ATTORNEYS
EDWARD L. GILBERT
OWNER
EDUCATION
1976: Graduated from the University of Akron School
of Law, Akron, Ohio, with Juris Doctorate Degree.
Served as President of the Black American Law
Students of American, Akron Branch.
1973: Graduated from the College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio.
Major: Theoretical Economics
Minor: Speech
Activities included varsity football and officer of the Black Student Union.
Received the Schwartz Award for general excellence in college work.
1969: Graduated from Zanesville High School, Zanesville, Ohio.
Activities included varsity football, three years;
Varsity track, three years.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
3/2011 Elected President of the Akron/Canton Barristers to
to Present Association, this is a group of predominantly African-
American Judges and Attorneys in the Akron/ Canton community.
5/2007 Self-employed in the firm of Edward L. Gilbert Co., LPA.
to Present concentrating in civil rights and employment law.
Performing the same duties as previously noted from 1989 to May 2003.
9/2012 Appointed by the Ohio State Legislature as a member of
to 6/2017 the Constitutional Modernization Commission
5/2003 Partner in law firm Slater, Zurz & Gilbert, concentrating
to 5/2007 in civil rights and employment law. Employs 22 lawyers
in the Akron/Canton areas.
1989 Self-employed in the firm of Edward L. Gilbert Co., LPA
to 5/2003 The Gilbert Law Offices are owned and operated by
Edward L. Gilbert, who employs on occasion, two to three Lawyers. The firm is in general practice, concentrated in the area of employment law. The firm makes its offices in Akron and Canton, Ohio.
The Gilbert firm maintains a general docket of approximately 30 civil rights cases. The Gilbert firm is the only firm in the Summit-Stark County, Ohio area that has been recognized as an expert in the area of civil rights litigation from the Plaintiff's perspective.
Since its birth in approximately 1982, the Gilbert Firm has been able to secure actual judgments from juries in civil rights cases totaling well over $3,000,000.
Also expert in small business contracts and employment matters, the Gilbert Firm represents approximately 25 small businesses and agencies.
Legal counsel for local NAACP (Akron, Canton, Barberton, Massillon, Alliance, Portage County, Mansfield).
1980 In private law practice. Associations with the following
to 1989 firms:
Parms, Purnell & Stubbs
Parms, Purnell, Stubbs & Gilbert
Parms, Purnell, Gilbert & Stidham
Parms, Purnell & Gilbert
While in private practice with the different firms, Gilbert concentrated in the area of civil rights litigation.
In October, 1984, received the first $1,000,000 verdict from a jury on a police misconduct case under 42 U.S.C. 1983 in the State of Ohio. Judgment was settled on appeal.
1980 Assistant Summit County Prosecutor.
to 1982
Duties included prosecuting all types of criminal cases, recommendations for sentencing, and on occasion, providing legal assistance to Summit County Sheriff's Department.
1978 Human Relations/Personnel Director for U. S.
to 1980 Department of Labor projects for the City of Canton and
Stark County, Ohio.
Duties included preparing an Affirmative Action Plan, Personnel Handbook for Department of Labor projects, establishing a disciplinary procedure for employees working in said project, and monitoring the proper expenditure of funds to assure compliance with EEO guidelines.
1977 Worked in Industrial Relations at Firestone Tire
to 1978 and Rubber, Akron, Ohio.
Duties included assisting in interpreting union contracts, handling disciplinary action in regards violations of company policy and procedure with hourly employees, assisting in arbitrations.
Late 1975 Worked with the Summit County Prosecutor's Office
to 1977 as Legal Intern and on special assignments.
Duties included presentation to Grand Jury on evidence to seek indictments, preparation for cases for trial, handling research for all types of criminal cases.
1974 Worked as Chief Investigator and Legal Intern for the 1975
to 1975 Summit County Public Defender's Office while going to the
University of Akron. Some classes were scheduled in evening hours, thereby allowing for a reasonably full working schedule.
Duties included investigating criminal cases, from murders to soliciting.
