Monday Morning Message 5.22.23 The Resilient Class of 2023
“Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.” – Nora Ephron
Yesterday was our 2023 Commencement where we celebrated the accomplishments of one of the most resilient classes to ever graduate from our law school.
Early during their legal education, the world turned upside down. The pandemic challenged the way we taught and the way they learned. Our graduates were forced to juggle the usual pressures of being a law student with a range of new and unexpected challenges, not of their making.
They adapted and excelled. I have no doubt that the unprecedented challenges they faced will make them even better lawyers and leaders.
Monday Morning Message 5.15.23 Your Moment of Truth
“A moment of choice is a moment of truth. It’s the testing point of our character and competence.” – Stephen Covey
Later today, at the invitation of the Ohio Supreme Court, I will have the honor of speaking in Columbus to all the law school graduates in Ohio and throughout the nation who passed the February 2023 Ohio Bar Exam. Here’s my message.
Three bricklayers were asked: “What are you doing?’ The first said, “I am laying bricks.” The second said, “I am building a cathedral.” The third said, “I am building a house of God.” The first bricklayer has a job. The second has a career. The third has a calling.
Today I ask you to think beyond your job and career. I’m asking you to think about your calling.
Monday Morning Message 5.8.23 Your Law School For Life
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” - Seneca the Younger
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou
This morning I want to share some positive messages I’ve recently received from graduates of the Class of 2o22 who passed the February 2023 Bar Exam and students who have recently been admitted to our law school.
We are very proud that the way we treat our admitted students is the same way we treat our current students and our graduates – with respect, support, and individual attention.
Our message is “we are your law school for life.”
Graduate Profile: 2022 Class Valedictorian Lucy Richman
“Some of us may go on to become judges, or to practice civil rights law, or – hopefully all of us – to incorporate pro bono work into our practices. But living justice should not be limited to our legal work. Having a law degree gives us a powerful tool to live justice, but it doesn’t mean that we can’t live justice outside of law.”
Speaking to her fellow CSU Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Class of 2022 graduates, class valedictorian Lucy Richman noted that there are many different ways to follow through on the second half of the law school’s “Learn Law. Live Justice.” motto.
Monday Morning Message 5.23.22 Changing of the Guard
“When one door closes, another door opens.” – Helen Keller
"Often when you think you're at the end of something, you're at the beginning of something else." –Fred Rogers
“ …your hearts must have the courage for the changing of the guards.” – Bob Dylan
Now that the spring 2022 semester has been completed, I want to thank all the members of our extraordinary faculty for their dedication to our mission.
Learn Law. Live Justice. Through their tireless service to our law school, to the university, and to the community, they also serve as role models for our students.
Monday Morning Message 5.16.22 Our Most Resilient Class.
“ The Cleveland-Marshall College of Law logo says this: Learn Law. Live Justice. Learn is an action verb; so is live. They look good on a logo; it is when you embed this vision into your future that you will change the world for the better…..I urge you on this day of new beginnings for you: remember the action verbs in the mantra of this, your soon-to-be alma mater: Learn Law. Live Justice. You don’t need it to be easy. You just need it to be possible.” – CSU President Laura Bloomberg