Thomas J. Schaffer

Thomas Schaffer comes from a family of eight, and started working at age twelve for his father’s farm and grain elevator. Earlier on, he saw how working families struggle to make ends meet and learned the value of hard work, dedication, and commitment to family.

Attorney Thomas Schaffer was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1990. He is also a member of the Toledo Bar Association, the Ohio Association for Justice, is the Board President of the Zepf Community Mental Health Center, and is a Board Member for the Advocates for Basic Legal Equality. Thomas graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1984 with a Bachelor’s degree in Education and Economics, from Bowling Green State University in 1986 with a Master’s degree in Economics, and from the University of Toledo College of Law in 1990 with his J.D. degree.

Today, Tom has over thirty years of experience representing injured and disabled people as an attorney in Northwest Ohio. After 27 years in a large, local law firm, he struck out on his own to form Schaffer and Associates with his colleagues Laura Wilson and Marilyn Levine. The new firm’s mission is to provide dedicated and aggressive representation of people who injured and disabled.

Tom has represented injured workers in thousands of hearings before the Industrial Commission of Ohio.  He is also regularly involved in litigation, having successfully taken many cases to jury trial in Lucas and neighboring counties. During his tenure as an attorney, he has argued many cases before Ohio appellate courts, as well as the Ohio Supreme Court.

Tom believes in giving back to the community. He is a long-time board member for Advocates for Basic Legal Equality and Legal Aid of Western Ohio, where he chairs the Justice for Clients Committee. He assists both organizations with providing legal assistance to those who do not have the financial ability to pay for an attorney. Tom is also a past board member of the Ohio Association for Justice. And, he previously served as board president of the Zepf Center, which provides behavioral health and vocation services to youth and adults with severe and persistent mental illness in Lucas County.

Tom is a long-time member of the Ohio Association for Justice where he was past Workers’ Compensation Regional Representative.  He is also a member of the Toledo Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association and the American Association for Justice. He has frequently lectured on all aspects of injury law for fellow attorneys, injured and disabled workers, and labor organizations.

“I come from a family of eight where my father and mother both worked and struggled to make ends meet, week after week. I became a lawyer to help working men and women, and in particular, those that have been injured due to no fault of their own. Making ends meet is difficult enough for working men and women, but it is especially difficult when unexpected injury happens. Individuals who suffer injuries need help making sure that their claims are approved, and that their compensation and medical benefits are paid. It gives me great pleasure to help people, and I am very proud of the work we all do on behalf of working men and women at Schaffer & Associates.”