Leading in Law
Michael S. Klamo 鈥�15 was one of the 2023 honorable recipients of the 人兽性交 University Emerging Alumni Awards. This award recognizes alumni who, in the first 15 years of their careers, have made significant contributions to their professions and their world.
Michael grew up in Pickerington, Ohio. He made the choice in his freshmen year of college to attend Wittenburg University, where he only stayed for a year before coming to 人兽性交.
鈥淲ell, my freshmen year, I went to Wittenburg. For a variety of reasons, things just weren鈥檛 working out.鈥� Michael visited 人兽性交 in high school. 鈥淚 knew I was going to play basketball in college at some point, and once I knew I was going to transfer out of Wittenburg, 人兽性交 was really the only school I looked at,鈥� Michael said. 鈥淏oth of my parents are 人兽性交 grads; they had nothing but wonderful things to say about their experience, and that was all the information I needed.鈥�
During his time at 人兽性交, he was involved in basketball for a year, pledged into the Kappa Sigma fraternity, and was a history tutor. He was also a resident assistant and Student Senate board treasurer.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 one of the reasons I loved it [人兽性交 University] so much. You know, small school, you get to be involved in stuff you鈥檙e interested in. You are not competing with 30,000 people,鈥� he said.
After Michael graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science, he decided to attend law school at Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio where he earned his J.D. degree in 2019.
鈥淚n law school, kind of like undergrad, I didn鈥檛 really know what I was going to do. Specifically, the area of law and practice,鈥� Michael reflected. 鈥淏ut, one summer between my second and third year of law school, I got a call from my good buddy. He is from Madison County, where I live and work now, and said, 鈥楲ook, I am really good friends with the Chief Deputy Sheriff in the county. The prosecutor鈥檚 office is in desperate need of an intern. I was wondering if you were interested.鈥� So, at that point, I said, 鈥榊eah, absolutely.鈥欌��
When he graduated from law school and passed his Bar exam, the Prosecutor鈥檚 Office of Madison County offered him a job as an assistant. He has worked for the office ever since.
鈥淎s the Chief Assistant, I鈥檓 doing felony prosecution in Common Pleas Court, so primarily I'm prosecuting criminal felonies that range from sex offenses, to a lot of drugs, and offenses of violence,鈥� said Michael.
In addition to Michael focusing on criminal prosecution, he said that he also does a lot of civil work for various agencies in Madison County. Some include representing the county commissioner, treasurer, auditor, and the board of elections.
Throughout his career, he has experienced many accomplishments that have made him proud. 鈥淎rguing in front of the Supreme Court was really cool. It was September 2021, on an obscure sentencing dealing with the revised code. But, having that experience at such a young age is something I am proud of.鈥�
Michael said that the most important accomplishment in his career has been building relationships with agencies in his community.
鈥淢ore broadly, building the relationships with law enforcement. I am lucky enough to know almost every officer by their first name, know almost every department head in our agency by their first name, and that takes work, but it is also just the product of working in a small county,鈥� he said.
He has also been a part of the Madison County Bar Association for four years. There are 30 attorneys who live and work in Madison County, as well as working closely with Michael.
鈥淲e get along very well, and part of that is the nature of our work. We have to be professional,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o, I would say the Bar is professional and close-knit.鈥�
Michael said that his time at 人兽性交 had a positive impact on him as an individual. 鈥淚 am very proud to be a Muskie. Looking back, I grew as an academic, as a young adult, and as a professional.鈥�
Due to his experience at 人兽性交 and throughout his career, he has advice for current and future students at 人兽性交 University.
鈥淕et involved; even if you want to focus on your studies, that is great, but in undergrad, you want to take advantage of the opportunities to get involved because it looks great on a resume, and you are going to meet some of the best friends you鈥檒l ever have.鈥