The Children & Family Law Association: Why You Should Get Involved!

Welcome back Capital Law School community. Have you heard of the Children & Family Law Association? If not, you should definitely check them out at their next meeting. Their mission is to promote and advocate for the rights of children and families. They also want to connect Cap Law students and CFLA members with practicing attorneys in the area. As I have mentioned, these groups understand the value of networking, and strive to create opportunities for students to interact with family law practitioners in the Columbus area.


http://www.dorchesterchildren.org/

Steve Katz is one of CFLA's most dedicated members. He is incredibly passionate about their cause. He states "children don't have their own voice in the legal system, so it is important for us to advocate on their behalf and for their best interests." His involvement in CFLA has also given him the opportunity to expand his network. He has spoken with magistrates, judges, practicing attorneys and politicians about these hot button issues. CFLA members can have an open and candid conversation about the challenges and issues facing children and families in our local community.

There are a ton of opportunities to get involved with CFLA this year. You just missed an OSBA/CFLA luncheon with Magistrate Lenski. However, don't fret! Watch your e-mail for more opportunities to get involved, coming soon!

This year, CFLA wants to keep up the good work. They hope to have:

• A second lunch with a magistrate to give students an opportunity network and learn more about their involvement in the community.
• A documentary film screening.
• A discussion with state senators to allow students to ask pointed questions about how the Ohio legislature is working for children and families.
• They also plan to add to this list of awesome events. Like I said, stay tuned and watch your e-mail! 

Finally, Steve and CFLA would like to share some words of wisdom for 1Ls and new and incoming students. "Get involved and get involved early!" 1L year is tough and can seem completely overwhelming. However, the key to success is balancing your time and if you do that, you will find time to get involved with student orgs. Whether students choose to join CFLA or another student group, just try to make it a priority. Steve personally has made a lot of valuable connections through his work with CFLA. We can never emphasize enough the importance of building your network and establishing relationships with people in the legal community. It is never too early to start. If you have any questions, contact cfla@law.capital.edu.

Midterms are OVER!

Now What?

There are generally one of three thoughts law students have after they take their first midterm.

1.   "Wow! I did awesome! I'm going to do great in law school!"
2. "Hmm, well, I did as well as the curve, I'm doing okay, I'm going to be just fine!"
3. "Oh my! What happened? I can't believe I got a D! Maybe I am not cut out for law school!"

No matter what your grade, or what your thoughts, you should always meet with your professor and get feedback and use it to improve your study habits.  Meeting with classmates can also help get feedback on your study habits.  Take the next couple of weeks to fine tune what works for you.

If you thought #1, great!  But don’t stop studying. Just because you did well, doesn’t mean all your classes would have had the same outcome, keep up the good work…but don’t stop!

If you thought #2, good! You are going to be just fine, try to retrace your study habits and make some adjustments.  For some of us, we just need to take one test to be able to know what to expect.  Now that one is out of the way, you’ll be able to know how to prepare for the next one and improve.

If you thought #3, don’t worry, life isn’t over.  Most every law student at one time or another takes a bad test.  It happens, learn from the experience and start studying for the next one.  You can certainly pass the class, and even do quite well, with one low midterm grade.  Meet with your professor and take advantage of any ASP workshops going on.  There are plenty of people and resources to help everyone be successful and help you recover from this one midterm.

Well done, now take a break for a few hours and do something fun!

Go Green with the Environmental & Energy Law Society!

Welcome back to our weekly Capital University Law School student org update! This week I want to tell you about an awesome organization that goes by EELS. EELS stands for the Environmental and Energy Law Society. Their mission is to give students at Capital exposure to the abundance of opportunities available in this booming industry. EELS would like to provide guidance to students who are interested in this career path. They are there to help determine what kind of classes you should take and expose students to 

                          http://blog.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/tag/cse/                                                                                                                    
valuable networking opportunities. Finally, EELS cannot overlook the importance of exposing students at Cap Law to the gravity of caring for the environment and preserving it for the future.

The President of EELS, Erica Friedman, feels very passionately about the organization. She wants to help students who are interested in this career path break into the field. She understands the value of networking and meeting like minded individuals who are currently practicing in this area of law. The environmental bar in Columbus is a very dedicated group of people who want to engage with students. Erica also feels passionately about environmental stewardship. EELS gives her an outlet to raise awareness in and around the law school community about the importance of conservation and our responsibility to protect the environment for future generations. 

So what is EELS doing this year and how can you get involved?

