Ahhhh....it's almost time for FINALS!

Exam Study Time

Reading period officially begins on Thursday 12/1 before Finals.
Finals begin for upper class students on 12/3 and first year students on 12/5.

Capital Law provides a few resources to help everyone out during finals week.

Crash Carts will have usual snacks, ear plugs, and aspirin available daily on the 2nd floor.
Breakfast for Dinner will be in the Commons on 12/1 @ 5:30 PM
Bark and Bolt will be at the Capital Street Lobby @ 4:00 PM

Make sure you update your software and download your exams. 

Additionally...ExamSoft registration will soon be closing for the Fall 2016 semester on 12/2/2016.  If you wish to type your exam, instead of write by hand, visit  www.examsoft.com/capitallaw for more information. Exams need to be downloaded at least an hour before the exam.  But don't wait until the last minute.

A few basic tips to remember..

Read the instructions, in full

Don't just start writing

Think about your answer and organize your thoughts

Outline your answer or make notes before you begin to write (remember, listing facts is not the same as analyzing them)

Don't write in conclusions, walk the answer through the analysis

Beware of the time, but don't watch the clock, you don't want to get to the last long essay with only 15 minutes left to answer

If you feel bogged down, talk to another student, faculty, or staff member.  Everyone here wants everyone to do well, and will take the time to help you. 

And Remember....

GOOD LUCK....SEE YOU IN THE SPRING (Semester)

The Turkey Pardon - Presidents saving Birds since at least 1987...What a FOWL tradition!

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Did you know that since at least 1987, there has been at least one turkey pardoned each year?  Sometimes, there has been more than one bird pardoned.  They go on to live on ranches, hang out and are grand marshals of Disney parades, living the relaxed live at Mount Vernon and more!

Ronald Reagan has been credited with the first 'official' pardon.  That turkey, Charlie, was sent to a petting zoo.  In 1989, George H.W. Bush created the annual tradition of pardoning a turkey, and it has been a permanent part of presidential history ever since.  There have been other turkey's lives spared prior to 1987.  John F. Kennedy spared a bird just days before his assassination, and Nixon even spared a feather or two while president.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This years lucky ducks, well turkeys, are Tatar and Tot!

 #TurkeyPardon2016

There's even a movie made about a presidential-pardoned turkey!

An who can forget this classic song...

A Brief Timeline of how Thanksgiving came to be...

1621 - The Pilgrims celebrated the first corn harvest with a celebratory feast
1623 - The Pilgrims held a feast to celebrate the end of a long drought
1789 - George Washington made the first Thanksgiving Proclamation celebrating the end of the War for Independence
1817 - A few states, including New York, began celebrating their own Thanksgiving Holiday
1827 - Sarah Joseph Hale, author of Mary Had a Little Lamb, began a campaign to establish Thanksgiving as a National Holiday
1863 - Abraham Lincoln granted Mrs. Hale's request, and Thanksgiving was celebrated on the last Thursday in November
1939 - FDR moved the Holiday up a week, to help with retail sales during the Great Depression (but people didn't like it!)
1941 - FDR signed a bill marking the 4th Thursday in November as Thanksgiving

Thank you Mrs. Hale and President Roosevelt for our 2 days off each year!

The Labor and Employment Law Association is Awesome! Check it Out!

This is the last weekly organization blog update for the year folks! If you are like me, you will be crawling across that finish line in a few weeks and ready to gorge on holiday treats and Netflix. In the meantime, I have one more exciting Cap Law student org to tell you about. The Labor and Employment Law Association ("LELA") is another unique and awesome organization open to all interested students. Their mission is to provide a forum for students to keep up to date and learn more about labor and employment law as well as encourage involvement in this field. LELA provides and facilitates networking opportunities with practicing attorneys and professionals in this field both in and outside of the school.

LELA members are extremely passionate about this area of law and the organization. Co-President Lauren Larrick says she loves this organization because "[t]here are so many different avenues of practice within the umbrella of labor and employment law, and this organization provides a great way to learn about these different areas while you are a student." She says getting involved as a student is one of the best ways to expand your network and ensure securing a job after graduation. LELA and other similar orgs can help students determine what areas of law they are interested in while they are still trying to figure out what they want to do!

