2015 Viewbook
Realize The Possibilities
2015 Viewbook
Welcome to The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
Realize The Possibilities
6 24 34 52 58
from excellence to eminence Curriculum 8 Faculty 10 Programs 12 from classmates to colleagues Journals 28 Moot Court 30 Diversity 32 from orientation to hooding Organizations 36 Ohio State 44 Columbus 46 from here to anywhere Career Services 54 Alumni 56 how to APPLY Financial Aid & Scholarships 62
“Start building your reputation for civility and, critically, for ethical conduct now. Ours is the profession of Lincoln and Darrow, of Gandhi and Mandela, and a profession of great power. The demand for ethical behavior is commensurately great. That starts now.�
Dean Alan C. Michaels
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2014 Viewbook
the DEAN
Realize the possibilities of a law school dedicated to helping each one of its students reach his or her full potential. A law school small enough to provide one-on-one faculty Education Columbia University School of Law Harvard College
interaction and career counseling,
Hometown New York
but supported by the strength and reputation of one of the world’s
Alan C. Michaels
most pre-eminent universities and
Dean and Edwin M. Cooperman Professor of Law
a faculty of dedicated teachers who are also national leaders in their
Work and Education The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law Dean, 2008 – present Professor, 1995 – present New York County District Attorney’s Office Career Criminal Bureau, 1991-1995 Major League Baseball Players Association, 1989-1991 Supreme Court of the United States Law Clerk to Justice Harry A. Blackmun, 1987-1988 U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Law Clerk to Chief Judge Wilfred Feinberg, 1986-1987
fields. A law school where community outweighs competition, innovation meets tradition, leadership is prized and nurtured, and diversity and individuality are valued and respected – all in a city where politicians, judges, and business leaders are accessible. This is The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.
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A few Things You Should Know About Alan Michaels He is passionate about teaching. So much so, in fact,
He is an avid reader. Well, isn’t every law professor? From
that while few law deans teach large, traditional classes,
historical nonfiction like Citizens of London to great pulp
Michaels has made sure to stay active in the classroom.
stories like Stephen King’s Joyland and, yes, even the Hunger
Join him for Criminal Procedure at 8:30 a.m., and you’ll see
Games trilogy, Michaels’ digital collection has a wide variety.
the award-winning professor in action.
In addition to the two listed above, what is his favorite of the past year? Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the
He is proactive. Michaels has taken a leading role in creating new types of post-graduate fellowships in bankruptcy, public interest, and corporate law for recent Moritz grads. He personally picked up the phone and recruited 23 corporate partners for the new Moritz Corporate Fellowship Program, which places recent graduates in paid positions in the general counsel offices of major corporations.
Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America. “Best book I’ve read this year, and it’s not even close. This is a truly extraordinary history. Honest, carefully researched, important, compelling and brutally true, the book greatly expands understanding of Civil Rights struggles, and the perhaps underappreciated role of lawyers in the movement. An important and fairly recent snapshot of a long history that reverberates today, delivered in page-turning fashion.”
Our school
Small classes, big opportunities
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clinics, including one of the nation’s few legislation clinics
3,50
More than
$
by the numbers
30
More than
4
skills courses
from excellence to Eminence
2015 Viewbook
75
joint degree opportunities
More than
00,000 in scholarships awarded annually
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of the first and only law school programs focused on leadership
law journals
development for lawyers
Realize The Possibilities
from excellence to eminence
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from excellence to Eminence
2015 Viewbook
At Moritz, our curriculum is defined by two principles – innovation and passion. We are constantly working with leaders in the legal community to adjust and modify our curriculum as the practice of law changes and evolves. We take great pride in what we teach, how we teach, and who is teaching. Our faculty members are passionate about their classes and are eager to help each student find a passion of his or her own. Student Voices “My best experience at Moritz,
“My favorite class so far has been
if I have to pick just one, would
Adoption Law. I came to Moritz for
have to be the classes themselves.
the Justice for Children Project.
I have been deeply impressed not
Adoption Law did not even feel like a
only by the deep knowledge of
class. In class, we discuss policy and
my professors, but also by their
why things are the way they are and
genuine interest in engaging with
how we could change them for the
the students. My classmates as well have proven to be a
better. Professor Federle really encourages us to make a big
group of very accomplished, professional, and supportive
difference, pursue our interests, and support the community.
individuals.”
She is so passionate.”
Tyler Dunham 2L, Haviland, OH, Defiance College
Jacqueline Hicks 3L, Hudson, OH, The Ohio State University
Innovative
Curriculum The unparalleled curriculum and talented faculty at Moritz are the foundation for all we do. Second- and third-year students select courses from a large and everevolving slate of offerings. The nearly 150 electives include traditional, law courses (evidence, tax, labor law, etc.), unique seminars, small enrollment specialty courses, and a variety of skill-based and experiential courses (clinics, pretrial litigation, estate planning, etc.). Students select their courses based on personal interest and career plans.
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from excellence to Eminence
Academic Areas Administrative Law and Government Regulation Alternative Dispute Resolution Civil Rights Clinics and Experiential Learning Commercial and Consumer Law Constitutional Law Corporate Law Criminal Law Education Law and Policy Election Law Employment and Labor Law Environmental Law and Energy Family Relations and Wills and Trusts Health Law and Policy Intellectual Property and Technology Law International and Comparative Law Jurisprudence and Legal Theory Law and Other Disciplines Legal Profession and Ethics Legal Writing Legislation and the Law of Political Process Litigation and the Judicial Process Public Interest Law Real Estate Sports Law Taxation
2015 Viewbook
Learning
from the best
Professor Joshua Dressler
Points of Pride
In 2014, we
added professors in privacy law and national security law.
Our faculty has been quoted by The
New York Times
more than 100 times in the last two years.
Sharon Davies Professor Sharon Davies studies the intersection of race and crime. The former assistant United States attorney has prosecuted hardened criminals in federal court and now serves as executive director of Ohio State’s Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity. In her Race and Crime class, students investigate racial profiling, sentence disparities, use of excessive force, and prisoner re-entry. In the meantime, go to Amazon.com and pick up a copy of her award-winning book, Rising Road: A True Tale of Love, Race, and Religion in America, a riveting narrative history of a 1921 murder and the ensuing “trial of the century.”
from excellence to Eminence
2015 Viewbook
“Our criminal law professor, (Professor Joshua Dressler), is one of the foremost experts in the country; one bit of proof is that my friends in law schools across Florida use our case book, the one our professor published. Because we had a professor that is, essentially, a demi-god of Crim Law, class
was fun and engaging. The
cases were beyond interesting. Our professor had high expectations for us and treated us like professionals.” Daniel Best 2L, Jacksonville, FL, Florida State University
Faculty Profiles
Dakota Rudesill When Professor Rudesill put together a 48-hour simulation as the final exam for his National Security Law and Policy course, he didn’t have to look far for inspiration. Rudesill spent nine years working in Congress on national security issues, followed by service at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. “With a topic like national security, experience and practice are essential,” Rudesill said. “When a crisis happens so many issues collide quickly and there is no great way to test for that outside of a simulation.”
Ruth Colker Professor Ruth Colker is passionate about disability discrimination. She is the author of numerous books and articles and has devised new classes on special education and advocacy. When the American Psychiatric Association proposed changes to the definitions of dyslexia in 2012, Colker teamed up with the country’s most renowned researchers on the subject to fight the changes, which she feels will lead to millions of children and adults not receiving the help they need. Students in Colker’s Special Education Advocacy class will learn to fight just as hard.
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Select
Programs Alternative Dispute Resolution Program The Alternative Dispute Resolution Program recognizes that litigation, which is expensive and long, should be the last resort, not the first. The ADR program, one of the best in the country, trains future lawyers in finding solutions outside the courtroom through negotiation, mediation, and arbitration through traditional classes,
simulations, and clinics. Law students who complete 15 credit hours in ADR courses and satisfy the externship requirement are awarded a Certificate in Dispute Resolution upon graduation.
Law, Finance & Governance @ Ohio State In the wake of the financial crisis, there is an urgent need to study global capital markets including regulation of the internal and external governance of markets, corporations, and financial institutions. The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law’s new Law and Law, Finance & Governance @ Ohio State program is a leader in that study. The program draws on the
strength of the University’s law and business schools to provide the ideas, research, and products that will provide critical information and guidance for policymakers, the industry, and academics.