Received Intern Certificate in 1975, thereby allowing actual trials to juries and the court with minimal supervision by licensed attorneys. Tried approximately 15-20 cases.
SCHOLARSHIPS FINANCED
1999 University of Akron School of Law: Established Gilbert to 2003 Jurist-in-Residence
1999 University of Akron School of Law: Established Gilbert
Book Scholarship - Endowment providing books for underprivileged students
1995 Gilbert Foundation at St. Hilary's Church: Established to
assist in providing tuition for underprivileged students at St. Hilary's School, Akron, Ohio
ACTIVITIES
Feb 2018 Interview with Leon Bibb on Kaleidoscope
Dec 2017 Child & Family Advocates of Cuyahoga County Juvenile
and Family Law Symposium, A Child-Centered Approach
to Child Advocacy
Apr 2017 Panel on foster care at Lakewood Library
Apr 2017 Spoke at Mahoning County Children's Services event
(Pinwheels for Prevention)
Dec 2016 Appearance on VoiceItRadio.com
Nov 2016 Spoke at Barberton High School.
Oct 2016 Spoke at Celebration for Human Services even at the Q.
Oct 2016 Appearance on Live on Lakeside.
Sept 2016 Spoke at Faith Place.
Aug 2016 Spoke at Zanesville High School.
Jul 2016 Spoke at University of Akron, Ayer Hall.
May 2016 Appeared before the Ohio Senate Finance Committee
and testified in support of House Bill 50, which combined
with Senate Bill 240, extends financial support for foster
children up to the age of 21. Attorney Gilbert’s moving
testimony outlined his experience in the foster care
system. House Bill 50 became effective September 13,
2016.
Apr 2016 Spoke at Bethel Community Center in Zanesville.
Apr 2016 Spoke at Lake High School.
Apr 2016 Spoke at Trumbull County Children’s Services event.
Apr 2016 Appearance on 1590 AM Radio.
Apr 2016 Appearance on J. Knight Smiley’s Radio Show.
Mar 2016 Appearance on American Law Radio.
Feb 2016 Appearance on David Malik’s Radio Show.
Dec 2015 Published Swallowing Nickels, A Memoir of a Welfare
Child, which details his struggles growing up as an
African-American child in the Indianapolis welfare system
and held a book signing at Fairlawn Country Club.
Sept 2012 Appointed by Ohio State General Assembly as a member
of the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission.
Jun 2011 Appointed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Solomon
Oliver, Jr. to the second term on Advisory Group to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
Mar 2011 U.S. Magistrate Search Panel. Appointed by U.S.
District Court Chief Judge Solomon Oliver, Jr. Served as lead panel member.
Sept 2010 Lecturer to Sixth Circuit Judges on Retaliation. Also a
lecturer at the Cleveland Marshall School of Law regarding Employment and Labor Law
Feb 2009 Seminar presentation "Valuing the Federal Civil Rights
Case" at the Honorable Judge Nathaniel R. Jones Federal Court Institute
May 2008 Akron Bar Association Diversity Committee
2007 Appointed by U.S. Northern District of Ohio Judges to
review qualifications of U.S. Magistrate Judges for reappointments.
2006 Appointed by the U.S. Northern District of Ohio Judges
to Present as a member of the Federal Court Attorney Advisory
Board. (Attorneys meet with the federal judges such as
ways to improve court services to the legal profession.)
2006 Appointed by U.S. Northern District of Ohio Judges to try to Present and assist indigent parties in prosecuting and defending
cases in the US District Courts
Oct 2007 Presenter and lecturer at Joint Community Workshop on
"teaching citizens on proper interaction with law enforcement officers". Warren, Ohio. Also participated in the workshop Warren, Ohio Post of the State Highway Patrol
Member of the Ohio Association for Justice
Member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America
Oct 2006 Guest Lecturer. Ohio Trial Lawyers Association.
Reviewed legal cases on anti-smoking litigation. "Waiting to Exhale" seminar.
