From the Deans' Suite - 12/2/25 - You've Got This

As exams approach, we want to speak to our students not just as your deans, but as former law students who remember the knot in the stomach, the late nights, and the quiet hope that all the work will be worth it.

It will.

Exams Are Where the Learning Happens

It’s easy to see exams as a verdict. But in truth, a huge amount of real learning happens while you prepare for them.

When you:

From the Deans' Suite - 11/26/25 - Thanksgiving Edition

As we head into Thanksgiving, I find myself reflecting on the incredible spirit of generosity that defines our Cleveland State University College of Law community. Last Monday, I had the privilege of attending the Ohio Supreme Court swearing-in ceremony, where more than 80 of our newest alumni became attorneys, surrounded by their families and friends. It was a wonderful and inspiring occasion. Justice DeWine reminded the new lawyers of their responsibilities to their communities, of the unique role they play as people who understand the rules of our legal system, and of the importance of seeking opportunities, both within and beyond their practice, to make a difference.

From the Deans' Suite - 11/19/25 - Leaders in Intellectual Property

“This was the first CSU Law IP+ conference I have attended. I found it to be one of the best CLE conferences I have attended in the 51 years since I graduated from then Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.”

From the Deans' Suite - 11/13/25 - Celebrating What Our Hall of Fame Represents

Last Friday, we welcomed more than 500 friends, alumni, students, faculty, and staff to CSU’s Glasscock Ballroom for our annual CSU Law Hall of Fame Celebration. It was a night filled with pride and gratitude—a celebration not just of individual achievement, but of the collective impact of our community.

This year, we inducted Dean Emeritus Lee Fisher into our nearly 200-member Hall of Fame—a distinguished group of graduates and friends whose accomplishments have shaped our law school, our city, and the broader legal community. Recognizing our inductees is always special. But what’s even more meaningful is celebrating what the Hall of Fame represents: the reach, influence, and enduring legacy of CSU Law.

From the Deans' Suite - 11/4/25 - Your Law School for Life

Today is Election Day. As I looked over the brief Bay Village ballot, I smiled to realize that for Rocky River Municipal Court, I could choose only a CSU|Law alumnus—Brian Hagan or Thomas J. Kelly. They are just two of more than a dozen of our graduates appearing on ballots across Ohio today, seeking to serve as judges, council members, and other offices.

From the Deans' Suite - 10/29/25 - Your Law School for Life

This week, our students reminded me what leadership looks like in action.

At CSU College of Law, we’re proud of our P. Kelly Tompkins Leadership Program—a program that includes coursework, a certificate, our Leaders-in-Residence, and more. But what makes me proudest isn’t what’s written in a program description. It’s what I see our students doing every single day: stepping up, speaking out, and leading.

From the Deans' Suite - 10/21/25 - Your Law School for Life

This Friday marks one of the most meaningful milestones in any lawyer’s life—the release of the July 2025 Ohio bar exam results. It is a day our recent graduates have been anticipating since they started law school. We want to speak directly to every one of you who sat for July’s exam:

From the Deans' Suite - 10/14/25 - The Spirit of Opportunity

We've always been a law school for people who work hard, persevere, and refuse to let obstacles define them.

Formed from the merger of two evening law schools created so people could earn a law degree without giving up their jobs or family responsibilities, CSU College of Law has always been a place of access, grit, and determination. Opportunity has been in our DNA from the start.

I'd like to share a story I recently learned about one of our alumni that powerfully captures that spirit: Terrence Ferrer '95.

From the Deans' Suite - 10/7/25 - October Faculty/Staff Focus

We are very fortunate to have outstanding full-time, adjunct, and emeritus faculty, leaders-in-residence, and staff. We are pleased to share regular updates on their excellent scholarship, presentations, teaching, and service.

From the Deans' Suite - 9/30/25 - Faculty Creating Meaningful Opportunities for Students

Last week showcased the many ways our faculty’s expertise, scholarship, and public engagement create meaningful opportunities for our students outside the classroom. Across events involving international law, constitutional law, environmental law, public health, and criminal justice, our faculty helped to create spaces where our students could interact with pressing legal issues and the people shaping them.

International Law at the ASIL Midyear Meeting