Distinguished Practitioners in Residence Program The Distinguished Practitioners in Residence Program in Business Law brings judges and practitioners to Moritz to teach one-credit, concentrated courses in advanced aspects of business law. These intensive, short courses are usually held over a one-week period and provide an in-depth investigation into a specific
area of law. In 2013-14, courses included Corporate Governance; International Mergers & Acquisitions and Strategic Investments; International Joint Ventures; and Fiduciary Responsibility.
Election Law@Moritz Election Law@Moritz is a nonpartisan research, education, and outreach program. As a national center of election law expertise, EL@M is a resource for lawyers, educators, journalists, policymakers, election administrators, and citizens interested inelection law.
Law students provide extensive research assistance to this program and can take a variety of electionrelated courses.
International Trade and Development The Certificate in International Trade and Development provides students with a broad legal and multidisciplinary background in international trade, investment, and commercial law. Students receive grounding in the basic business, tax, and
commercial law courses, and are trained in domestic laws that affect international trade, such as federal trade laws that regulate countervailing duties, unfair trade practices, and export controls.
Justice for Children Project The Justice for Children Project provides law students with significant opportunities to explore the legal issues pertaining to children through course offerings, symposia, research projects, and one of the few legal
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clinics in the country representing children pro bono. Moritz is the only highly selective law school to offer a Certificate in Children’s Studies to law students.
from excellence to Eminence
2015 Viewbook
Jim Lawrence, Distinguished Practitioners in Residence Program
Nadia Zaiem 3L, Justice for Children Project
2013-2015
Elective courses Accounting & Finance for Lawyers
Critical Race Narratives
Intellectual Property Law
Administrative Law
Critical Race Theory
International Business Arbitration
Adoption Law
Debtor & Creditor Law
International Business Transactions
Advanced Constitutional Law:
Depositions
International Criminal Law
Theories & Interpretations
Designing Deals
International Dispute Resolution
Advanced Family Law
Disability Discrimination
International Intellectual Property
Advanced Legal Research: Business & Tax
Dispute Resolution Processes
International Joint Ventures
Advanced Legal Research: Electronic
Dispute System Design Workshop
International Law
Disputed Elections Drafting Business Contracts
International Mergers and Acquisitions
Education Law
International Tax
Election Law
International Trade
Employee Benefits
Investment Management Law
Employment Discrimination Law
Issues in Arbitration
Employment Law
Jurisprudence
Energy Law
Jury Instructions
Advanced Legal Research: Litigation & ADR Advanced Legal Research: Ohio Advanced Legal Writing American Legal History Appellate Advocacy Appellate Practice Banking Law Business Associations Business Bankruptcy The Business of Law Children & the Law The China Problem Civil Law Clinic Civil Procedure II Civil Rights Climate Change and the Law Commercial Leasing Commercial Paper Computer Crime & Surveillance Conflict of Laws Constitutional Litigation Contracts II Copyright Law The Corporate Disaster Problem Corporate Finance Corporate Governance Law Criminal Defense Clinic Criminal Procedure: Adjudication Criminal Procedure: Investigation Criminal Prosecution Clinic
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Entrepreneurial Business Law Clinic Justice for Children Clinic Labor Law Environmental Law Ethical Issues
Law and Economics
Ethics & ADR
Law, History & Philosophy
Evidence
Law, Lawyers and Social Movements
Evidence in Trial Practice
Law and the Presidency
Externship: Judicial
Law and Religion
Externship: Public Interest
Law and Social Science
Family Law
Law of War
Federal Antitrust Law
Lawyers as Leaders
Federal Courts
Lawyers and the Media
Federal Death Penalty
Legal Negotiations
Federal Income Tax
Legislation Clinic
The First Amendment
Marijuana Law, Policy & Reform
Food & Drug Law
Mediation Clinic
Forensic Mental Health Law
Mergers & Acquisitions
The Fourteenth Amendment
Middle East Conflict
Gender & the Law
Money & Politics
Health Law
Multiparty Mediation Clinic
The Hospital Problem
National Security Law
Hot Money
Nonprofit Organizations
Human Rights
Oil and Gas Law
Immigration Law
Patent Law
Insurance Law
Patent Prosecution
from excellence to Eminence
2015 Viewbook
New courses 2014-15
Designing Deals
Patient/Client Care Pretrial Litigation Privacy Professional Responsibility Public Health Law Public Utilities Race & Crime Real Estate Development Real Estate Finance Regulatory Compliance
Taught by Professor Erin Archerd. This course looks at how lawyers can assist entities in forging relationships that create value. Students will examine how parties structure transactions, with the goal of improving their understanding of common deal configurations as well as their ability to anticipate challenges to getting deals done. Through exercises and class presentations, students will learn ways to design creative deal processes and contracts. The class will begin by looking at how negotiators (lawyers, business people, government employees, etc.) create and claim value by strategic agreements, as well as tensions in the deal making process such as agency, asymmetric information, and structural and interpersonal barriers to agreement. The class will focus on real world deals that have taken place over the past few years.
Forensic Mental Health
Sales Secured Transactions Securities Regulation Sentencing Law & Policy Sexual Harassment Sexual Orientation & the Law Sexual Violence & the Law Special Education Advocacy Sports Law State & Local Government State & Local Tax State Constitutional Law Supreme Court Litigation Tax Policy Taxation of Business Enterprises Trademark Transactional Lawyering
Taught by Bob Stinson, J.D., Psy.D. and Delaney Smith, M.D. Mental health issues are present in the legal system in many ways. Students will learn historical and current approaches to issues of involuntary commitment, capacity for treatment, competency to stand trial, and sanity at the time of a crime. Civil rights of those with a mental illness who are involved in the legal system will be discussed. By the completion of this class students should have a basic understanding of the mental health diagnoses most commonly encountered by lawyers, the legal safe guards in place to protect mentally ill individuals who require treatment and those who have been accused of a crime, issues of feigning of mental illness in the legal system, and the how to interact with mental health professionals in legal proceedings.
Law, Lawyers & Social Movements Seminar
Taught by Professor Amna Akbar. This course will examine the relationship between law, lawyers, and social movements, and, will consider the relationship between law, social structures, and social change. Students will examine how legal strategies for social change work to secure rights for marginalized groups, and about how organizing with the law as a reference point can limit and coopt grand visions for social change. Students will examine different roles lawyers play—as supporting cast for political activists, or directly as political activists— and the different tools lawyers use, from the courts, to physical protest, social media, civil disobedience, and legislative reform.
Law and the Presidency
Trial Practice
Taught by Professor Peter Shane. Can the President do that? This course examines the legal scope of the President’s domestic, military and foreign relations powers, as well as the law structuring his relationships to both Congress and the judiciary. Specific topics include judicial review of presidential action, the nondelegation doctrine, executive immunities, executive privilege, impeachment, the President’s role in managing the executive bureaucracy, treaty powers, executive agreements, national security investigations, war powers—and, if time permits—presidential selection.
White Collar Crime Wills, Trusts & Estates Workplace Bias
Oil and Gas Law
POINT OF PRIDE Moritz offers more
than
150 courses each year.
Taught by Professor Gregory Russell. Energy law is booming business in America. This course will study the law governing oil and gas ownership and development. It includes a study of related property law principles, such as the nature of a landowner’s interest in the oil and gas underlying his or her property, the rule of capture, and concepts of subsurface trespass and co-tenancy. Oil and gas leases and an introduction to the regulatory framework that govern the operations of an oil and gas producer are also discussed.
Clinics & skills courses In a clinic, students represent real clients facing serious legal and policy issues and work with faculty to provide sound advice. These courses enable students to gain hands-on experience by providing clients with legal advice and counsel in the courtroom, boardroom, or Ohio Statehouse. Our students also refine their persuasion, negotiating, writing, and other legal talents through a variety of skills courses. Our state-of-the-art Frank C. Woodside III Courtroom includes a digital evidence presentation system, five courtroom computer displays, plasma screens, video recording/projection systems and sophisticated lighting and sound systems. Four nights a week during the school year, upper level students use the courtroom to take Trial Practice and other skills courses. Many of our Trial Practice courses are taught by sitting
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federal and state judges, who make their way to Moritz after a full-day on the bench to work directly with our students developing skills on cross-examining witnesses, making objections, entering evidence, and presenting opening and closing statements. Other skills courses focus on drafting contracts, conducting real estate transactions, and navigating business negotiations.
from excellence to Eminence
The Prosecution Clinic provides students with the opportunity to represent the state of Ohio in the prosecution of current, pending criminal cases. Students take responsibility for prosecuting a wide range of criminal cases, from theft and drunk driving to drug possession and domestic violence. Students handle their own cases, interviewing victims and other witnesses, negotiating plea bargains with defense attorneys, and conducting hearings and jury trials. The Criminal Defense Clinic assigns students to represent adult defendants in misdemeanor cases pending in Central Ohio courts. Outside the classroom, students prepare each case and present it in court or obtain a satisfactory out-of-court resolution. The Moritz Legislation Clinic puts students in the middle of the legislative process in the Buckeye State as they work directly with legislative leaders and their staffs on creating laws and enacting laws in the Ohio House and Senate. This is one of the few legislative clinics in the country, and students can jump into the action during their second year of law school. The Justice for Children Clinic ensures that children and their rights are taken seriously and provides students with the opportunity to represent children in a variety of legal proceedings. The cases may include abuse and neglect, delinquency, status offense, custody, and termination of parental rights cases pending in various courts.