2004 Chairman of the Akron Bar Association Certified
to 2007 Grievance Committee
2004 Speaker at Street Law Programs at Revere High School
to 2006
2006 Speaker at the University of Akron Black Alumni Law
Students Association (emphasis on How to Practice Law
and Do Not Cheat Clients)
Member Summit County Democratic Party Finance Committee
1984 Former Special Counsel to the Ohio Attorney General
to 2001
Former Board member for the Akron Urban League and
Community Center
Former Executive Board member for the Great Trail Council Boy Scouts of America
Former member of Allocation Committee of the United Way
Chairman and Past Chairman of the Legal Redress
Committee for numerous branches of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (Akron, Canton, Alliance, Massillon, Portage County, Barberton, Mansfield, and Zanesville Chapters)
Former Executive Board Member for the Region 10 Council on Alcoholism
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
Present Long standing member of Saint Hillary's Church and
member of the Knights of Columbus First Degree
June 2023 Received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the
members of The College of Wooster's Administration,
Faculty, and Alumni Board
May 2016 Testified in support of House Bill 50 before the Ohio
Senate
April 2016 Received Black Male Summit Award
Dec 2015 Published Swallowing Nickels, A Memoir of a Welfare
Nov 2015 Received Life Membership in the Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference
Feb 2010 Honored as a "past and unforgotten leader'' in the Akron
area by Greater Bethel Baptist Church
Feb 2010 Awarded "Mason of the Year'' by Akron Prince Hall Free
and Accepted Masons
May 2008 Akron Bar Association Diversity Committee Certificate of
Appreciation for Minority Clerkship Program
Aug 2005 Sponsor of University of Akron School of Law, Gilbert
Juris and Residence Annual Program
Apr 2006 University of Akron "Outstanding Alumni" Award
2005 Chairman of the Akron Bar Grievance Committee
to 2007
1999 NAACP National Outstanding Corporate Membership
Award
Dec 1997 Highlighted in U.S. News and World Report on
developing legal dialogue in the local community on racial relations
1993 Honorary Past Potentate, AI Kaf Shrine Temple #109
1992 Received "Outstanding Noble of the Year" Award from AI
Kaf Shrine Temple #109.
1991 Provided Legal Assistance to the State Representatives to 1992 serving on a Committee to assist in drafting new
legislation for the State of Ohio Civil Rights Act
May 1990 Received 33rd Degree from the Free and Accepted
Masons
1989 Recipient of the National Association of Black
Accountants' Role Model and Leader Award of the
University of Akron
1988 Received the Black Law Enforcement Officers
Association Criminal Justice Award
1986 Honored by the Akron Beacon Journal as one of the top
five young lawyers in Northeastern Ohio
1986 Received the Boy Scout Whitney Young Award
1984 Named outstanding legal counsel for the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People (Akron and Canton Chapters).
SPECIAL INTERESTS
2001 Legal tours of Europe and Western Africa. Purpose of
tours to Present is to review legal process in civil rights
areas
Dec 1991 Legal tour of Republic of South Africa
to Jan 1992 Purpose of the tour was to review the legal system of
South Africa and to establish relationships
1991 Akron Area Network for International Friends
to Present Purpose of organization is to establish friendship on an
international level, entertaining delegations from Africa, primarily lawyers and judges, on their friendship tours to America
1987 Legal tour of Republic of Kenya. Sponsored by the Ohio
Bar Association. Purpose of trip to review the economy and establish relationships with Republic of Kenya
1986 Travelled on a legal tour through the Ohio State Bar
Association to China and Hong Kong. Purpose of trip to review the legal system
1985 Travelled to Senegal, Africa; Gambia, Africa; Ivory Coast,
Africa; Liberia, Africa. Purpose of trip was to review the economic conditions in the country
MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITIES
Appointed Member of the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission
Ohio State Bar Association
Akron Bar Association
Member of the Ohio Association for Justice
Member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America
33° Prince Hall Mason
Life Member of NAACP in the following locals: Akron (wife and son also life members), Alliance, Canton, Massillon, and Portage County
National Bar Association, former active member
Federal Bar Association, former active member
Member of Finance Committee for Summit County Democratic Party (1990-2010)
Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (oldest black fraternity in United States)
