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.