A "fake" Farewell

A “fake” Farewell

            With reading week just around the corner and finals looming in the not so distant future, I wanted to take the moment to offer my last blog posting for the year.

            First and foremost, I hope that I have been at least a little helpful as you prepare for this exciting journey called “Law School.” It has been a pleasure answering your questions and offering some advice based on my experiences at CULS.

          Although this can be considered a “goodbye,” please keep in mind that you will see me in the halls. When you see me in the halls, please DO NOT hesitate to say, “Hi, Julie!” In fact, DO NOT hesitate to say, “Julie, I’m freaking out. Can you email me an outline for ______?”

            Lastly, consider yourself blessed! YOU GOT INTO LAW SCHOOL, and believe me there are thousands, maybe millions, who do not.

I’m getting a little teary-eyed as I write this…without my mother reminding me that very statement almost every day, I might not have lasted. It is okay to have fears; it is not okay to lose faith, hope, or confidence in yourself. There is a reason CULS accepted you and CULS does not decide acceptance lightly. The first semester will be hard; in fact, the second semester will be hard. There is just no way around that fact. However, I promise, YOU CAN DO THIS IF YOU SET YOUR MIND TO IT!

   Afterall, if a theatre major from Pittsburgh can survive the first year and acheive great grades and a fellowship, then SO CAN YOU!

 

Remember  - NONE OF THIS:

                           BUT A WHOLE LOT OF THIS:

 

Transitioning from college to LAW SCHOOL

Transitioning from college to LAW SCHOOL

 

            I am what “they” call a “forever student.” As an actor, you’re taught that “you can always learn” and to “keep your eyes open so that you can learn.” In other words, I enjoy school and thusly, enjoy being a student.

            With that said, the transition from college to LAW SCHOOL was daunting if not extreme.

            I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Acting. I went to The University of the Arts, a conservatory-based university in Philadelphia. Moreover, my core curriculum was based in acting, voice, and movement techniques as well as practicum courses like audition techniques and networking skills. Aside from the six required liberal arts courses, the most “academically demanding” course I had was Theatre History. That’s not to say I wasn’t challenged in other ways. Naturally acting is an extremely competitive craft with grave challenges when it comes to making it a career.  Needless to say, my resume, listing professional credits on London, U.K., New York City, and Philadelphia stages, indicates that I worked hard and gained technique while at UARTS. BUT HOW WAS MY UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION GOING TO AID ME IN LAW SCHOOL. Sure, I read a lot and sure, I’ve been trained to be a fast and accurate memorizer, but I was mostly reading plays and when you react to your scene partner, at least for a talented and trained actor, the lines come naturally.

“HOW WAS I GOING TO MANAGE LAW SCHOOL?” Pray, I guess.

…here’s what happened.

1.     I signed up for CULS’s Academic Success Program (ASP). The beneficial

program teaches the skills needed to excel in law school. Moreover, during the school year, the ASP offers guidance with outlines, tough concepts in classes, and helpful exam taking tips.

2.     I worked hard to follow the instructions and study techniques of ASP

and my professors. CULS has an “open door policy,” so when I was struggling with a particular concept of the class or had a question about the material, I formed well-organized relevant questions and made an appointment with them. The Faculty has been prevalent in my success thus far.

3.     I did the work. In other words, I accurately managed my time. This

was something I found particularly different from college. I was lucky to be cast in at least one of the school productions every semester, so it was necessary for me to learn time management in order to manage my rehearsal schedule and my class schedule. However, law school is a whole other “ball game” [My Legal Research and Writing professor hates sports references, but I couldn’t come up with a better analogy.] The hours that you “put in” do not end. That sounds really scary and sometimes it is. When those moments happen, immediately call your support system! More importantly, take a break when the work becomes “too overwhelming.”  It is okay and possible to have “quality of life” while in law school.

            Remind yourself how much you want to be a lawyer. Remind yourself why you need to be a lawyer. Remind yourself that in life “nothing worthwhile is easy.”

#5 reason for ATTENDING Capital University Law School

5. Faculty:

 

Our student-to-faculty ratio is low, so personal attention and interaction is incredibly high.

Our faculty members breathe life into legal theory– and our adjuncts bring real-world experience into the classroom.

 

“The difference between good teachers and great teachers: good teachers make the best of a pupil's means; great teachers foresee a pupil's ends.”