2015 Viewbook
The Civil Law Clinic allows students to represent clients in cases pending in civil court. In the past decade, two of the cases handled by the Civil Clinic have gone to the U.S. Supreme Court, and clinic students have been crucial in preparing briefs and arguments. Another case involved a five-day jury trial in federal court, tried almost entirely by Moritz students. In the Mediation Clinic, students serve as court-appointed mediators in pending cases in the Franklin County Municipal Court, helping parties resolve cases ranging from employeremployee pay disputes to child care disputes between divorcing parents. Each semester, Moritz students mediate between 50 and 100 cases and help more than 60 percent of the disputing parties resolve their disputes. The Entrepreneurial Business Law Clinic serves start-up and emerging businesses that need transactional legal assistance. Students assist start-up companies by offering legal advice on matters such as business structure and formation, taxation, employment contracts, and intellectual property issues.
Program on
Law and Leadership
Traditionally, law schools have spent little, if any, time actually teaching and sharpening students’ leadership skills. Moritz is different. The Program on Law and Leadership (PLL) prepares students for a lifetime of successful leadership by serving in leadership positions in the profession, organizations, their communities, and society at large. Our goal is to ensure our graduates are capable of becoming the next generation of lawyer-leaders.
A Glance at Leadership in Commercial Real Estate: Lunch with Tod Friedman Tod Friedman, executive vice president and general counsel of the Schottenstein Property Group, joined a small group of Program on Law and Leadership students for a discussion titled “Leadership in Commercial Real Estate.”
Conversation with Justice Judith French ’88 Justice Judith L. French became the 155th justice of the Ohio Supreme Court in January 2013. She was previously an appellate judge and chief legal counsel to the governor.
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Entrepreneurial Leadership: A Panel Discussion with Recent Moritz Grads Recent Moritz grads spoke about their successful foray into the world of business. All the panelists have started and successfully launched businesses and were eager to share their stories with students
Judges as Leaders: Stories from Behind the Bench Chief Judge Alex Kozinski of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Judge R. Guy Cole Jr., and Judge Jeffrey Sutton ’90, both of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, created a panel discussion on their collective leadership lessons, as well as sharedstories from their distinguished careers.
from excellence to Eminence
2015 Viewbook
5 Things
You Should Know
About the Program on Law and Leadership
The Course Lawyers as Leaders is one of the only law school courses in the country dedicated exclusively to building leadership skills. Through the case studies and exercises, students gain experience analyzing issues, exercising judgment, and making difficult decisions – the hallmarks of skillful leadership. The objective of the course is to help students think more broadly about leadership, increase their appreciation for the variety of leadership roles people with legal training may achieve throughout their careers, and prepare for positions of leadership themselves.
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You never know who you might break bread with. PLL prides itself on creating small, intimate events for students and lawyerleaders. These settings allow students and leaders to interact and network.
2
It’s unique. There are few similar programs at law schools across the country.
3
We take leadership seriously. The program’s leader – Associate Dean Garry Jenkins – lives leadership. A double graduate of Harvard – both the law school and the Kennedy School of Government – Jenkins sits on the board of Haverford College, his undergraduate alma mater, and the American Civil Liberties Union. On his bookshelves – just about every book written on leadership.
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We want you. So much so, in fact, Moritz has a scholarship program dedicated to targeting prospective students with promising leadership potential.
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The University is your oyster. PLL also helps students find classes and programs across the University that meet their specific interests.
Our Program Conversation with Kelley Griesmer ’93, COO of Pelotonia Before Griesmer became chief operating officer of Pelotonia, she was a partner at Jones Day, representing clients in complex commercial litigation. Now she runs one of the most successful cancer-related charity events in the world.
Leadership Skills Workshop: Emotional Intelligence Emotional intelligence (EQ) is concerned with understanding oneself and others, relating to people, and adapting to and coping with the immediate surroundings to be more successful in dealing with environmental demands. EQ helps to predict success because it reflects how a person applies knowledge to the immediate situation.
A Conversation with Andre Porter ’05 Porter joined the PLL for a conversation entitled, “Leading a State Government Department”. As Director of Commerce, Porter oversees one of the Ohio’s chief regulatory agencies.
Leadership Skills Workshop: Facilitating Group Decision Making Facilitation is a process by which a person acceptable to all members of a group, who is neutral and has no decision making authority, intervenes to help a group improve the way it identifies and solves problems and makes decisions. Students learned to: understand group decision making, run an effective meeting, save time in group projects, and provide direction to work groups.
Oxford program The Queen, high-tea, polo matches, Union Jack, and…Moritz law students? Each summer, almost one-third of the first-year class jets to England to take law classes at Oxford University. Students learn about, and compare, the British and American legal systems through course work, guest lectures, and excursions to London. Students live in Oxford University housing.
3,817
Oxford By the Numbers
5
weeks the program runs
Miles between Columbus, Ohio and Oxford, England, where many of our students spend the summer after their first year of law school studying with some of the world’s best minds.
Student Voice “At Oxford, I took Alternative Dispute Resolution with Professor Cole and Professional Responsibility with Professor Whelan, an English barrister. Cole supplemented her class with speeches by international experts, one of whom was a partner in the London branch of Jones Day, and the other, a negotiator for Walt Disney Pictures. I learned a great deal about the law. It was especially interesting to see the ways our system differs from England, and the world in general. However, class was only a part of my experience. Before and after the term I spent a week in Paris, and I also had time to visit Dublin and Barcelona. While the term was in session, we had day trips to Stratford to see a Macbeth performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company; we visited London multiple times to see the court system of England; we visited castles, rivers, cafes, pubs, and much, much more. I even played soccer with Professor Simmons and his family a few times a week and had tea with Professor Cole almost every day.”
Daniel Briscoe 2L, Louisville, KY, Centre College
from excellence to Eminence
2015 Viewbook
12th 1,676
Century
– when Oxford was founded
Moritz students who have studied at Oxford.
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6
credit hours students can earn
POINT OF PRIDE The Washington, D.C. Summer Program places students between their first and second years of law school in prestigious
externships in the
nation’s capital.
Washington, D.C., Summer Program by the Numbers
20 The number of spots for Moritz first-year students
The number of weeks spent in D.C.
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from excellence to Eminence
2015 Viewbook
Washington, D.C., summer program
A job on Capitol Hill, class at the White House – it is all in day’s work for students in our Washington, D.C., Summer Program. Each summer, the program helps students secure summer positions in federal agencies, nonprofits, Congress, the executive branch, and trade associations. Students work during the day and attend evening classes. Students also participate in special events, tours, and meetings throughout the summer, including Congressional hearings, tours of federal agencies, networking events, and, yes, even the occasional class held at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Priority for this program is given to students between their first and second years of law school, many of whom find it an excellent way to start building a legal resume.
89
The number of government agencies, nonprofits, and related organizations where Moritz students have worked.
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Realize The Possibilities from classmates to Colleagues
POINT OF PRIDE
Every Monday morning, the Moritz community wakes up to find the weekly newsletter in its inbox. Boring, you say? Our weekly includes features articles on fellow students, an Ask a 3L column helping first-years navigate everything from study spots to class registration, an After the Bar column featuring a recent grad’s tips on classes and the job search, and Five Questions With Your Favorite Professor. Of course, there are also announcements and event promos.
