LCCS has named Angela Russell as the agency’s new chief legal counsel, succeeding Shelby Cully, who has moved to the position of director of disproportionality reduction, training, and quality assurance. Ms. Russell previously served as legal services manager.
In her new role, Ms. Russell will oversee the LCCS legal department, court-related operations, and will provide legal counsel on the agency’s policies, practices, and procedures. She will also advise LCCS leadership on navigating the complex system of laws and regulations the agency must follow in the protection of children and promotion of safer, stronger, and more stable families.
Ms. Russell firmly believes she’s ready for the new challenges she’ll face. “Whenever we make changes in position, there are going to be certain challenges that come with it,” she admitted. “You just have to mentally prepare yourself and be willing to work hard so you can maintain and develop those competencies.”
Ms. Russell believes that she has the skills required to make some of the tough decisions that are part of this position. “The legal process can be intimidating for parents and children. We want to strike a balance in our approach in how we protect children and connect families to services so they can address their issues. Sometimes figuring out how to marry the legal process and the social work aspect can be difficult,” she explains.
Ms. Russell has been with LCCS for 19 years, starting her LCCS career as a staff attorney. She is a native Toledoan and a long-term member of the Toledo Bar Association. She completed her undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Toledo after earning an associate’s degree in paralegal studies. She takes great pride in rising through the ranks to now lead the department where she’s spent her entire agency career. “It feels nice. It feels like I have the history behind the department, it feels like I’ve learned the department from its very basic purpose,” she noted. “That feels great.”