• Their first meeting is on September 29th from 5:00-6:00 PM. During this meeting, there will be a panel on "Careers in Energy Law"  hosted in conjunction with the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation and the Office of Professional Development. Alumni will have a chance to talk about what exactly they do, and why they do it! Food and Beverages will be provided. 
• They will host a panel on climate change with esteemed professionals ranging from OSU Moritz College of Law to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Watch your email for more details!
• They will also be planning a fundraiser and a community service event. They welcome anyone who is interested to get involved.

EELS hopes to host an exciting event each semester to get the word out about this awesome group and their mission. They want to get students excited about environmental and energy law. If you have any questions please contact efriedman@law.capital.edu!

Check Out the Capital Equality Alliance!

Capital University Law School has many outstanding student organizations. The Capital Equality Alliance (CEA) is one of the many unique and engaging organizations for students to get involved in. Capital Equality Alliance is Capital’s LGBTQ student organization.  Theodore Kelly, the president of CEA, states their mission is “to provide a safe space, create a solid support network, participate in professional networking opportunities, and learn more about the law and LGBTQ rights.” CEA is an inclusive group that has the ability to allow everyone to feel accepted, so don’t be shy!

Before Theodore Kelly started law school, he was worried about whether he would be accepted. He identifies as transgender and was scared to enter a new environment without any idea whether he would be welcomed into the law school community or treated as an outcast. The previous members of CEA welcomed him and laid the foundation for a group that was as exciting as it was inviting. He felt it was safe and supportive and became dedicated to furthering their mission and getting involved on campus.

There is a lot of great opportunity to get involved with CEA this year.

·         The next meeting is October 14^th – everyone is welcome!

·         In October, CEA will be hosting the Rainbow Bake Sale fundraiser. Be on the lookout for an email to get involved!

·         October 17^th – 21^st is Diversity Week at Capital Law School. CEA and many other student orgs are getting involved.

·         In November CEA is hosting a lecture on the History of Gay Rights in America. Our own Professor Wood will be the lecturer.
·         In January, CEA will be hosting a social mixer with the Capital University PRIDE group, which is the undergraduate LGBTQ student organization. 

·         In March, they will be holding a Community Service Event.

·         Finally, in April, CEA will be hosting elections for the 2017-18 board and having an end of the year party!

CEA’s goal for the year is to grow their membership. They stress having the support of LGBTQ students, staff, faculty and allies is very important. Finally, CEA’s advice to incoming students and 1Ls is to be sure and prioritize your mental and physical health. 1L year is rigorous! CEA encourages you to get involved with your community both inside and outside the law school. Also, don’t be afraid to make some new friends! There are organizations full of wonderful people who are there to help you make it through this new and challenging adventure.

Check out CEA at their next meeting or during Diversity and Inclusion Week! Stay tuned for more updates on all the student organizations here at Capital University Law School.

5 Study Tips to Improve Your Memory for your First Midterm!

5 Study Tips to Improve Your Memory for 
your First Midterm!

           1.       Speak Out Loud Instead of Simply Reading

Sometime reading can become a mindless activity and you zone-out and skip over passages instead of actually reading them.  Reading aloud solves that problem. 

       2.       Reward Yourself With A Treat

Always reward yourself with small treats as you conquer study milestones.  Like completing an outline, finish briefing all your cases or just working for a set number of hours, a small treat will be a great boost to start your next cycle of studying!

      3.       Teach What You Have Learned

Grab a classmate and teach them the latest topic you’ve mastered.  Not only will it help you retain the material, your classmate will get the benefit of working with you.

      4.       Take Regular Study Breaks

Don’t study for hours and hours on end.  Every couple of hours, take a short walk, watch an episode of your favorite program, or chat with a friend or family member.  Your brain will appreciate the break!

      5.       Practice, Practice, Practice…

Get copies of previously asked questions, samples from your professor, or make up questions with a study group. Then practice writing essays, in test taking conditions (quiet room, no distractions), and time yourself.  Use an outline to grade yourself afterwards, or exchange answers with a classmate and help grade each other.

We are back!

CapLaw Chronicles has returned for another year!

Our blog got a bit of a face-lift over the break  but we are still delivering the same high-quality content! This semester we have two Student Ambassador Leaders bringing you articles each week to give you a glimpse of life at Capital Law from the Student Perspective. 

First, you'll hear from Kathy who will share with you your weekly 1L Life Hacks. She will give you everything you need to know to get through your transition year!

Next, you'll hear from Brandi who will give you a closer look at what it is really like as an involved student at Capital Law. She will feature a new student organization each week and share the unique ways in which each group contributes to our campus life.

Check back with us each week for new content! We are excited to share another year with you and eager to display why we believe:  Opportunity Begins Here.