Clayton J. Crates

Areas of Practice

Clay was born in Findlay, Ohio, and grew up in Toledo, Ohio and also Pueblo West, Colorado. Clay received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio in 2005 and his Juris Doctor from The University of Toledo College of Law in 2008. Clay joined the Arthur Law Firm in 2009 as an associate, and became a partner in 2016.

Clay practices principally in the areas of criminal defense and personal injury. He was admitted to the practice of law in Ohio in 2008 and is currently serving in leadership roles as a member of the YMCA’s Executive Board, the CCNO Citizens Advisory Committee, and the Board of Trustees for the Ohio Association for Justice.

When Clay isn’t at work, he lives in Defiance with his wife Ashton and he enjoys cooking BBQ, playing sports, hunting, and cheering for the Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns.

Bar Admissions

  • Ohio Supreme Court, 2008
  • Northern District of Ohio Federal Court. 2015

Education

  • Juris Doctor, University of Toledo College of Law, Toledo, Ohio
  • Bachelor of Arts, Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio

Community Involvement

  • Defiance YMCA President, 2019 – 2020
  • Defiance YMCA Board Member, 2015 – Present
  • CCNO Citizens Advisory Board, 2018 – Present
  • Defiance City Charter Review Board, 2014
  • “We The Jury” Mock Trial Organizer
  • Junior Achievement Volunteer
  • Law Library Board Member, 2010 – 2011

Professional Associations & Memberships

  • Ohio State Bar Association Leadership Academy Graduate, 2014
  • Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
  • Ohio Association for Justice, Board of Trustees, 2018 – Present

Notable Cases