Community Legal Aid has honored three Mahoning Valley attorneys for their volunteer efforts during the year in observance of this year’s Law Week.

Honored are Cherie Hill Howard of Youngstown, Columbiana County attorney Mary C. Simballa and Michael Buzulencia, who has offices in Warren and Canfield.

“Typically, these attorneys are named during Law Week events held the first week of May. While events have been canceled or postponed due to COVID-19, Legal Aid would like to recognize and thank them,” said Jodi Roberts, Legal Aid communications and development manager.

Michael Buzulencia

Buzulencia has 35 years of court experience, has participated in Legal Aid’s volunteer program for more than a decade and helps clients pro bono with a variety of legal issues, especially bankruptcy. Buzulencia also has given his time to lead Legal Aid-sponsored training events.

He graduated from Cleveland Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University and was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1984. His primary focus is civil litigation with an emphasis on financial matters, such as bankruptcy.

He also serves as Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee and is a board member for several local nonprofits organizations. Buzulencia is a member of the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, the Ohio State Bar Association and the Mahoning County and Trumbull County Bar associations.

Cherie HILL Howard

Howard has been a volunteer with Legal Aid since 2013. She regularly serves at the Financial Wellness Workshop, helping clients understand legal options related to debt. She also participates in Legal Aid’s newly formed Clarence Darrow Clinic in downtown Warren, helping clients who facing financial and housing problems.

Howard received her law degree from the University of Akron School of Law and was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1982. She worked at Northeast Ohio Legal Services, the former Community Legal Aid, as a senior attorney and managing attorney of the Youngstown office before retiring in 2013. Howard is also a member of the Trumbull County Bar Association.

Mary C. Simballa

Simballa joined Legal Aid’s volunteer program in 2016. She has assisted clients pro bono with issues related to housing and simple estate planning documents. Her law office concentrates on estate planning and real estate issues.

Twice earning the CALI Excellence for the Future Award as a top scoring student, Simballa graduated from the University of Akron School of Law in 2014. She passed the Ohio State Bar Exam in 2015.

An adjunct professor at Kent State University at Salem, she teaches business courses, including business law and ethics.

gvogrin@tribtoday.com