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Orientation
Getting Started Fall Orientation at Cincinnati Law
m o r f e m Welco
r e k c u R n a e D Congratulations on your decision to attend the University of Cincinnati College of Law! At Cincinnati Law, we believe your success is our success, and the entire Cincinnati Law community embraces its responsibility to educate and guide you in your development as a legal professional. This education and guidance will begin during Week One. The purpose of Week One is to introduce you to the fundamental skills underpinning the study and practice of law, and to introduce you to the high standards of professionalism we expect in the Cincinnati Law community. You will also meet and interact with colleagues who will accompany you on this professional journey, as well as the faculty and staff who will guide you. We invite you and your family to an informal social event on the Sunday afternoon before Week One formally begins. Additional details about the informal social event are forthcoming. The official start of Week One will be the following day, Monday, August 13. During Week One, new students are expected to attend sessions each day at the College of Law from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You will have assignments to complete each evening in preparation for the next day’s sessions, so please plan your schedules accordingly. I am excited to welcome you to the Cincinnati Law community, and I look forward to meeting you in August. I am confident you will find Cincinnati Law a truly exciting place to study law and develop as a legal professional. Should you have any questions about Week One, please feel free to contact me directly. Warm regards, Staci P. Rucker, J.D. she/her/hers Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs & Diversity 513-556-0065 staci.rucker@uc.edu
1 2 0 2 f o #Class 1
The Purpose
OF WEEK
ONE
• To introduce and apply the fundamental skills underpinning the study and practice of law. • To self-assess your level of competency in these fundamental skills and identify which academic success options are of value to you. • To help you prepare for the intellectual and time demands of legal study. • To make explicit the performance expectations of legal study, for which you will be held accountable. • To introduce the values and professional norms of the Cincinnati Law community members and the legal profession. Week One is not about mastery of the skills and knowledge required to study law, but rather building awareness of these expectations. In becoming aware of these fundamental skills we hope you will make a commitment to on-going self-assessment with the ultimate goal of mastery of each of these skills. Indeed, mastery and expert performance are a function of time and application over the course of a career. This is, in part, why we refer to it as legal practice.
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SCHEDULE “Day One: Nuts & Bolts
Nuts and Bolts is so named because this is the day we have designated for you to complete the administrative tasks needed to help you get acclimated to the College of Law. Because you will have your class photograph and individual headshots taken, we request that you wear professional courtroom attire on Monday.
“NUTS & BOLTS“” - MONDAY 8:00 – 8:45 a.m.
Registration with Coffee/Pastries
9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Dean’s Welcome Dean Verna Williams welcomes you to the Cincinnati Law Community. Orientation Overview 9:30 –9:45 a.m. Who Are My Classmates? 9:45 – 11:00 a.m. Center for Professional Development Overview 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Introduction to Information Resources and Technology
12:00 p.m.
Class Photo (professional attire)
12:15 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch in Small Sections with your Structured Study Group (SSG) Leaders
Administrative Checklist: By the end of “Nuts and Bolts” be sure to: Get your photo ID Buy books Obtain your locker assignment Receive assistance from IT on wireless and computer set-up Familiarize yourself with TWEN and Blackboard and periodically check throughout the week for first-day assignments Take a University of Cincinnati tour Take a break – visit one of the nearby coffee shops and take a breather. This week is packed with activities so be sure to give yourself time to decompress.
1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Student Resource Fair Professional Headshots
PROFESSIONALISM DAY – THURSDAY, AUGUST 16
Thursday, August 16, is Professionalism Day. As such, the day will focus on the ethics, dedication and competence required of those choosing to enter the profession. The day will culminate with a Call to the Profession Ceremony, marking your entry into the profession with a pledge and Cincinnati Law pin. The ceremony will be followed by a welcome reception with College of Law faculty and staff. Please wear professional courtroom attire on Thursday.