 

            My decision to attend CULS was confirmed after experiencing the Faculty.  I had concerns coming into law school with a BFA in theatre. Such as, “what if my study skills aren’t sufficient?” or “will my grades be affected because I have been out of school professionally acting for three years?” Moreover, I feared that my training and my passion for the arts would be completely lost and useless.

            My professors, specifically my legal research and writing professor, taught me that creativity is alive and applicable in this “purely academic field.” Moreover, the professors are active in recognizing the weaknesses of individual students and will offer numerous ways to remedy those problems.  These remedies are not only concrete, but also effective and achievable.  Moreover, CULS has an “open door policy” so if you ever need individual help, guidance with a concentration, or just need to talk; the professors are here for YOU!

            Most importantly, the faculty at CULS will help you pass the bar! In fact, check out the #1 reason for ATTENDING CULS!

Schedule a time to sit in on a 1st year class and begin your experience now!
To schedule call 614-236-6306!

#3 reason for ATTENDING Capital University Law School

3. Location (Part 2):

Our location gives our students unique access to real-world legal experience

in local, state and federal government and courts; major law firms;

Fortune 500 company legal departments;

and non-profit organizations.

                Simply put, Columbus, Ohio is HIRING CULS students! Additionally, CULS takes pride in its Alumni and their success and works hard to build a professional relationship with them after graduation. This relationship ensures current students employment!

                With the Statehouse and major firms located just a few blocks away, it is impossible not to benefit from CULS’s location. Moreover, because of the close proximately to the legal market in Downtown Columbus, CULS is consistently visited by Attorney, Judges, and Legal associates.  These visits give CULS students the first hand opportunity to greet, meet, and network with the legal community in Ohio.  But it doesn’t end there! Because of the CULS’s professional relationship with its Alumni, CULS students have the opportunity to work all over the world! In fact, currently, there are three Alums practicing Law in Hawaii! Can you say "hello, beautiful weather"? 

               

                Just schedule a visit or tour of CULS and you will automatically reap the benefits of the wonderful opportunities of Downtown Columbus, Ohio!

 

Life as an 1L:a new meaning for 'tired'

Life as an 1L: a new meaning for ‘tired’

“Ring, ring, ring,” your cell phone buzzes in the distance. “Beep,” is heard indicating a message. You pick up your phone; dial the necessary numbers to get to your mailbox…

“Hi, Julie? This is your bed calling. Will you be returning anytime soon?”

            I’ve never been one to complain about being busy, in fact, I thrive when I’m busy. However, as summer beckons in the distance and exams loom in the horizon, I find myself entirely too tired…to come up with a witty way to finish this sentence.

            This makes me sigh with angst because in the back of my head, I hear my mother muttering “Nothing worthwhile is ever easy.”  And let’s all be ‘real’, everyone warns of the all-consuming law school study schedule and everyone accurately surmises that law school is hard. So, and I hate to say, I have to agree with my mother.

            Yes, I am exhausted, but the fact of the matter is that when I finish this Motion for Summary Judgment, complete my Torts outline, and ace that civil procedure quiz, I know I am on my way to a truly worthwhile career.  Not to mention, one that charges, at a minimum, $200.00 an hour!

#1 reason for ATTENDING Capital University Law School

 

1. Bar passage:

In the past five years,

Capital has had one of the highest bar passage rates in the state of Ohio

among those taking the exam for the first time.

Before I dive into this topic with detail, I wanted to bring your attention to this simple question that was posed to me on my first day at Capital U. Law School...

Q: "When the law school student with the lowest GPA passes the bar, what are they?"

Answer: "A lawyer."

 That answer seemed utterly prolific to me; in other words, I had a serious “light bulb” moment. After all, the important thing to your clients, and remember they are the ones who PAY you, is not whether you graduated in the top of your law school class, but whether or not you know and can apply the law. It is safe to say that if you pass the bar, you know and can apply the law.  So it makes perfect sense to conclude that your legal education must guarantee that you pass the bar; Capital does that! How about a statistic? 88.4% of CULS students pass the bar on their first try! Not only does Capital provide ‘Bar studies’ courses, but also provides an Office of Professional Development to guarantee that you utilize your education in the legal market! CULS offers students an exclusive database of hiring firms and positions and encourages students to apply as soon as the second semester of your 1L year! Moreover, the CULS staff works hard to ensure that every student is on the ‘right track’ to pass the bar! To conclude, the #1 reason TO ATTEND is “Capital has one of the highest bar passage rates in the state of Ohio.”



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