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from classmates to colleagues
2015 Viewbook
At Moritz, our students just aren’t classmates, they are colleagues throughout their legal careers. Our professors just aren’t teachers, they are forever mentors, advocates, and advisers. Our small size, and the fact that almost all students and faculty live within a few miles of Drinko Hall, lends itself to a tight-knit community. Our students and faculty know each other well, learn from each other, and create lifelong bonds. Student Voice “The friends I have met in law school are truly awesome. There is a great diversity among the students, but there is a real cohesive atmosphere. Students aren’t competitive – they want to make friends, and they have interesting viewpoints and histories that are alike and unlike my own. I
have made a ton of new
friends that I enjoy being in classes with.” Zachary Brown 2L, Gates Mills, OH, The Ohio State University
“Learn from your classmates and take time to develop friendships; good friends will sustain you in law school and in life.�
Professor Anne E. Ralph
our
Community The Class of 2016 comes from by the numbers
22 states, 96 colleges, and
11countries
25 the number of languages spoken by Moritz students
570 26
students
from classmates to colleagues
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2015 Viewbook
24%
of students in the Class of 2016 identify themselves as people of color
full-time faculty
14,911 the number of pro bono hours donated by the Class of 2014
164
the number of students who won dinners, drinks, game-nights or other outings with professors at the 2014 PILF auction
Journals Working on a law journal is a rite of passage for many law students. At Moritz, our journals are run by students who select, edit, and write articles as well as manage production. Journals also allow students to work in teams, lead other students, and negotiate with contributors, who are often top scholars, practicing lawyers, and judges. Several journals hold an annual symposium with dozens of guest speakers and lectures planned and arranged by student editors. In recent years, journal symposia have addressed such timely topics as small business financing during the Great Recession, copyright issues involving remixes and mash-ups, and cybersecurity. Student Voice “Membership on a law journal provides an opportunity to
be a part of a
team of students working together to accomplish an impressive task—publishing legal scholarship. Membership on a law journal enables each student to develop the invaluable editing, writing, and research skills that most employers look for when hiring law students. Each of the five journals at Ohio State allows students to write a student note, which provides the opportunity to be published as a law student. The leadership and relationship-building aspects of membership provides a medium for students to get to know and work with incredibly talented people.�
Jaci Wilkening 3L, Ulysses, KS, University of Notre Dame
from fromclassmates classmatesto tocolleagues colleagues
2015 Viewbook
Mallika Reddy
3L, Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution
Ohio State Law Journal, the highest-ranked law review in Ohio and among the top law reviews in the country, is published six times annually by a management and staff comprised entirely of students at the Moritz College of Law.
Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution is a student-initiated, studentrun publication dedicated to the exploration of alternative forums for and methods of dispute resolution, such as negotiation, mediation, arbitration, summary jury trials, and mini-trials. The JDR is the official law journal of the American Bar Association’s Section on Dispute Resolution and is a major component of the college’s nationally recognized Alternative Dispute Resolution Program.
Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law is a peer-evaluated, faculty-student cooperative venture. Published semi-annually, it is a forum for important scholarship written by academics and professionals in the criminal justice field.
I/S: A Journal of Law and Policy for the Information Society is an interdisciplinary journal of research and commentary concentrating on the intersection of law, policy, and information technology. I/S represents a one-of-akind partnership between one of America’s leading law schools, the Moritz College, and the nation’s foremost public policy school focused on information technology, Carnegie Mellon University’s H.J. Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management. Ohio State Entrepreneurial Business Law Journal is nationally renowned for its intersection of business and the law. Created and managed by students. This semi-annual journal explores the legal issues facing entrepreneurs, small business owners, and venture capitalists. OSEBLJ publishes scholarly articles, book reviews, and student-authored notes discussing provocative, timely legal issues in entrepreneurial and corporate law.
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from classmates to colleagues
2015 Viewbook
Moot Court Each year, Moritz fields more than 20 moot court, mock trial, negotiation, and mediation teams made up of two to four third-year students who represent the College in regional and national competitions. The students practice together, often with faculty and alumni serving as judges, and travel across the country for competitions. Students hone practical skills, learn to be advocates, and work together with classmates. What is moot court? Moot court competitions focus on appellate or Supreme Court level proceedings while mock trial focuses on trial-level proceedings. At Moritz, our dedicated alumni base and strong Columbus legal community allows many moot court and mock trial competitions and practices to be judged by sitting judges and practicing attorneys.
Moritz Traveling Teams American Bar Association Scarlet Team
Jessup International Team
American Bar Association Gray Team
Labor & Employment Team
National Scarlet Team
Mediations Scarlet Team
National Gray Team
Mediations Gray Team
Civil Rights Team
National Security Team
Constitutional Law Team
Negotiations Scarlet Team
Corporate Law Team
Negotiations Gray Team
Criminal Procedure Team
Sports Law Team
Evans Constitutional Law Team
Transactional Team
Evidence Team
Trial Team
Frederick Douglass Moot Court Team
“Making� Moot Court Most students take first-year Legal Analysis and Writing and second-year Appellate Advocacy. Moritz has a first-year moot court competition that allows the newest members of our community to test their skills. In the second year, students sign-up for the Herman Moot Court Competition, our own version of March Madness. Travel teams are then selected.
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Diversity At Moritz, diversity is not just a statistic. It is a way of life that is embedded in our culture and spirit. We proudly bring together students, faculty, and staff from all backgrounds to learn, teach, challenge, collaborate, and work together. As a result, members of our community are uniquely ready and able to address a wide spectrum of issues facing our diverse world. We do not expect our students to always agree, especially when it comes to issues of religion, politics, and policy. But, we do expect our students to engage, listen, and respect those with differing viewpoints. “One of our goals at Moritz is to better prepare everyone for a global
society, a more multicultural society. In order for that to happen, there really has to be an exchange of ideas, interaction, and discussion,” explains Assistant Dean of Diversity & Inclusion Rob Solomon.
Student Voice
“The culture at Ohio State law school is very unique. It is truly a supportive environment that fosters learning and success. The faculty and administration works to build a safe and peaceful environments where students feel accepted and respected and where learning is the main focus. I
feel comfortable, wanted, valued, and
accepted.“ Cecil Patterson 1L, Gray, GA, Georgia Southern University
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Let’s Talk A Sample of Our Recent Diversity Discussions Bell Hooks & Sharon Davies: A Discussion on the George Zimmerman Verdict The Changing Landscape of Immigration Where are We Now? Gay Marriage in Ohio and in America Invisible Barriers: The Modern Day Melting Pot How Diversity in the Workplace Affects You! Ohioans to Stop Executions Letter from Birmingham Jail Miranda and Terrorism Suspects: What to Do? Why All the Fuss About the Washington Redskins? Modern Day Slavery in Ohio Prostitution: When Victims Become Criminals Screening of Very Young Girls Screening of Valentine Road How Religious Liberty Got Sexy, and What To Do About It? What’s it like to be a civil rights attorney? Race and Science in CA Juvenile Justice System Freedom of Religion or Freedom to Discriminate? Brown v. Board of Education @ 60 Series Communicating for Change: Effectively Discussing Reproductive Justice “Out” in the WorkPlace Rosa Parks Day Tribute Palestine Awareness Week: Celebrating a Night of Palestinian Culture Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions: Shattered Hopes with Josh Ruebner What It Means to Be a Woman Attorney Around the World Cafe y Conversaciones Series
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Realize The Possibilities
Life as a Moritz student is, in a word, busy. We host hundreds of debates, lectures, and social events each year. As part of one of the nation’s most comprehensive research
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universities, resources and opportunities for cultural, political, and sporting events are endless. The city of Columbus provides a thriving backdrop of arts, business, and professional opportunities. POINT OF PRIDE Despite being on such a large campus, all of the law classes take place in one building –
Drinko Hall. A third
of our students live across the street in the South Campus Gateway, and many more live within walking distance.
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from orientation to hooding
Student Voice
“There are a lot of opportunities here at Moritz. Part of what you need to do during your first year is start exploring them and figuring out which ones you want to do, whether it is an externship, clinic, or specific classes. Talk to people, go to events…really try and learn about all of the opportunities that are here for you.”
