Wheeling Park High School graduate Laken Lee Schodzinski has accomplished so much at such a young age.
Schodzinski graduated with honors from Wheeling Park High School in 2015. As a Patriot senior, she earned college credit by attending Ohio University Eastern in St. Clairsville. She graduated from Ohio University in Athens with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a minor in English in 2017. That same year she began law school at Capitol University in Columbus as the youngest in her class at the age of 20.
During law school, Schodzinski interned for The Honorable Edmund A. Sargus, Jr., U.S. District Judge. After graduating law school during the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked as staff attorney for the Honorable Terri Jamison, Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Division of Domestic Relations and Juvenile Branch.
At only 24 years of age, Schodzinski opened her own practice, The Schodzinski Law Firm LLC in August of 2021. In addition to her role as a sole practitioner domestic relations attorney, she also works as a guardian ad-litem, parenting coordinator and mediator. She has an undefeated trial record and is the chair of the Guardian ad Litem Sub-Committee of the Columbus Bar Association Family Law Committee. She was named a “2022 National Elite Lawyer” and selected as a “Super Lawyer for 2023.”
Schodzinski attended parochial school through her elementary and middle school grades. She attended Wheeling Central Catholic High School as a freshman, but she transferred to Wheeling Park for her remaining three years of high school. She said she truly enjoyed her time at Park, and she especially enjoyed her classes with history teacher Jacob Galik.
“I liked my time at Park, and it was great,” Schodzinski said. “I made tons of friends immediately. There is so much diversity at Park representing so many walks of life. Mr. Galik was definitely a positive influence on me. He was great, and what I learned made me want to help people.”
Schodzinski said she is also grateful for the help of Ohio County Schools Attendance Director Amy Minch who was the principal at Wheeling Park when she became a Patriot student.
“Mrs. Minch helped with my transition to WPHS in the middle of my Sophomore year,” she said. “Furthermore, she was instrumental in guiding me through college credit which, in turn, allowed me to graduate from high school with two years of college toward a bachelor's degree.”
Schodzinski said she knew she wanted to be an attorney from a very young age, and she laughed when she said her initial inspiration came from the 2001 film “Legally Blonde.” As a divorce attorney, she also deals with property issues and child custody matters. Although she is working with clients who are going through very difficult times, she finds her work rewarding for a very specific reason.
“I want to help people,” Schodzinski said. “I’m helping people who are vulnerable and don’t know what’s next. I want to protect them emotionally and financially, and it’s a good feeling. It’s a big responsibility, but it’s rewarding to help people. I love what I do. It can be exhausting, but I wouldn’t change anything.”
Schodzinski is the daughter of E.J. and Lorri Schodzinski and has two siblings, Rhett, Wheeling Park Class of 2017, and Jana, who is a Patriot freshman. Lorri Schodzinksi is also the office administrator at Schodzinski Law. Laken is married to Dr. Dave Wise and resides in Powell, Ohio.
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