When we talk about what makes CSU Law special, we always highlight our alumni and our deep connections to the practicing bar and the fact that lawyers don’t just support this school — they show up.
Last week offered a vivid slice of how the local legal community shows up for our students. Judges, alumni, legislators, and practicing attorneys were in our building — questioning, mentoring, advising, debating, coaching. Across multiple events, our students were not simply studying the law. They were receiving direct guidance from the lawyers who practice it every day. They were being questioned, coached, and pushed to improve.
Here’s what that looked like.
Moot Court Night: Appellate Advocacy on Display
Monday night was Moot Court Night — an evening when our Moot Court team presents an appellate advocacy demonstration before experienced judges, in a room filled with students, faculty, alumni, and guests.
This year, two CSU Law teams were preparing to compete in the American Bar Association’s National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC), the nation’s largest moot court competition. Representing CSU Law were Joshua Digman and Jordan Taylor (2Ls), along with Anna Egensperger, Annalise Nunes, and Cal Ruebensaal (3Ls). They argued a complex federal tort problem involving sovereign immunity and alleged false imprisonment.
We were honored to welcome Judge Michelle J. Sheehan (’93), Judge Eugene A. Lucci (’80), and Judge John J. Russo (’92), who volunteered their time to press the arguments and provide detailed feedback. After formal argument, they offered insight into what appellate courts truly evaluate.
The impact of this evening extends far beyond the five advocates showcasing their skills. Every student in the room — and those joining via Zoom — gained a concrete understanding of what appellate advocacy actually looks like when it is done well and when it is tested rigorously. Watching seasoned judges engage with student advocates demystifies the process and raises the bar for everyone.
That is how professional identity begins to take shape.
CSU Law Night: Alumni Who Show Up
Midweek, we moved from courtroom energy to arena energy at CSU Law Night at men’s basketball. Before the game, students, alumni, faculty, and staff gathered for a reception. The highlight of the evening was the presence of Tim Misny (’80), one of our most recognizable alumni in Northeast Ohio. Tim spent time speaking directly with students, sharing perspective about hard work, resilience, and the responsibility that comes with representing clients at some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
And, yes, CSU Athletics distributed Tim Misny bobbleheads at the game. They are already decorating desks throughout the building.
The Spring Climate Conference: Lawmakers in the Room
On Friday morning, the CSU Law Environmental Law Society hosted the Second Annual Spring Climate Conference, and once again, the profession came to us. State Representatives Sharon Ray and Tristan Rader were in the building to discuss bipartisan energy legislation alongside attorneys and energy administrators actively working in the field.
Attendees learned about Painesville’s $80 million transformation of a former chemical site into a solar farm, renewable energy tax incentives, pending community-generation legislation currently before the Ohio Senate, and the rising operational costs and policy pressures surrounding data center development.
JD Online Residency: From Screen to Profession
The week concluded with our JD Online students on campus for Residency III (1Ls) and Residency IV (2Ls). Residency weekends are a defining feature of our Online JD program. They are intentionally designed to help students stop feeling like a student on a screen and start feeling like a colleague in a profession.
For our 1Ls, the experiential core was a transactional simulation culminating in a contract negotiation exercise. Conceived and led by Professor Carole Heyward, the experience paired doctrinal preparation with live negotiation sessions run by alumni attorneys. Students prepared, negotiated, and received structured feedback from practicing attorneys.
For our 2Ls, the centerpiece was mock trial, led by alumni Leslie Johns (’14) and Ashley Jones (’11). They created the case problem and recruited nearly two dozen alumni and non-alumni attorney judges to guide our students. Participants completed two full rounds of trial practice — once as attorneys and once as witnesses — performing, receiving critique, refining strategy, and performing again. The feedback was direct, practical, and grounded in the lived experience of lawyers who try cases every day.
It is hard to believe that this all happened in one week.
But weeks like this illustrate something important about CSU Law. What makes this place distinctive is not just curriculum or programming. It is our alumni and our connections to the lawyers who invest their time, expertise, and presence in the next generation.
Last week, the profession was in the building, and we are deeply grateful to the alumni, judges, legislators, and attorneys who make that possible.
Warmly,
Carolyn