In case you missed it, this semester LELA brought you:

• "Women in the Legal Profession," which was a panel of successful female attorneys discussing life, law, professionalism, and how to be successful! This event was hosted in conjunction with the Women's Law Association during diversity week.
• A labor and employment law CLE at Capital on November 9th. The CLE featured presentations on:
• new medical marijuana laws and how they impact employer drug testing and drug-free workplace policies,
• the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family Medical Leave Act,
• ethics and professional development in labor and employment law,  
• National Labor Relations Board updates and hot button issues,
• the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and recent developments following the Young v. UPS case, and
• labor union representation issues. 

If you didn't get to catch any of these awesome events, don't worry! Watch your e-mail next semester. LELA will be hosting a networking event for students and practicing attorneys in the labor and employment law field. LELA is always looking to provide further education for students and attorneys on developments in this area of law while ensuring students have ample opportunities to meet like minded attorneys and learn more about labor and employment law practice. 

If you have any questions about LELA or would like more information on their meetings and events, please contact Lauren Larrick at llarrick@law.capital.edu or Alysha Clark at  aclark7@law.capital.edu. 

Capital University Law School Offers Practical Experiences

If you are looking for practical experience in the field of law, there are many opportunities around the law school.  Learning isn't always done in a classroom.  Check out the variety of ways you can earn credit towards graduation, while getting real-world experience.

Externships
Capital University Law School’s expansive externship program offers varied opportunities for CapLaw students to earn academic credit for experience in the legal field. These site experiences with courts, government agencies, non-profits and in-house counsel offer practical experience helping attorneys perform real legal work. Alumni often serve as site supervisors and mentors for the externs. 

General Litigation Clinic
Capital University Law School’s Legal Clinic provides no-cost legal services to a variety of individuals who would otherwise be unable to afford legal representation. The Clinic also provides students with the opportunity to develop and enhance their client counseling skills and professional ethics by representing indigent clients under the careful supervision of law professors and staff attorneys. In addition to providing a valuable service to the community, students experience directly the excitement of legal practice. There is no more exhilarating feeling than standing up in court before a judge to advocate for your client. The comprehensive nature of the clinic immerses each student in the human drama inherent in actual client representation.

Mediation Clinic
Mediation clinic is a clinical experience for students who have completed the Mediation class. Students will mediate disputes in a variety of settings including Small Claims Court and the Municipal Court. Additionally, students will mediate disputes referred directly to the clinic. Students must have completed the first year evening courses and Mediation before enrolling in this 3 credit-hour clinic. In addition to some classroom work involving general skills training in the techniques needed to conduct a mediation, students will spend a majority of the time conducting actual meditations at the Franklin County Municipal Court and the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division, Juvenile Branch.
Externships

Moot Court
The Moot Court Program at Capital University Law School is the student-run appellate advocacy honors society. Members of the Moot Court Program receive the practical experience of drafting appellate briefs and developing strong oral advocacy skills, intellectual flexibility, the ability to function well under pressure, and the self-confidence necessary to be successful advocates. Competitors, also known as “Mooters”, travel all over the United States to compete in regional and national competitions. Additionally, members of the Moot Court Program are eligible for two credit hours in the semester in which their competition takes place. 

Volunteer Income Tax Association (V.I.T.A.)
VITA is sponsored by the ABA and the IRS. As a VITA volunteer, you will gain practical training in taxation and an opportunity to develop client counseling skills. At the same time, you will be serving the community. Understanding tax matters may be helpful in a number of areas of the law; consequently, we all stand to benefit. VITA provides free income tax service (preparation of tax returns) during the tax season for the economically challenged, handicapped and the elderly. VITA serves the community, fosters good will and a community presence, provides practical experience (and training) in taxation for student volunteers to develop "client counseling skills," and fosters an active campus relationship with the ABA.

Pro Bono Recognition Program
Capital University Law School's Pro Bono Recognition Program helps students connect with volunteer opportunities at courts, non-profits, and government offices. Those who contribute 50 or more hours to approved projects during the course of their law school career are recognized with Pro Bono Legal Honors. Students participating in the pro bono program gain valuable practical experience in the legal field and network with judges and attorneys while starting on the path to a career-long commitment to giving back. 

