Monday Morning Message 3.20.23 Our Masters of Law
“Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“The world has only one border. It is called humanity. The differences between us are small compared to our shared humanity.” – Nadia Murad
While it is widely known that law schools offer a J.D. degree (Juris Doctor), many people are unaware of another law degree offered by some U.S. law schools: the LL.M. degree, an internationally recognized postgraduate law degree. LL.M. is an abbreviation of the Latin Legum ("of Laws") Magister (“Master”), or Master of Laws.
Monday Morning Message 3.6.23 Just Mercy
“Thank you for the copy of Just Mercy! It was a wonderful surprise to receive the package yesterday. Your thoughtfulness and encouraging words are greatly appreciated! My feet still haven’t touched the ground since receiving my acceptance letter!” –2023 Admitted Student
“[We are] training lawyers with a conscience. You might call them advocates….crusaders…champions. We call them graduates.” – CSU|LAW Video Justice is Calling You.
Every day we try to stay true to our mission: Learn Law. Live Justice.
Monday Morning Message 2.27.23 Our Talent Dividend.
“If you hire people just because they can do a job, they’ll work for your money. But if you hire people who believe what you believe, they’ll work for you with blood and sweat and tears.” – Simon Sinek
At CSU|LAW, we have built the most reliable legal talent pipeline in Northeast Ohio for recruiting and educating students with a deep understanding of law, leadership, innovation, and emerging issues for our city, region, and nation.
I call it our Talent Dividend.
Employers often tell us that what distinguishes our graduates from other law schools’ graduates is grit, perseverance, and work ethic.
Tuesday Morning Message 2.21.23 Believe You Can and You're Halfway There
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – President Theodore Roosevelt
This message is being sent Tuesday morning because yesterday was President’s Day.
Today and tomorrow, a number of our recent graduates will be taking the February Ohio Bar Exam. I sent them the below message last week.
I want to send you this personal message of encouragement and support.
To some, the bar exam is a barrier to entry to the legal profession, but I prefer to see it as a gateway.
As Randy Pauch, author of The Last Lecture, wrote, “The brick walls are there for a reason...they are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something."
Monday Morning Message 2.13.23 Nothing is Less Important Than the Score at Halftime
“In the game of life, nothing is less important than the score at halftime.” – Andy Andrews
“A comeback is a setback that did its homework, learned the lesson, and then moved forward.” - Eleanor Brown
Monday Morning Message 2.6.23 Lighting a Fire.
“Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.” – William Butler Yeats
“I am not a teacher, but an awakener.” – Robert Frost
To paraphrase Yeats and Frost, law school isn't about filling a pail. It's about lighting a fire and awakening our students to new ways of thinking and new opportunities.
This morning, I’m pleased to share some recent emails I’ve received about the extraordinary teaching of our faculty and extraordinary student support provided by our staff. They light fires and awaken every day.
Tuesday Morning Message 1.17.23 Pay It Forward
"The student ambassadors, the alumni call from the Honorable Judge Michelle Paris, and the accepted student opportunities all made it feel like CSU Law wanted me to attend." – Admitted Student
“I so appreciate that you reached out to me personally. It confirms everything that I have heard from alumni and students about the supportive culture of the law school and its alumni network.” - Admitted Student
This morning’s message is to our dedicated alumni and friends. I am asking you to be part of an aspiring lawyer’s journey by paying it forward.
Our law school’s highest priority is recruiting and enrolling our Fall 2023 class.
Monday Morning Message 1.30.23 I'm Just Trying to Go Home
“I’m just trying to go home….Mom, Mom, Mom!” –Tyre Nicols
The video of Tyre Nichols' brutal killing at the hands of five Memphis police is horrifying. It was shocking to witness these officers, who are sworn to uphold the law, carry out such a flagrantly unjustified attack on Tyre Nicols after a traffic stop. The 29-year-old was attacked for three minutes while officers shouted profanities at him. As he was being beaten just 80 yards from his family home, he repeatedly called out for his mother.
Monday Morning Message 1.23.23 We Are For Each Other
“They are one person. They are two alone. They are three together. They are for each other.” - "Helplessly Hoping", Crosby, Stills, and Nash
Crosby, Stills, and Nash has been one of the soundtracks of my life. So when the legendary singer songwriter David Crosby passed away this past week, I listened again to many of their songs and was reminded how much their music and lyrics have resonated with me over the decades.
If I could give only one reason why prospective and admitted students should choose our law school over many other fine law schools, it would be this:
In the words of David Crosby, we “are for each other.”
Monday Morning Message 1.9.23 Reflect, Re-Evaluate, Reset, Reboot
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” – Maya Angelou
As we begin the Spring semester and a new year, I want to welcome back all of you, but my message this morning is directed particularly to those students whose first semester grades were disappointing.
Grades are pieces of information, not a judgement of who you are as a person. You get to decide how to use that information.
Your grades don’t define you. You define you.
This is a moment to reflect, re-evaluate, reset, and reboot. If you did well, don’t be overconfident and don’t be satisfied. If you did not do as well as you had hoped, you should be disappointed - but you should not be discouraged.