Palecek is president of Wadsworth City Council, of which he has been a member for 4 years. Jim has 20 years of service on the Wadsworth Board of Education, including six terms as president. Linda Hoffman is a member of the Medina City Council. Andy McIlvaine, is the chairman of Wadsworth’s annual Blue Tip Festival and is active in Habitat for Humanity. Tom Morris coordinates the Blue Tip Festival Parade and is a member of the Rotary Club of Wadsworth. Mary Jo is on the board of trustees of Leadership Medina County.

“We are very community oriented,” Mary Jo testifies. “Of our six attorneys, four live here in Wadsworth and two live in Medina. Our mission statement is to provide quality legal services to the community.”

And you don’t need your own law degree to understand what they are talking about.

“We make our clients feel comfortable because we speak in understandable terms,” Mary Jo promises. “We don’t confuse them with complex legal jargon.”

And a strong reputation is critical to the firm’s standing, Tom Palecek insists.

“We are successful because people trust us to give them good advice and we are respected because of our solid legal arguments and responsible representation,” he says. “When we started the firm, we never had a goal to be huge. We simply wanted to provide good solid legal representation to our neighbors. We fight hard,
but we fight fair and we know the law. That’s why we have been around so long.”

According to Mary Jo, satisfied customers are the firm’s best closing argument.

“Our biggest marketing tool is referrals from our existing clients,” she submits. “It’s amazing how satisfied clients build referrals.”

Palecek, McIlvaine, Hoffmann & Morse is known for its flexibility by accommodating client schedules and offering payment plans. You can make an appointment with them by calling 330-334-1536 or 330-723-1580. The office is located at 200 Smokerise Drive, Suite 200, in Wadsworth.

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