Monday Morning Message 4.15.24 Lift Someone Up
"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." – African Proverb
"If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else." – Booker T. Washington
Not a week goes by when I don’t receive a positive message about the excellent work of our remarkable staff. Their talent, work ethic, and dedication to our law school continue to amaze me. They lift up our students and faculty every day. I’m pleased to share some of the emails I’ve received in recent months.
Barbara Andelman, Assistant Dean for Admissions
CSU|LAW Teams' Strong Showings at National Competitions in April
Moot Court
CSU|LAW 3Ls Dana Bye and Noah Mumbach finished in the top 16 teams at the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition held April 6 and 7 in Philadelphia.
Monday Morning Message 4.7.24 The Sky is No Longer the Limit
“A total solar eclipse is not something that you see — it’s something that you experience.” - Astrophysicist and eclipse chaser Ryan Milligan describing what it’s like to experience an eclipse in the New York Times.
“Keep your face to the sun, and you will never see the shadows.” - Helen Keller
Flexjet Chairman Kenneth C. Ricci to Deliver 2024 CSUILAW Commencement Address
Kenneth C. “Kenn” Ricci '86, Chairman of Flexjet and Principal of Directional Aviation Capital, will deliver the commencement address at Cleveland State University College of Law’s graduation ceremony for the Class of 2024. The ceremony will take place Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at the KeyBank State Theatre.
“As our distinguished alumnus and a member of our CSU|LAW Hall of Fame, we are honored to have Kenn Ricci speak to 2024 graduates,” CSU|LAW Dean Lee Fisher. “Kenn is an extraordinary leader and exemplifies how our graduates can use the legal and leadership skills they developed throughout law school to forge a successful career path no matter where their interests lie.”
Alumni Profile: Lauryn T. Robinson ’21
Cleveland State University College of Law alum Lauryn T. Robinson’21 is an associate with Benesch’s litigation group, where her practice covers general commercial litigation, consumer class actions, and transportation and logistics-related claims.
Robinson regularly defends retail and e-commerce clients against class actions alleging unfair or deceptive business practices, provides counsel related to retail and e-commerce issues, and represents a variety of clients ranging from financial institutions to freight brokers.
Alumni Profile: Sarah Flannery ’02
Cleveland State University College of Law alum and Hall of Fame member Sarah Flannery ’02 leads Thompson Hine’s immigration practice group where she manages numerous relationships in the corporate sector, being the liaison who facilitates matching foreign national talent with U.S. companies’ hiring needs. Flannery has been with Thompson Hine since graduating CSU|LAW. She originally joined the firm’s labor and employment group, but she quickly discovered an interest in immigration work.
“I have the privilege of being in a practice area where I continuously see individuals achieving big dreams, and it is exciting to witness,” said Flannery.
Criminal Justice Forum: Wrongful Conviction in Sex Offense Cases
How to Re-Examine Convictions While Protecting Victims
Professor Jonathan Witmer-Rich will lead a discussion of wrongful conviction, focusing on the case of John Thompson, who was released in October 2023 after serving 23 years for a crime he did not commit. The program will feature both Mr. Thompson and prominent local attorney Rufus Sims, CSU|LAW '87, who represented Mr. Thompson and secured his release. Laura Greig, Director of CSU's Terry Gilbert Wrongful Conviction Clinic, will discuss problems that contribute to wrongful convictions, and will discuss the work of the Wrongful Conviction Clinic.
Monday Morning Message 4.1.24 The Secret to Getting Ahead
“The secret to getting ahead is getting started.” - Mark Twain
This is a message to our students who will graduate in less than 60 days. The Ohio Bar Exam is not until July 2024, so it may be surprising to some that this morning’s message is about preparing for that exam. But the 2-day exam is probably the most difficult test you’ll ever take, the stakes are high, and there isn’t much time between graduation in May and the bar exam in July.
It’s not too early to prepare. Studying for the bar exam is a marathon, not a sprint. There are no shortcuts.
Monday Morning Message 3.25.24 Special Edition: Faculty/Staff Focus
"I am not a teacher, but an awakener." – Robert Frost
Monday Morning Message 3.18.24 Special Edition: Student Focus
“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.” – Gail Devers