Judge Lanzo and son: partners in law and life

The judge watched both his sons play football in different states on the same day.
By ZACH STIPE
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
STRUTHERS -- Despite being a successful lawyer in the Mahoning Valley area, Judge James R. Lanzo did not want his oldest son, James E. Lanzo, to follow in his footsteps.
"I tried to convince him to go to medical school instead of becoming a lawyer and getting involved in this rat race," the judge said. "The hours are unbelievable. You can work from seven in the morning until eight at night."
Yet, there was Jim sitting right next to his father amid another busy day at their law office on Youngstown-Poland Road.
"I couldn't persuade him otherwise," Judge Lanzo said.
The judge, 61, and his oldest son, Jim, 34, smiled and laughed as they recounted their time together.
In spite of the long hours and hard work their job entails, it is obvious the attorneys enjoy their lives.
Jim didn't decide that he wanted to become a lawyer until the tail end of college. He interviewed with some medical schools, but sided with the scales of justice.
Started as teacher
Unlike his son, Judge Lanzo, of Struthers Municipal Court, wanted to be a lawyer since he was kid, but he opted to become a chemistry teacher first. Three years after his teaching career began he decided to attend law school at the same time.
While at the University of Akron Law School, he married his wife, Kristine, and the couple had Jim. The judge acknowledges that it was difficult to juggle his family, teaching and law school.
Judge Lanzo began practicing law in 1973. In 1976, he became the law director for Struthers. In 1993, he became a judge. Today, the elder Lanzo works as a judge part time and as a private lawyer.
"I really like the challenge," Judge Lanzo said of his profession.
While growing up, Jim idolized his hard-working father.
"Listen, I thought my dad was the greatest thing going," he said. "He was pretty much my hero."
Ever since Jim can remember, his dad was involved with law and politics.
Idolized his dad
Jim still gets excited when remembering how, as a child, he used to follow his dad everywhere, even during political meetings.
"I used to tag along around him all the time," he said. "I got to hear all of these tremendous conversations about city government and local politics."
In addition to allowing young Jim to follow him around, the judge took time out of his busy work schedule for his family.
The Lanzos attended countless Cleveland Browns and Indians games together and took at least one vacation every year.
One thing nice about being a lawyer is that you get to set your own hours, Judge Lanzo said.
Sports helped to develop a strong father-and-son bond when the elder Lanzo was not working. "I'm a sports nut," the judge said.
Both of Judge Lanzo's sons, Jim and Jason, played football for Struthers and continued their gridiron careers in college. Jim played center for Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va., while Jason lined up at defensive end for Malone College in Canton.
Two games in one day
One of Judge Lanzo's fondest memories is watching both sons play college football games on the same day.
The judge saw his younger son play for Malone against Westminster in Pennsylvania, and then he hopped on a plane to catch Jim start against Morehead State in a night game in Huntington.
The father loved watching his children compete in sports and rarely let his work get in the way of being a spectator.
Jim's favorite memory is of his dad asleep on bleachers at the Ohio High School Athletic Association's Track & amp; Field Championships because he was so tired from a long week of work.
Despite an especially hard week, Judge Lanzo drove down to Columbus to watch Jim compete in the shot put, and was so tired that he fell asleep among the crowd after watching his son throw.
The pair have been in practice together since 1998 when the younger Lanzo became a lawyer.
"I probably wouldn't want to do this any other way," Jim said. "Coming out of the gate it was nice to have somebody with 24, 25, 26 years of experience that could basically mentor me."
Jim's arrival into the profession benefited his father as well.
"The other nice thing is when you get a guy out of law school like Jim who is very competent and works well with computers," James said. "You get new ideas about practicing law."
In constant contact
The two contact each other at all hours of the day.
"He'll call me at like 5:30 in the morning," Jim said.
They both acknowledge that being attorneys has downfalls, but that the profession can be rewarding.
"There are certain aspects that are less than pleasant, but some of it is wonderful," Jim said.
Today, Father's Day, Jim will bring his kids, Jimmy and Sophie, over to his dad's house in Struthers.
Just as his dad attempted to deter him from the profession, Jim plans on steering his kids away from law, too.
As the two wrapped up their father-son discussion, Judge Lanzo wondered aloud if "maybe some other kid named Lanzo will become a lawyer."
"Not if I can help it," Jim said with a smile.
Whether another Lanzo becomes a lawyer will not affect the practice's business for quite some time, though. The judge believes the office is in good hands.
"I'm 61 years old, and it's nice to know that whenever I leave this profession my son is going to carry on and the office will keep going," he said. "I don't plan on leaving. [But] it's nice to know somebody is there, though."