Christina Karam 3L, Dublin, OH, University of Notre Dame
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Student
organizations For many, student organizations are a key component of their law school experience. Student organizations allow students to further develop a specific interest in law or debate how the law is viewed from a specific vantage point. The groups organize
speakers, symposia, fundraisers, and social events. Organizations also allow students to build leadership skills and network with students and practitioners with similar
Evolve and change Each year student groups also evolve and change. For example, alumni of Teach for America recently created the Education Law Society. Advocates for Children • American Civil Liberties Union • American Constitution Society • Asian/Pacific American Law Students Association • Black Law Students Association • Business Law Society • Christian Legal Society • Criminal Law Society • Dispute Resolution and Youth • Dispute Resolution Association • Education Law Society • Entrepreneurial Business Law Journal • Environmental Law Association • Federalist Society • Health Law Society • I/S: A Journal of Law and Policy for the Information Society • Immigration Law Society • Intellectual Property Law Society
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from orientation to hooding
2015 Viewbook
• Inter-Professional Council • International Justice Mission • International Law Society • J. Reuben Clark Law Society • Jewish Law Students Association • Labor & Employment Law Association • Latino Law Students Association • Law School Democrats • Law School Republicans • Mentoring Collaborative Student Association • Middle Eastern Law Students Association • Military Law Students Association • Moot Court and Lawyering Skills Governing Board • Moritz Community Outreach Project • Muslim Law Students Association • Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law • Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution • Ohio State Law Journal • OutLaws • Pro Bono Research Group • Public Interest Law Foundation • Real Estate Law Association • SPEAK • Sports and Entertainment Law Association • Street Law • Student Animal Legal Defense Fund • Student Bar Association • Volunteer Income Tax Assistance • Women’s Legal Society
Student Voice “I have two experiences at Moritz that must be mentioned when discussing
my best times; and for the same reason. The
opening orientation and the Thanksgiving luncheon have been my two favorite occasions at Moritz. Both experiences exhibited the truly familial relationship among students and staff in the school. The atmosphere on both occasions was among the friendliest and most welcoming I have ever experienced.”
Aaron Avery 2L, Eaton, OH, The Ohio State University
Students making a difference Over the course of his three years at Moritz, Nickolas Davidson ’13 volunteered more than 230 hours of his time to helping low-income Columbus citizens file their taxes. For five years, Davidson has volunteered for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance at Moritz. The program offers free income tax preparation help to students as well as low-income Columbus citizens. In 2013, VITA filed more than 290 returns, garnering a total refund amount of more than $583,000 for Columbus taxpayers. “The individuals the program helped varied from college students to retired elderly couples living on
A handmade poster, embellished with glitter-crafted flowers and a note in Spanish, hung on one of office walls that surrounded Cristina Nieves ’14 at her summer job.
overcrowding in Texas detention centers, she was taken to the Broward Transitional Center, a low-risk detention center in Miami. States separated her from relatives, and she was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
While the wall décor brightened up the room, it also served as a reminder of the dark road taken by the woman who fashioned the thank-you gift for Nieves and her boss.
It was in Miami that Nieves helped the woman gain humanitarian parole, which allowed the asylum case to be held in Texas and led to the woman eventually being reunited with her family there.
The woman, a detained immigrant fleeing from an abusive ex-partner in El Salvador, was seeking asylum. As a law clerk for Americans for Immigrant Justice, Nieves played an integral role in helping the woman gain humanitarian parole.
“It was gratifying to be able to have her released,” Nieves said. “It was so great because I was in communication with her sister-in-law the whole time.”
En route to the U.S., the woman was raped twice and then immediately picked up by border patrol once she reached Texas, where bits of her family resided. Due to
Americans for Immigrant Justice is a nonprofit law firm that helps immigrants obtain legal status within the U.S. through five programs. In her 10-week internship with the firm, Nieves worked exclusively with the LUCHA/ NOU KAB Program, which assists women who are
When the United States Supreme Court ruled on Shelby County v. Holder in June 2013, the decision affected more than the voting rights of multiple jurisdictions in the U.S. It also shifted most of the summer interns’ caseloads at the Campaign Legal Center in Washington, D.C. The most-asked questions around the Ham Rove Memorial Conference Room – where the interns, including Derek Clinger ’14, worked – became, “What does this mean in line with Shelby County?” or, “What is the law after Shelby County?” The CLC is a nonprofit organization that specializes in campaign finance and elections, political
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a fixed retirement income,” Davidson said. “They often had one or more children or dependents and received the Earned Income Tax Credit as part of their returns, which many individuals said would go toward fulfilling basic needs for the rest of the year. The stories that I heard from these individuals will stay with me for years.” Davidson’s time with the program began early — when he was an undergraduate student at the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State. His role grew from three years as a volunteer to becoming treasurer as a 2L and then president of the organization in 2013, during his final year at Moritz.
2015 Viewbook
To become involved with the program, volunteers learned about the tax code and passed a certification test. Davidson said his day-to-day work involved conducting client interviews and preparing tax returns. “The most important thing that I have learned throughout my years with VITA has been the interpersonal skills obtained from working with other volunteers and the multitude of clients that I have served,” he said. “I believe the ability to listen closely, communicate effectively, and problem-solve rapidly will serve me greatly as I continue on in the legal profession.”
typically victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking. Once a week, Nieves would visit the Broward Transitional Center with the attorney she worked with, Jessica Shulruff. They would meet with female detainees looking for legal advice and would take on cases. Comparing the internship to her work as a law clerk for the Franklin County Public Defender’s Office, Nieves said she learned through her internship that no cases are the same in immigration law. “I didn’t have much of a grasp on the entire system, but it was pretty shocking to see these women who essentially haven’t committed any crimes be detained in these detention centers,” Nieves said. “This exposure has definitely shifted my perception and I can definitely see myself pursuing a career in immigration law.”
communication, and government ethics. It offers nonpartisan analyses regarding administrative, legislative, and legal proceedings, such as Shelby County v. Holder.
in campaign finance as he’d anticipated. He was qualified to work on voting rights, though; he interned for the American Civil Liberties Union Voting Rights Project the previous summer.
The Supreme Court decision nixed Section 4 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which outlined the formula that determined what U.S. jurisdictions have histories of voter discrimination. The court deemed the formula outdated but upheld Section 5, which requires those jurisdictions to obtain federal oversight, or preclearance, before changing election laws.
“It was a really interesting experience to go through how organizations lobby and comment on administrative procedures,” he said. “A lot of my work (was) more litigation-centric, but within the context of election law.” That area, Clinger said, was “the drive” for him going to law school in the first place.
For Clinger, this meant he would gain more voting rights experience in his internship rather than dabble
Life as a
Moritz student
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many opportunities to
Gain Experience Our students have excellent opportunities to start building their careers and sharpening their skills in the many business, government, and legal offices located in Columbus, a thriving state capital. From externships to part-time jobs, second- and third-year students have a variety of openings to gain experience and build a resume. Each year, Moritz places more than 75 students during the summer and school year with federal and state judges to work as externs where they see and participate behind the scenes in trials and appeals. In this capital city, there are a multitude of opportunities available in state trial courts, state appeals courts, and the Supreme Court of Ohio, as well as trial and appellate courts at the federal level.
organizations, such as the Federal Public Defenders’ Office, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, the Franklin County Public Defender, the Legal Aid Society of Columbus, and the Ohio Children’s Defense Fund, to work as externs. Students work side by side with lawyers and mentors and see firsthand how what they are learning in class is applied in the real world.
Through the Government and Nonprofit Externship Program, Moritz places up to 40 students per semester in state and federal governmental agencies and with nonprofit
Through the Grassbaugh Veterans Project, our law students work in paid, part-time positions to assist military veterans facing legal issues.
Student Voice “My best experience at Moritz was my judicial externship with Federal District Court Judge Sargus in the Southern District of Ohio. It
solidified my goal of obtaining a clerkship after
graduation. I was able to sit in on trials, contribute to opinions, and have interactions with some of the nicest people.”
Janie Henry 3L, St. Clairsville, OH, The Ohio State University
the
Ohio State university
So, what’s the advantage of being a part of one of the world’s most comprehensive research universities? More resources than you can ever imagine – libraries (17), recreation centers (6), student groups (800), events (1000s), and more than 500,000 living alumni. Scream “O-H” anywhere in the world, and your clamor inevitably will be followed by a chorus of “I-O.” Moritz students can choose to stay involved in the law school during their threeyear stay, making Ohio State seem as intimate as high school, or can become engaged in activities across the University’s nearly 1,800 acres. It is entirely up to you.
Student Voice “What I love about The Ohio State University is the obvious desire to serve the students. I’ve been to other universities, and I can confidently say that OSU
really focuses on the students. The RPAC
and student union are perfect examples. Whenever visitors come, I can’t wait to show them the incredible workout centers and the beautiful library. Furthermore, President Gee sends out emails every semester with best wishes.”
Nicholas Torres 3L, Klamath Falls, OR, Brigham Young University
The Oval These 11 acres of large, grassy space in the middle of campus, are home to sunbathers, Frisbee throwers, and even Quidditch players in the spring as well as snowmen and bundled-up Buckeyes in the winter.
