A Path Chosen Early
Most people don’t grow up knowing exactly what they want to do with their lives. Zach Baber did—well, mostly. “From about eight or nine years old, I knew I wanted to be a public defender… or an NFL player,” he says. “Those were the only two options.” Life, of course, had a way of narrowing that path.
Humble Beginnings
Long before Baber & Baber became a well-known name, it started with a simple idea and a lot of uncertainty. Brad Baber didn’t begin with a polished office or a big team. He started in a basement of a sewing shop in downtown Huntington. There was no door, no real separation–just a desk, a phone (one that had been loaned to him), and a belief that he could build something of his own. He had worked at a firm before, but something didn’t sit right. “I was doing all kinds of law–family, personal injury, tax–and I felt like I was committing malpractice every day because I couldn’t keep up.” What he really wanted was focus: criminal defense. Helping people in the moments where everything in their life was on the line. So he took the leap. He didn’t know what he was doing… but he just did it. And 30 years later, that decision still echoes.
Trial by Fire
Before opening his own practice, Brad spent three years as a Navy JAG attorney. There was no easing into the job. “They throw you right in… sink or swim.” His very first case was a serious one and one he’ll never forget. “I won my very first case. My client was exonerated. The family would send me cards and gifts for years, thanking me for saving his life.” That experience didn’t just build confidence, it shaped his purpose.
Growing Up in the Work
For Zach, the law wasn’t something he discovered later in life. It was always there. He grew up hearing stories most people never hear; the stories behind the headlines, the people who didn’t have anyone showing up for them, the ones the world had already judged. That perspective stuck. In college, he began working alongside his dad, taking classes during the day and helping with casework whenever he could. By the time he reached law school, his path was clear. He leaned into it, taking storytelling classes, working with the Kentucky Innocence Project, and focusing everything on criminal defense. “I knew exactly what I wanted to do.” In 2015, he passed the bar, and Baber & Baber officially became a father-son practice.
Thrown Into the Courtroom
One moment stands out more than most. Zach was still in law school, operating under a limited law license. He had prepared for a case alongside his dad, but he wasn’t expecting what came next. “We’re walking into the courtroom, and right before we go in, my dad turns to me and says, ‘You’re arguing this one.’” No warning. No time to rethink it. “I thought he was joking. He wasn’t.” Zach stepped up and argued the case. “We got a break from the judge. It wasn’t because I was good, it was because I was new.” But that moment mattered. It was the beginning of learning by doing–just like his dad had years before.
How They Work Today
Today, Baber & Baber operates as a true partnership. They approach every case together, even when one is designated as the lead, bringing two perspectives to every situation. Their work spans a wide range of criminal defense cases–from OWIs and substance-related charges to high-level felonies. In addition, Zach has built a strong focus on expungements, helping individuals seal their records across the state of Indiana. Importantly, they don’t charge a consultation fee for expungements, removing one more barrier for people trying to move forward.
The “Why” Behind the Work
Ask them why they do what they do, and the answer is simple but powerful: “Most people we represent aren’t bad people.” They’re not plotting their next mistake; they’re trying to recover from the last one. “Everybody has a story.” That belief isn’t just professional, it’s personal. Zach’s high school years weren’t easy. His parents divorced, he moved frequently, and there were times when basic things, like heat in the winter, weren’t guaranteed. Football became his anchor, and later, his reason for coaching. Through coaching, he saw firsthand how many young people are carrying burdens no one else can see. “If you would have seen us on the outside, you’d think we had everything together. But behind the scenes, it was rough.”
Seeing the Whole Person
That understanding shows up in the way he approaches clients today. In their line of work, it’s easy for people to be reduced to a single decision, but the Babers don’t see it that way. They see the context, the patterns, the stories behind the choices. “A lot of people we see were introduced to drugs at a young age–sometimes by their own parents. If that had been me, I don’t know that I’d be any different.” It’s a perspective rooted in empathy but grounded in reality. “There’s a saying in social work–I’m going to paraphrase it–but if you don’t understand why a person made a choice, you just haven’t asked enough questions.” For them, asking those questions is where real advocacy begins.
A Second Chance
That mindset also drives their passion for expungement work. Because once someone is labeled, it’s hard to escape it. “People get labeled. And when they’re labeled long enough, they start to believe it.” Expungement offers something powerful: a chance to rewrite the narrative. “They’re not criminals, they’re people who made some bad decisions.” And sometimes, all someone needs is the opportunity to move forward.
More Than a Job
For the Babers, this isn’t just a career; it’s a way of life. They don’t operate on strict office hours. “We’re available 24/7. That’s just how we operate.” Their philosophy is simple: represent clients the way they’d want someone to represent their own family. That means being present, responsive, and fully invested. “It’s not really work-life balance–it’s work-life integration.”
Still Doing It Together
At the heart of it all is something simple but rare: a father and son working side by side, building something together, learning from each other, and showing up every day for people who need someone in their corner. “And honestly… we don’t want it any other way.”