ATTIRE FOR WEEK ONE We request that you dress in professional courtroom attire for the class photos on Monday and for Professionalism Day on Thursday. On these days, men should wear a business suit, or slacks with a button down shirt, blazer, and tie. Women should wear dresses, or a business separates with a jacket. Bare shoulders are not appropriate. For all other orientation events, the recommended dress is business casual attire. Business casual attire means a collared shirt with an optional jacket. Inappropriate clothing includes shorts, jeans, t-shirts, sneakers, flip-flops and gym clothes. Bare shoulders are not appropriate. 3
DAYS 2-5 The remainder of the week will be spent introducing the foundation of our system of law and the fundamental skills of legal study and practice.
Foundations of Law These plenary lectures are delivered by College of Law faculty and are designed to introduce you to: The Structure and Purpose of the American Legal System; The Origins of Common Law and Other Sources of Law; and The Trial and Appellate Process. For Foundations of Law we have chosen the text Whose Monet? An Introduction to the American Legal System.
Fundamentals of Legal Study The study and practice of law presumes a command of advanced concepts and skills of rhetoric, logic, and composition. An absence or deficiency in these skills will limit your immediate success in the study of law. For this reason we squarely address these skills, in the context of law, in the offering Fundamentals of Legal Study. Depending on your prior educational and career endeavors you may find yourself unpracticed in one or more of these skills. Truly, no law student arrives fully prepared for the demands of law school. Fundamentals of Legal Study allows you to review these skills, and practice their application, in the legal study context, to assess your level of ability and comfort. Equipped with your self-assessment and feedback from your Fundamentals of Legal Study professor, you may determine which Academic Success Programs are best tailored to your success in law school. At the core of these fundamental skills is the ability to think, reason, and write as a lawyer. For this reason, we have chosen the text: Expert Learning for Law Students.
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for Week One StrengthsFinders You will need to acquire a new copy of the StrengthsFinder book and complete the on-line assessment prior to orientation. Please read Parts I and II as well as the corresponding strengths from your assessment outcomes.
Whose Monet? Before Tuesday August 15th, the first meeting of Foundations of Law, please read Chapters 1 – 6. These chapters may not correspond with earlier editions of the text, in which case, read all content leading up to the chapter on The Common Law.
Expert Learning for Law Students
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Before Tuesday August 15th, the first meeting of Fundamentals of Legal Study, please read Chapters 2 and 9. Chapters 3-8 are highly recommended reading.
William Howard Taft Statue
Outcomes of Week One
The College’s most famous alumnus, William Howard Taft, is the only person in history to be both President and Chief Justice of the United States.
By the end of Week One you will be able to articulate: • The skills that are fundamental to legal study, • The skills and processes utilized in legal study and practice, • The structure of the American Legal System, and the role of the attorney, client, and court in this system. Also, by the end of Week One you will have your own self- assessment and the feedback of your Fundamentals of Law Professor to gauge whether you wish to participate in the optional co-curricular Structured Study Group Program.
A note on reading in law school
In law school, reading is assigned as your professor deems necessary for your coverage of the law. You are expected to complete reading in advance of class. As is the case in all forms of graduate study, particularly in the professions, the expectation is that you have gone beyond mere reading of the text having committed time and energy to understanding, questioning and engaging the text. Class meetings are spent analyzing and applying course material. This in-class analysis (demonstrated by the Socratic Method) can be intense and fact–specific. Given the depth of in-class analysis it is common that some assigned reading will not be actively discussed in class. This is not meant to suggest that this reading is extraneous. Indeed, content from assigned reading will rightfully appear on law school exams, and the bar exam, and for this reason should not be dismissed. As the semester progresses, if you find that you are having difficulty understanding certain legal concepts and would appreciate some greater review of those concepts, please know that your Structured Study Group Leaders, Professors, and the Library Faculty will provide you with information on how to access legal study guides and other materials that may assist you in your class preparation and exam review. These additional materials are not a substitute for the assigned class readings but may help further your understanding of the law. 5
Week One
BOOK LIST
ORIENTATION READING LIST >> Whose Monet? An Introduction to the American
Legal System (Second Edition)
ISBN-13: 978-1454873150 ISBN-10: 1454873159 Author: John Humbach Publisher: Aspen Publishers Amazon: Paperback - $24.49 (New)
>> Expert Learning for Law Students (second edition) ISBN-13: 978-1594605451 ISBN-10: 1594605459 Author: Michael Hunter Schwartz Publisher: Carolina Academic Press Barnes & Noble: $30.60 (New) Amazon: Paperback - $30.01 (New)
>> StrengthsFinder - Top 5 CliftonStrengths Access You will need to purchase access and complete the on-line assessment prior to orientation Link: https://bit.ly/2J0e3E8 E-versions for all books noted above may be used. Listed prices as of 6-10 and may change.