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Favorite spots around campus Thompson Library The University’s main library, we recommend the top floor reading room for an excellent view over Buckeye Nation and large, quiet tables. In addition to its book-stacked floors, the library also has 230 computers available for use.
Mirror Lake The scenic little lake features a fountain, ducks and benches for people-watching. Stationed right below its self-titled eatery, Mirror Lake Creamery & Grill, Mirror Lake is a frequent stop for families, faculty, and students alike.
Ohio Union Moritz’s nearest and newest neighbor includes a ballroom, tavern, diner, and numerous meeting rooms. Grab lunch and a chair in front of the Block O firepits and crack open a book. Also home to various lectures and concerts featuring performers ranging from celebrities to classmates, the union is a campus staple.
RPAC One of the largest fitness centers in the nation, which has welcomed President Barack Obama, Michael Phelps, and Richard Simmons, the Recreational Physical Activity Center provides around 30,000 square feet of fitness space including an aquatic pavilion, indoor track, racquetball courts, and classes from zumba to spinning to yoga.
Ohio Stadium Gear up for football game days with Buckeye beads and jerseys, tailgate along Lane Avenue, and fill into the sea of scarlet and gray that colors the Horseshoe on Saturdays in the fall. Law students are eligible for discount season tickets, too.
Wexner Center Independent films, performances, exhibitions, and art reign here. Pull up a blanket and enjoy Ohio State’s version of a drive-in movie on the Oval outside the Wex or grab brunch at the Heirloom Café.
High Street The main drag through Columbus, which borders campus and Moritz on the east side, is home to coffee shops, bookstores, restaurants, bars, and wandering students by day and night.
ARC The Adventure Recreation Center sports a climbing wall, indoor soccer fields, and rental equipment for outdoor adventures such as kayaks, tents, canoes, and backpacks.
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Favorite Places Easton Town Center Nordstrom, Macy’s, and all the shops.
The Short North Just south of campus, this area’s monthly Gallery Hop mixes art, food, and eclectic boutiques.
Hocking Hills One of seven state parks within 100 miles of C-Bus. This one specializes in waterfalls and caves.
German Village Cobblestone streets, quaint cottages, and restaurants.
The Schott All major music concerts roll through campus here.
Jeni’s Homemade, funky ice cream. We recommend the Ale & Apricots or Wildberry Lavender.
Olentangy River Trail Parallels campus. Great for long runs or biking.
Huntington Park Monthly dime-a-dog nights at this AAA baseball field fit a law student’s budget.
Columbus Marathon Route Start near the Statehouse and run 26.2 miles through campus, by the Governor’s Mansion, along the riverfront and through the shaded streets of Bexley, Olde Towne East, and Upper Arlington.
Veterans Memorial While commonly known as the location for the Ohio Bar Exam, the grassy lawn out front is a prime viewing spot for Red, White & Boom, the Midwest’s largest fireworks display.
Crew Stadium The nation’s first soccer-dedicated stadium is only a few miles from campus.
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Columbus ohio
Columbus is new, young, and fresh. It is a quintessential College town with a thriving arts district, hip restaurants and bars, and tree-lined streets of early 20th-century houses. What makes Columbus unique, however, is that at the same time, it is a business epicenter with a diverse, fast-growing economy. Hundreds of companies are headquartered in Columbus, including retail giants The Limited, Victoria’s Secret, and Abercrombie & Fitch, as well as several pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, national restaurants, publishers, banks, and insurance companies. In addition, Columbus is the state capital, providing plenty of activity centered around government,
policy, and law. Unlike most big cities, however, the cost of living in Columbus is less than the national average. Students can rent entire houses, trendy loft spaces, suburban apartments filled with amenities, or anything in between. There is more park space per capita in Columbus than in any other major U.S. city.
Student Voice
“Columbus is a great city to live in. It has all of the amenities of a big city, while still being small enough to be easy
to get around.
As a city with many students and young professionals there are always exciting things to do in and around Columbus.�
David Dirisamer 2L, Elmhurst, IL, Case Western Reserve University
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Columbus
11
no.
top city for singles
by the numbers
1.75
700
million people
More than
law
firms
48
6.7%
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LGBT population, highest in the Midwest
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Fortune 1,000 company headquarters
% 30
More than
people of color
no.9 most affordable place to live/Forbes
8th
best big city to live/Forbes
Photo courtesy of Easton Town Center
14 | The STateHouse
15 | easton TowN CENTER
Photo courtesy of Beth Ervin:Experience Columbus
16 | polaris mall
Photo courtesy of Columbus Crew-MLS-WireImage
18 | German village
17 | Crew Stadium
Photo courtesy of Nationwide Realty Investors
arena image 12 | The District arena district
13 | huntington park – clippers baseball
Photo courtesy of Randall L. Schieber
9 | south campus gateway
Photo courtesy of Randall L. Schieber
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Photo courtesy of Randall L. Schieber
11 | The convention center
10 | The short north
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8
11 MILES NORTHEAST TO EASTON
*FROM MORITZ
6
16
12.8 MILES NORTH TO POLARIS
*FROM MORITZ
7 17
5
2.5 MILES NORTH TO CREW STADIUM *FROM MORITZ
4 18
3.5 MILES SOUTH TO GERMAN VILLAGE
3 N
12TH AVE.
ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO OR SOME PLACE TO GO
2
1 9
college of law 1.1. moritz MORITZ COLLEGE OF LAW housing 2.2. student STUDENT HOUSING
3.3. ohio OHIOunion UNION 4. the 4. THEoval OVAL
KING AVE.
Oxley 5.5. William WILLIAM OXLEY
thompson library
THOMPSON LIBRARY
6. wexner center
6.
10
WEXNER CENTER
7. rpac
7.
RPAC
stadium 8.8. ohio OHIO STADIUM campus gateway 9.9. south SOUTH CAMPUS GATEWAY 10. short north 10. SHORT NORTH 11. convention center 11. CONVENTION CENTER
12 11
13
12. Arena district 12. ARENA DISTRICT 13. Huntington Park 13. HUNTINGTON PARK clippers baseball
CLIPPERS BASEBALL
14. state house
14.
STATEHOUSE
15. easton Town center
15.
EASTON SHOPPING CENTER
14
16. polaris mall
16.
POLARIS MALL
17. crew stadium 17. CREW STADIUM 18. German Village 18. GERMAN VILLAGE
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Realize The Possibilities from here to anywhere
A law degree can serve as a building block to many different careers. At Moritz, we are set on ensuring our students understand the profession and all of the options available to them. Our graduates start their careers in a variety of cities across the country, and in a variety of sectors and positions.
Student Voice
“My best experience at Moritz has been working with the Career Services Office on my resume and developing a job search plan. My career services counselor was very straightforward and honest when we went over my resume. Everyone at the Career Services Office wants to help, and no one has ever rushed me out of their office, even though I know they are probably busy people. I love that Ohio
State is a big school
with a lot of resources and a large alumni network.� Linda Huynh 2L, Tracy, CA, University of California, Berkeley
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POINT OF PRIDE Each Moritz student is assigned a career counselor during the first year of law school. Students work
one on one with counselors throughout
their law school experience.
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Career
Services
The career services staff is committed to helping students find the best job fit possible through counseling individual students, helping identify appropriate legal career options, providing training in job search skills, and offering many sources of employment opportunities. Interviewing Because students have a wide array of interests, Moritz offers many opportunities to interview in both the public and private sectors. Each year, Moritz offers an on-campus interviewing program, multiple off-campus programs, and an opportunity forum focused on the public sector.
who apply for judicial clerkships; and four advisors with backgrounds in both the private and public sectors. Four of our advisors have earned law degrees. The advisor-student relationship begins with working toward employment for the 1L summer and continues with job searching until the student has secured a position after graduation.
Individualized Counseling
Mentoring
Beginning in November of the first year, Moritz students are assigned an advisor who partners with them throughout their law school careers. Students benefit from the broad range of expertise of the counseling staff, which includes the senior director, who has more than 15 years of experience in major New York law firms; the director of public service and public interest, who also works with students
There are many mentoring opportunities at Moritz. Alumni and practitioners often serve as speakers and mentors at career services events. The Mentoring & More @ Moritz program also brings together students and lawyers at lunches multiple times throughout the school year. Over half of Moritz students participate in the mentoring programs for all three of their law school years.
