Lavelle is what his wife refers to as a "re-nuisance man", a person with many (non-profitable) interests. Lavelle, who has a Bachelor of Business administration degree, studied drama under Chris Columbi at Kent State University before attending law school at Case Western Reserve University. Lavelle has practiced law for over thirty years and is admitted to the United States Supreme Court. Lavelle is President of the Trustee of the Maple Heights Presbyterian Church and also serves as a Guardian ad litem in the Domestic Relations and Juvenile Courts of Cuyahoga County, Ohio