Clayton J. Crates

Areas of Practice

Clay was born in Findlay, Ohio, and grew up in Toledo, Ohio, and then Pueblo West, Colorado. He 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 board member for the Defiance County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the CCNO Citizens Advisory Committee, and for the Advocates for Basic Legal Equality/Legal Aid of Western Ohio (ABLE/LAWO).

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

Bar Admissions

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

Education

Juris Doctor, University of Toledo College of Law, Toledo, Ohio, 2008
Bachelor of Arts, Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio, 2005

Community Involvement

Defiance YMCA President, 2019 – 2020
Defiance YMCA Board Member, 2015 – 2018
CCNO Citizens Advisory Board, 2018 – 2020
Defiance City Charter Review Board, 2014 & 2024
Law Library Board Member, 2010 – 2011
ABLE/LAWO Board Member, 2024 – Present
Defiance County Board of Developmental Disabilities Board Member, 2023 – Present
Northwest Ohio Bar Grievance Committee, 2024 – Present
Defiance County Tax Incentive Review Council, Member 2023 – Present

Professional Associations & Memberships

Ohio State Bar Association Leadership Academy Graduate, 2014
Ohio State Bar Association Leadership Academy Graduate, 2014
Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member, 2009-Present
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member, 2009-Present
Ohio Association for Justice, Board of Trustees, 2018 – Present
American Association for Justice, Member, 2009-Present

Notable Cases

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