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A message from your
STUDENT BAR ASSOCIATION Dear New Bearcats, Congratulations on your admission into law school! My name is Maria Castro, and I am your Student Bar Association (SBA) President for the 2018-2019 academic year. We are all very excited for your arrival to UC Law and we are working hard to make sure your transition into law school is smooth and enjoyable. SBA serves as the governing legislative branch at UC Law, and acts as a liaison between the student body and the administration. SBA’s primary focus is to advocate for student interests and promote a sense of community among the members of UC Law. SBA seeks to enrich students’ law school experiences by promoting networking with area attorneys and UC Law alumnae, providing volunteer opportunities in the Cincinnati community, and hosting a number of social events throughout the year. These social gatherings include cookouts, sporting events, movie nights, cocktail parties, our annual Barristers’ Ball, and more. Enclosed with this letter, you will find a calendar of SBA events for the upcoming year. Additionally, SBA funds the activities of numerous student interest organizations. These groups host various events, ranging from educational discussions to professional development trainings. SBA promotes an inclusive environment committed to providing a supportive space for students of all walks of life. For information on our active student organizations, please visit the College website at www.law.uc.edu/student-orgs or join us for the organization fair and cookout on Friday, August 17th! Whether you need to decompress after a tough week of reading or seek to experience all that Cincinnati has to offer, SBA is here to help you enjoy your time at Cincinnati Law. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about SBA, UC Law, or Cincinnati, please reach out to me via email, phone, or Facebook. SBA is here to make your law school experience rewarding and worthwhile. I look forward to meeting you in August, and cannot wait to welcome you to UC Law in person. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and we will see you at orientation! Sincerely, Maria C. Castro President, Student Bar Association castromc@mail.uc.edu | (513) 208-8824 University of Cincinnati College of Law | Class of 2019
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YOUR FIRST-YEAR SBA
*
Calendar
of events.
Fall Semester August SBA Cookout & Organization Fair, Friday, August 17 Back to School Party, Friday, August 17 Day of Service, Saturday, August 25 September Taft Week, Monday-Saturday, September 11-15 October UC Homecoming, Saturday, October 6 Halloween Party, Friday, October 26 November No SBA Events December Good luck on finals!
Spring Semester January Welcome Back Party, Saturday, January 19 February Barristers’ Ball, Saturday, March 9 March Enjoy Spring Break! April Hooding Auction, Friday, April 5 May End of Year Party, Friday, May 10
*Calendar subject to change
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Day of Service SATURDAY, AUG. 25, 2018 CHECK-IN @ LAW SCHOOL: 8:00 AM SERVICE: 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
WHAT: The purpose of this event is to have law students and local attorneys work together in providing service to the Cincinnati Community. Please join us and take advantage of this great opportunity to network and give back! Breakfast, Lunch, and T-shirts will be provided. REGISTRATION: Register at the following link by the registration deadline of August 1st: https://bit.ly/2L4Vmgr SELECTED LOCATIONS: Bethany House, Crayons to Computers, Joe Nuxhall Miracle League, Sweet Cheeks, and St. Vincent Food Pantry. Please do not wear nice clothing because you will be doing various forms of physical activities.
For more information contact: Jade Robinson robin3j6@mail.uc.edu
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SERVICE
LAW Your bridge to anywhere.
law.uc.edu/admissions-aid/admitted-students
See you in August!
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The designer of Cincinnati’s Roebling Suspension Bridge, and later, it’s sister — the Brooklyn Bridge