Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Hello!

Hi everyone! My name is Chris Reel and I am 2L at Capital Law. First off, I want to say welcome to all who are recent additions to the Capital University Law School family! The decision to come to law school is a daunting one to say the least, but once you walk through the double doors on your first day of 1L the nervousness turns to excitement almost instantaneously. I'm sure the current 1Ls reading this will vouch on my behalf with that bold yet true statement! 

Coming from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, I really did not know what to expect from the "little big town" Columbus, Ohio. New city, new school, new people, new everything! I was nervous, but I knew that I had made the right choice coming to Cap and that belief was justified immediately. To say the faculty and students were, and are, extremely welcoming and warm-hearted would be an understatement. The transition to law school would not have been as smooth as it was, had it not been for some of the people I have met since becoming a student at Cap. I have formed some of the closest friendships with people since starting law school, despite getting the gears here and there for being "Canadian". 

I completed my B.A. in Communications with a minor in Philosophy at Wheeling Jesuit University, in Wheeling, West Virginia, where I was a proud member of the Varsity Men's Soccer Team. Not many people have heard of Wheeling, and justifiably so. It is a small, small town located at the tip of West Virginia and wedged in between the Ohio-W.V and W.V-P.A borders. If you ever head in that direction, don't blink because you just might miss it! The best experience by far of my four year stay in Wheeling, was the birth of my son, Aidan. He and his mother both live in Columbus, which played the single most significant role in my decision to attend Capital. There is not a day that goes by where I do not think of how proud I am to be Aidan's dad, and I wholeheartedly say that every decision I have made since his arrival is to ensure he is given the absolute best life. I say with confidence that attending Cap has provided me this opportunity.

Being a Canadian, I am limited to my job opportunities, but I was lucky enough to land a job at the Franklin County Public Defender's Office where I serve as a law clerk. This job would not have come were it not for the networking Cap does on behalf of its students and the opportunities it provides. Take advantage of these assets, because trust me, if I can land a job, you can too! 

Despite nearing the midway point of spring semester, I am still as excited as ever to meet each and every one of you current and upcoming 1Ls. It is with a smile that I say I am always available to chat, answer questions or offer guidance, so please don't hesitate to stop me in the hall or send me message! I hope everyone is having a successful year thus far and I hope it finishes stronger than you had ever expected! Best of luck to everyone and see you around Cap! 

-Chris Reel  


Monday, February 24, 2014

A friendly "Hi"

Living in Ohio, the state that says "Hi" back, I found it truly fitting to say "Hi" for the first time to the Capital Law School blogger community!

My name is Julie and I am a 1L currently in my second semester here at Capital University Law School. What a ride it has been! I have to admit, despite the excessive reading, late hours, and challenging course work, I have found it incredibly exhilarating.

I hail from Pittsburgh, PA, where my mother owns and operates The Beroes Law Center. I hold a BFA in Acting from The University of the Arts, located in Philadelphia. Upon graduation, I booked Twelfth Night by W. Shakespeare, playing the lead role of Viola, at The Oval Theatre in London, U.K. I lived and worked as an actress in London for a little over a year and a half and then moved to New York City, aka The Big Apple. While in New York, I was lucky enough to land an agent/representation and work in Independent films, Off-Broadway, voice-over work and print modeling. 

By now, I'm sure you've figured out that my dream was to be an actress, but what you don't know is that I grew up in the courthouse. One of the oldest memories I have is sitting in the jury box watching my mom litigate. As previously mentioned my mother is a prominent attorney in Pittsburgh and owns her own firm. My mother and I are very close, practically two peas in a pod, so any opportunity she got for me to be with her, she took and I gladly went.  

When my 'struggling artists' phase arrived - for a while there I thought I might have been lucky enough to avoid it - I brainstormed ways to make excessive amounts of money and combine all the skills of an actor. With the help of my mother, naturally, we came up with an adequate solution, Law School. My mother is an alumi of Capital University Law School and raved about the school from the moment the idea was formed.

I am extremely pleased with my decision to attend Capital Law School. My professors have recognized and catered to my inter-personal skills and have encouraged me to continue to be creative. The further I get in my studies, the more I realize how useful my acting skills are, after all, "the best litigators are the ones that tell great stories."