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Programs Starting in the first semester with the 1L Academy, a program which provides first-year law students an overview of the legal profession, and throughout the school year, the office hosts a large variety of activities designed to inform students about the many career paths available to attorneys as well as to teach how to succeed in a professional environment. Examples of these are: > Mock interview program that allows students to practice with attorneys in their offices. > Panel presentation on networking skills followed by a reception allowing students to
> Series on “Thinking Outside the Law Firm Box� that offers guidance by professionals on the many options for using a law degree. > Etiquette dinner and fashion show to ensure
practice these skills with young Moritz alumni
students understand the rules of professional
from various legal employers.
attire and social interaction.
> Presentations by representatives from large and small firms on the dynamics of their
> Discussion on judicial clerkships and their unique ability to shape careers.
practice.
Sample events Overview of the Legal Profession
Resume Preparation Workshop
Private Practice Lawyering
Judicial Clerkship Panel Discussion
Finding the Right Job Fit
Alternative Careers Panel
Government Practice
Careers at the Department of Justice
Professional Relationship Management
Making the Most of Networking
Practicing Public-Interest Law
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What will your story be? Vincent Chiu ‘04 Run Vincent Chiu’s name through a quick query on the Internet, and one will find headlines screaming with sensationalism. “Convicted Felon Found Guilty of Drug and Weapons Charges in Case Involving a Machine Gun and Grenade Launcher” “One Tampa and Four Orlando Area Men Charged with Selling ‘Cut’ for Cocaine and Heroin” “Convicted Felon Sentenced to 15 years for Gun Possession” The 2004 graduate from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law’s explanation for the publicity: “I’ve always been interested in protecting people from each other.” In collaborating with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Secret Service to prosecute child pornography, gangs, white-collar fraud, and large-scale drug trafficking operations, Chiu is humble about what he considers the daily grind for a United States attorney in Orlando. “We’ve been able to take cases where police officers have had a hard time for a long time trying to prosecute a certain group. Being able to deliver for them and come up with strategies for them to see the fruit of their work is rewarding,” he said. “We’re able to make a big impact in both the local community and throughout the Southeast. Disrupting these drug organizations has a ripple effect, and that’s great.”
With degrees from the Moritz College of Law and the Fisher College of Business, David Wilson ’10 put his education to use in São Paulo, Brazil following graduation. As part of the i4 Program, Wilson and a team put together a business plan concerning transportation for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He soon after became an associate with the firm Santos e Furriela Advogados and actively participated in business deals with U.S. corporations, including helping a Midwest biotech company enter the Brazilian market. “That summer alone cemented: ‘Wow this is really what I want to do,’ ” he said. “I’m not sure if it was foresight or luck, but I definitely ended up in the right place.” Currently an associate at Kegler, Brown, Hill & Ritter LPA in Columbus, Wilson specializes in international business law, specifically between the U.S. and Brazil. Additionally, he has helped prepare for a trade mission with The Council of Great Lakes Governors and has been active with the Latin American Regional Forum Committee for the International Bar Association. Wilson said his interest in international law likely stemmed from the eight years he spent with the special operations command of the U.S. Army, which included deployments to Afghanistan and Africa. He served in the Army Reserve while earning his dual degree at Ohio State. “I was helping teach new soldiers how to jump out of airplanes while I was in law school,” he said with a laugh. Today, he competes in triathlon competitions and century rides raising money for cancer research.
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Kathleen Clyde ’08 said she attended The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law because she aspired to run for political office. In her first attempt in 2010, she was elected as the youngest woman in the Ohio General Assembly. Even though some might refer to or think of the state representative for the Ohio 68th House District as a rookie, Clyde embraces her position as a representative and welcomes the extra hours it brings. “As I carefully pore over hundreds of bills and cast my vote on my district’s behalf, I take that responsibility very seriously — and I’ve relished the opportunity,” she said. Spending most weeks in Columbus attending all-day floor sessions, as well as caucus and committee meetings, Clyde also sets aside time to meet with constituents, staff members, interest groups, and lobbyists. She said she normally doesn’t get home until 10 or 11 p.m. During her summer recess, she works as an associate attorney at Williams, Welser, Kratcoski and Can, L.L.C., and she holds town hall gatherings and works on-on-one with the people she represents. “As a state legislator, I’m the voice for nearly 130,000 Ohioans who live in my district. I’m their eyes and ears; I’m their heart; and I’m their conscience,” she said.
Tiffany Lipscomb-Jackson ’08 has dealt with some heavy cases in her time as a litigator at Jones Day in Washington, D.C. But through representing foster children in the neglect system and even assaulted 14-year-old Serbian lesbians, she seems satisfied with her work and deservedly so. As part of her commitment to pro bono service, Lipscomb-Jackson works with the Children’s Law Center to assist families seeking to adopt children from the Washington, D.C., foster care system. In 2011, she represented a Washington, D.C. foster mother seeking adoption of a four-year-old foster child who had been in the neglect system since 2008. The child’s birth mother had a 20-year history of drug addiction. Lipscomb-Jackson played a part in successfully filing a petition to have the mother’s birth rights waived for abandoning her child. The child was adopted by the foster mother. In 2012, Lipscomb-Jackson represented a lesbian who sought asylum in the United States after being violently assaulted to unconsciousness at a gay pride parade in Serbia. The client, who was just 14 at the time, was granted asylum. Despite the sensitive case work, Lipscomb-Jackson doesn’t hesitate to admit, “I love my job.”
The problem-solving skills Raj Malik ’98 learned in law school helped him create two startup companies, including one recently bought by Google. Malik and a colleague created KikScore to give consumers confidence when buying from online retailers, who were scored by an algorithm that assigned values to certain data, such as the number of years in business, the kind of shopping experience, the quality of the product, and more. The concept of a reputational score and seal was novel, and they registered the patent for it. The company quickly grew to have more than 1,700 customers from New Zealand to New Jersey and included major industry leading partners, such as Shopify. A phone conversation with one of his law school classmates, Anuj Goswami ’98, proved to be critical in the sale to the Google Trusted Stores Program. Goswami, a partner with Ballard Spahr LLP in Philadelphia, shared details of KikScore’s unique service and business model with a friend high up in Google’s organization. “This sale would not have happened without the introduction made by a longtime friend from Ohio State law school,” Malik said from the Washington, D.C. offices of his next startup venture, Infusd. “I hate to say the trite thing of ‘it’s who you know,’ but it’s critical to build and maintain that network every day.”
Realize The Possibilities
Each first-year class consists of approximately 180 extraordinary students. These students come from a broad range of educational, professional, social, cultural, and economic backgrounds but share in common outstanding academic
how to APPLY
credentials, a record of achievement, a desire to contribute to and take full advantage of the program, and the potential to excel in the profession.
Enrollment is limited to full-time study, and new law students may begin only in the autumn semester. In selecting members of the entering class, the Admissions Committee reviews each applicant’s academic record and considers the rigor of the courses taken, grade trends, letters of recommendation provided by faculty, the Law School Admission Council’s Skill Inventory assessment, and circumstances that may have influenced the applicant’s academic performance. Applications also are reviewed in light of the applicant’s performance on the LSAT and any special skills or accomplishments the applicant may have developed relevant to the study of law. Members of the committee seek to appropriately weigh both quantitative measures and qualitative
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information. While the academic achievements of incoming students at Moritz are impressive each year, the committee is aware that the candidate’s undergraduate performance and the LSAT score do not always provide a perfect correlation with law school performance. The committee encourages all students to develop well-written personal statements that provide insights about such topics as the applicant’s intellectual potential, life experience, career goals, multicultural or cross-cultural experiences, leadership experiences, personal strengths, extracurricular or community activities, or work background during or after college.
how to apply
Admissions Requirements and Timing Applicants for admission must possess a bachelor’s degree, or its international equivalent, from an accredited college or university prior to enrolling at Moritz. The committee does not require any particular major or undergraduate field of study; however, prospective students are advised to enroll in courses that develop and refine skills in the areas of writing, critical reading, and logical reasoning. All applicants must register for the LSAT and subscribe to the Law School Admission Council Credential Assembly Service. Applicants are encouraged to take the LSAT in June, October, or December in the year prior to the desired date of entry. Although the College will consider an LSAT taken in February in the year prior to entry, the applicant should be aware that the February test administration comes late in the College’s admission cycle. Applications for admission may be submitted between Sept. 15 and March 31 preceding the autumn term of enrollment.
Regular Decision Application The Moritz College of Law admits new students for the fall semester only. Applications for admission may be submitted anytime between Sept. 15 and March 31 immediately prior to the planned date of enrollment. Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis beginning in mid-December.
