An Exemplary Lawyer and Leader
Steve Jemison ’75 has made a profound impact on the legal field through his work in practice and in the community. Rooted in his values and a desire to help, Jemison has found ways to inspire and empower the next generation of legal professionals.
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Jemison comes from a family of educators. It wasn’t until he was in college that he considered the possibility of becoming a lawyer.
“I liked the idea of trying to achieve something that might not be achievable,” he said.
After earning a degree in history from Elmhurst College, Jemison came to Ohio State Law. He credits his classmates, several of whom he still keeps in touch with, as the most impactful aspect of his law school journey.
“When people are thinking about going to law school, I don't think they realize just how hard that first year is,” Jemison said. “I had really collaborative, kind, and supportive classmates. I think that was the most important thing in helping me get through.”
Jemison’s professional career began at the Federal Communications Commission, but he always wanted to practice labor law.
“I was interested in the practical application of the law versus the scholarly application of the law,” he explained.
He then worked at the National Labor Relations Board and, from there, was recruited to start the labor and employment practice at Procter & Gamble. He eventually became chief legal officer at P&G and retired after spending 30 years with the organization.
Jemison has also been involved with the Law & Leadership Institute (LLI) since its founding in 2008. LLI is a statewide initiative that supports students from underserved communities for post-secondary and professional success. Through a comprehensive four-year program, students learn about the breadth of opportunities available in law and develop skills in leadership, analytical thinking, problem solving, writing, and professionalism. Jemison served on the board for about 12 years and is proud of the impact LLI is making.
“The vision of LLI came from people, like our own (former dean) Nancy Rogers, who saw a need to give kids better training for their futures, and it’s working,” he shared. “Over 90% of our students graduate from high school, and almost all who complete the program go on to college.”
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Jemison’s professional accomplishments are numerous, but he finds the most meaningful parts of his career to be times when he was just able to be helpful.
“One thing I always wanted in my job was to help people solve the problem that was in front of them,” he said. “To me, the greatest successes come from the combination of efforts to solve someone's problem.”
Jemison also appreciates the relationships he has built and maintained throughout his career.
“When you help someone through a difficult issue, you've often established a bond that becomes permanent,” he said.
When giving advice to give young legal professionals, Jemison encourages them to be patient and take their jobs one day at a time.
“Pressure is self-imposed,” he said. “You’re not going to win every time. If you've done your best, though, it's easier to go on to the next case as opposed to carrying a loss as if it's a burden.”
He also advises them to focus on the big picture and find opportunities to make a difference.
“When you're finished with your career, you're not going to want to be known by what you became,” Jemison said. “You want to be known for the things that you did with and for other people along the way. Focus on the impact you can have day by day, person by person, and project by project.”