Family & Youth Law Center (FYLaw) 

The Family and Youth Law Center at Capital University Law School (FYLaw) works within child welfare, adoption, and juvenile justice systems to support positive outcomes for children, youth, and families.  Established in 1998 as the National Center for Adoption Law & Policy, FYLaw  partners with local, state, and national agencies and organizations in collaborations aimed at improving the laws, policies, and practices associated with child protection, adoption, and juvenile justice systems. 

Mock Trial

Mock Trial is a student organization where students develop and apply the principles of trial advocacy during a simulated trial that is based on fictitious facts and evidence. The Mock Trial team learns how to conduct a trial from start to finish. Students are taught how to think and act like a trial lawyer. They plan, draft and present opening statements, direct examinations, cross-examinations and closing arguments. Mock Trial also teaches students how to object to evidence properly, how to handle objections raised against them, as well as how to handle various courtroom procedures like entering evidence or impeaching witnesses. These experiences are unlike anything that can be taught in a classroom because students learn to deal with the unexpected, just like they will have to do in practice. 

Student Bar Association: What They Do For You!

The Student Bar Association ("SBA") is an organization designed to speak for the student body at Capital University Law School. They are the "voice of the students" and they advocate on our behalf according to SBA president Heidi Callendar. All students are already a member of the SBA, which is organized under the American Bar Association. However, you can choose to get more involved with the organization and run for a position!

SBA is important to its members and representatives. Heidi likes representing the students and she finds students often come to SBA reps when they are having a problem and do not know who else they can talk to. Each representative has different goals and plans depending on their role and who they represent. If you are interested in knowing more about these positions, you should ask your class representative for more information! It is a good idea to know who these people are just in case. So, if you want to get more involved with SBA or simply mingle with other students here is what SBA has in store this year:

• SBA meets on the last Monday of every month at 5:15 PM. If you are interested in attending, you should e-mail SBA secretary, Holly Torres at htorres@law.capital.edu to ensure the meeting has not been changed.
• SBA is hosting a bar crawl around Thanksgiving! Stay tuned for more details. SBA usually plans and organizes your bar review. It is a great way to relax with your peers after a long week.
• There will be a "brinner" (breakfast for dinner) as part of exam time events to help you power through. Let's be honest... you don't cook during finals anyway so you may as well come out and relax! 
• Stay tuned for a Blood Drive held in conjunction with the American Red Cross.
• Mark your calendars for a Spring Fling event with more details to come.
• On April 1, 2017 Barrister's Ball will take place at the Athletic Club. It is an excellent opportunity to get fancy for the night!
• Remember, you can rent a locker from SBA. It may be a good idea as it gets colder and you don't want to run out to your car in the weather! 
• SBA also maintains a book lending bank for those students who may not have enough money to buy books or if you lose a book and do not have the money to replace them. If this is something you are interested in, don't hesitate to contact Heidi, or one of your representatives. 

Remember, SBA is your organization! Tell your representatives and officers your ideas and ways to improve student life here at Cap. If you have any questions, or are interested in getting more involved, contact Heidi Callendar at hcallendar@law.capital.edu! Heidi's last words of advice: "[d]on't give up!"

Grab the popcorn...It's MOVIE TIME!

photo credit

Everyone needs a break; law students especially.  Here are some law-related movies so you can veg out and watch someone else go through what you are!  

In no particular order:

The Paper Chase - 1973
A first-year law student at Harvard Law School struggles with balancing his coursework and his relationship with the daughter of his sternest professor. 
Amazon Columbus Metro Library

My Cousin Vinny - 1992
Two New Yorkers are accused of murder in rural Alabama while on their way back to college, and one of their cousins--an inexperienced, loudmouth lawyer not accustomed to Southern rules and manners--comes in to defend them. 
Amazon Columbus Metro Library

Rounders - 1998
A young man is a reformed gambler who must return to playing big stakes poker to help a friend pay off loan sharks.
Amazon Columbus Metro Library

Legally Blonde - 2001 and  Legally Blonde 2 - 2003 and Legally Blondes - 2009
When a blonde sorority queen is dumped by her boyfriend, she decides to follow him to law school to get him back and, once there, learns she has more legal savvy than she ever imagined.
Amazon Columbus Metro Library


Then Elle Woods heads to Washington D.C. to join the staff of a congresswoman in order to pass a bill to ban animal testing.
Amazon Columbus Metro Library