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Early Decision Option The early decision option allows students seeking admission to apply early and receive a decision by December 19 if they apply by Nov. 21 and complete their application and the early decision agreement by Dec. 1.. This option was created for those applicants whose first choice is Moritz. The early decision option is a binding contract between the applicant and Moritz that requires the applicant to withdraw applications with all other law schools, if admitted, and to refrain from initiating new applications. Students applying for early decision will either be admitted, denied (not able to enter into the general applicant pool), or deferred for consideration in the general applicant pool. Applicants applying in the early decision option are reviewed using the same criteria as general admissions and are given no advantages over general admission applicants. Students admitted through the Early Decision Option are considered for scholarships on the same basis as students admitted through the regular admissions process. The deposit deadline for early decision admitted students is Jan. 30, 2015.
Early Admission Option The Moritz College of Law encourages students to submit their applications, to the extent possible, before the March 31 deadline each year. As the College reviews applications on a rolling basis, students who apply early in the admissions cycle will be able to receive decisions and, if applicable, scholarship notifications earlier than applicants who apply later. For students who wish to submit their applications early, but do not wish to apply under Early Decision, the Early Admission Option may be beneficial. Students who indicate they wish to be considered under Early Admission must submit their applications and all supplemental materials (including LSAT score, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and resume) no later than Dec. 19, 2014. Students will then receive a decision no later than Jan. 30, 2015. The deposit deadline for students admitted under Early Admission is April 1, 2015. Please note that unlike Early Decision, should the applicant be admitted, the decision is not binding.
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Forever Buckeyes Forever Buckeyes extends the in-state resident tuition rate to any public or private Ohio high school graduate who leaves Ohio but returns to enroll in an undergraduate or graduate program at an Ohio college and also establishes residency in Ohio. The Forever Buckeyes provision of law removes the 12-month period of establishing domicile in Ohio before becoming eligible for in-state tuition rates. For law school, any Ohio high school graduate who returns to Ohio to attend law school at Ohio State will pay the in-state tuition rate.
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Scholarships
We offer three-year scholarships to incoming high-achieving candidates demonstrating strong leadership potential, academic merit, diversity enrichment, or a commitment to public service.
Academic Merit Scholarships These scholarships are awarded to students who have a record of significant academic accomplishment and potential for success in their legal studies, based primarily upon the cumulative undergraduate grade point average (UG PA) and law school admission test (LSA T) score(s).
Diversity Enrichment Awards These awards are given to students whose social, economic or experiential backgrounds, and multicultural or cross-cultural experiences, have the potential to enrich the College’s community. Recipients have included students of different ethnicities, cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, international experiences, and professional backgrounds. Students are invited to submit a supplemental statement describing their diversity experience with their application.
Leadership Scholarships These scholarships are awarded to students who show a potential for leadership or have past leadership experience. Students who participate in the Program on Law and Leadership will have the opportunity to work with an adviser to develop an individualized leadership plan based on their distinctive strengths and goals. Students are invited to submit a supplemental statement describing their leadership training and experience with their application.
Public Service Scholarships These scholarships are awarded to students that have demonstrated a strong commitment to work in the public interest and/or to public service. Students are invited to submit a supplemental statement describing the public service activities and experience and/or their commitment to a career in the public interest.
Moritz Merit Scholarship in Law These scholarships include full, in-state tuition plus stipend and are awarded to a few of the College’s most exceptional students each year. Moritz scholars also have mentors considered leaders in their field, who they meet with multiple times throughout the year. There is a separate application process for the this scholarship. Information on how to apply can be found on our website.
Financial Aid A Moritz legal education is an excellent value among nationally ranked law schools. Outof-state students who graduated from an Ohio high school may qualify for immediate residency. Out-of-state students who relocate to Ohio can apply to be reclassified as state residents after living in Ohio for 12 months. (An entering out-of-state student who is serving in the military, who is leaving military service, or whose spouse is employed on a full-time basis in Ohio while the student is enrolled will often qualify for instant residency.) Consult the University Registrar’s website for more information about residency: http:// registrar.osu.edu/Residency/index.asp
2014-15 Annual Tuition & Costs Ohio resident tuition: $28,556 Nonresident tuition: $43,508 Books/supplies: $2,400 Health insurance: $2,300 est. Meals & housing: $10,066 Misc expenses: $6,174
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Scholarships and Grants Moritz, through the generosity of friends and alumni, annually awards more than $3.5 million in grant and scholarship assistance. Admitted students are automatically considered for merit scholarship assistance. Applicants who wish to be considered for a Leadership Scholarship, Public Service Scholarship, Diversity Enrichment Scholarship, or need-based financial aid must file the appropriate forms and meet the required deadlines. Applicants should complete all financial aid paperwork at the earliest possible date.
For more information about Moritz scholarships and grants, please visit: http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/ admissions/jd/scholarships-financial-aid/ Law students also are eligible to apply for several special universitywide scholarships that have specific criteria for the graduate/ professional student.
More information about university scholarships can be found at: http://sfa.osu.edu
Loan Assistance Ohio State participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (Stafford). As a result of the information from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), students are eligible for up to $20,500 in the federal direct unsubsidized loans each year. In addition to the unsubsidized loan, students will be awarded the federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan up to cost of attendance at Moritz. Each year, the interest accrues on the unsubsidized loan while the student is enrolled in law school. Moritz students who find it necessary to borrow additional funds for tuition and/ or living expenses can apply for Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loans. These loans, in combination with all other aid, may not exceed the educational costs as determined by Ohio State (see total in box left). Borrowers must be U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens and pass the program’s credit check. The interest accrues on this Graduate PLUS loan while the student is enrolled in law school.
Assistance with Financial Aid Issues Financial aid assistance for law students at Moritz is a cooperative effort between the Moritz College of Law Office of Admissions and Financial Aid and the University’s Office of Student Financial Aid. The Moritz College of Law Office of Admissions and Financial Aid is the first point of contact for students and is responsible for disseminating information and counseling students.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid In order to qualify for need-based grants from Moritz, and/or the Federal Direct Stafford Loan program, prospective students are required to complete a FAFSA. In order to qualify for needbased grants, interested students must file the FAFSA. Students are encouraged to file the FAFSA electronically after it becomes available Jan. 1. The FAFSA can be found at: http://www. fafsa.ed.gov Ohio State’s Federal school code is 003090.
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Apply The Moritz College of Law admits new students for the fall semester only. Applications for admission may be submitted anytime between Sept. 15 and March 31 immediately prior to the planned date of enrollment. Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis beginning in mid-December.
You may complete your application by submitting the LSDAS Electronic Application LSAC on the Web is the Law School Admission Council’s web-based version of electronic law school applications. Interested students can register with LSAC at www.lsac.org. Please call LSAC ’s help desk at (215) 968-1393 if encountering any difficulties. Application materials for university-wide scholarships are available via the Web at: http://sfa.osu.edu/scholarships
Admissions: Ohio State Policies The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law is committed to building and supporting a diverse community. The University embraces human diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity, valuing diversity in admissions, and eliminating discrimination. This commitment is both a moral imperative consistent with an intellectual community that celebrates individual differences and diversity, as well as a matter of law. Discrimination against any individual based upon protected status, which is defined as age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status, is prohibited. For further information, contact the Office of Human Resources at 124 Archer House, 2130 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH 43210-1174, (614) 292-4164 or visit http://hr.osu.edu/policy The Cleary Act Annual Crime Report for The Ohio State University can be accessed at http://www.ps.ohio-state.edu/police/campus_safety/annual_ crimes_report.php.
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Our Values In achieving our goal of being a preeminent law school, the College adheres to a series of guiding values that shape our educational programs and strategic decisions.
Excellence and Innovation. A commitment of our faculty and staff to promote excellence in research, teaching, and service to benefit our students, the legal profession, government, and society.
Integrity and Professionalism. Respect, honesty, and personal accountability lie at the heart of what it means to be a member of the legal profession; in our actions, policies, and teaching, we emphasize integrity and professionalism.
Community and Individuality The College maintains a distinctive sense of community, emphasizing cooperation, supportive interactions between and among faculty, students, and staff, and valuing each person as an individual. These commitments are supported by our small scale and personal atmosphere.
Diversity and Inclusiveness. A recognition that excellence in a legal education as well as in our legal system, institutions, workplaces, and communities is enriched by the existence of a diverse environment.
Admissions Office Drinko Hall 55 West 12th Avenue Columbus, OH 43210-1391
614.292.8810 lawadmit@osu.edu moritzlaw.osu.edu/admissions