Finally, moving from England to California, the youngest cousins of Elle Woods must defend themselves when their schools reigning forces turn on the girls and try to frame them for a crime.
Amazon Columbus Metro Library

The Verdict - 1982
A lawyer sees the chance to salvage his career and self-respect by taking a medical malpractice case to trial rather than settling.
Amazon Columbus Metro Library

To Kill a Mockingbird - 1962
Atticus Finch, a lawyer in the Depression-era South, defends a black man against an undeserved rape charge, and his children against prejudice.
Amazon Columbus Metro Library

A Few Good Men - 1992
Neo military lawyer Kaffee defends Marines accused of murder; they contend they were acting under orders. Amazon Columbus Metro Library

Note: Movie summaries taken from imdb.com

Join Phi Alpha Delta!

As the end of the semester is winding down, many of you may be thinking "I should totally get involved around Cap!" Well, I am here to feature another student organization that you should definitely check out. Did you know all of the U.S. Supreme Court Justices are Phi Alpha Delta alumni? Phi Alpha Delta is a co-ed professional fraternity that "encourage[s] professionalism by supporting [and] rewarding camaraderie" that will help its members be successful in the legal profession. Phi Alpha Delta has a lot to offer. They provide continuing legal education, scholarships, and networking opportunities for law students and undergraduate students who join their pre-law chapter.

Phi Alpha Delta is an international organization and therefore has a strong alumni network. Mia Naseer says this organization is important for many reasons. Mia says P.A.D. has "genuine, professional, and loyal members." Plus, there are a lot of perks to joining! Mia has been presented with many professional and employment opportunities through their substantial network. Further, the organization is known for its compassion and showing true "brotherhood/sisterhood" and has won several chapter merit awards here at Capital!

If you missed their awesome interactive Halloween table, don't worry! Check out some of the exciting things Phi Alpha Delta is doing this year:

• They are hosting Bar Review at Bar Louie on Friday November 11th starting at 4:30. This is an event open to 1Ls and members only! Don't forget to RSVP. 
• The group is collecting toiletry donations for the Faith Mission. Faith Mission is a men's shelter located a few blocks from the school, and they could greatly benefit from any small donation. 
• Watch out for Rush week where they will display P.A.D. pride and hand out t-shirts and highlighters. 
• If you are interested in Moot Court, Phi Alpha Delta has a team!

Mia's advice for 1Ls and incoming students is to always be yourself, you get out of something what you put into something, and to join organizations you feel passionate about and have time to dedicate to! Mia says remember no one will hand you things so work hard, have compassion for others, and work to better yourself and your community. These qualities will take you far!

If you are interested in joining P.A.D. or you would like more information about the group, don't hesitate to ask questions. Contact Mia at mnaseer@law.capital.edu today! 

It's BAR EXAM / CANDIDATE APPLICATION Season!

Photo Credit

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO PASSED THE JULY BAR!

EXAM APPLICATIONS:

For those graduating in January 2017, Summer 2016, and those that need to retake a previous exam, today, November 1st,  is the deadline to take the February 2017 Bar Exam. Details can be found here. The late registration date is December 12 (with $100 late fee).

The Feb exam will take place February 21 - 23.  The actual location has yet to be officially released, but sounds like it will be at the Columbus Convention Center.

CANDIDATE APPLICATIONS:

For those Second Year Law Students, November 15, is the deadline to register as a Candidate for Admission.  You've probably already had Professor Twiss visit one of your second year classes to give you all the details.  Details can be found here.  If you miss this deadline during your second year of law school, you can still apply at anytime with a late fee.

The process from application to conditional approval to take the exam is a long one.  The application itself is long, complicated and requires names, addresses and information about things most of us have long forgotten.  Don't wait until the last minute, it will take more time that you think it will.  After some time, you will be interviewed by a pair of attorneys regarding your character and fitness.  If all goes well, sometime in the spring, you'll get that letter in the mail that you've been conditionally approved...what a day that is going to be.

Good Luck!

Some Important Dates

http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/AttySvcs/admissions/calendar.asphttp://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/AttySvcs/admissions/calendar.asp

(Disclaimer: Information believed to be accurate, please check http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/ for the latest and most up to date information.)