October 2, 2014 at 8:00 pm

Students Invited to Ohio University Pre-Law Day, Nov. 13-14

Ohio University’s annual Pre-Law Days begin Thursday, Nov. 13, at 5 p.m. in Baker Theater with a keynote address from former Ohio State Supreme Court Justice Yvette McGee Brown. The event will continue throughout Friday, Nov. 14, with a series of panels featuring 25 OHIO alumni. This event is free, and students from all majors are encourage to attend.

The program features 25 OHIO alumni working as legal professionals in a variety of fields.

Registration for the event begins at 4 p.m. on Thursday outside of Baker Theater. The program features a keynote address from former Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Yvette McGee Brown Thursday night at 5 p.m. in Baker Theater. Brown is an alumna of Scripps College of Communications at Ohio University. In January 2011, she became the first African American woman to serve as a justice on the Supreme Court of Ohio. She currently specializes in business and tort litigation as a partner at the law firm of Jones Day.

Following the keynote Thursday night, the event continues with alumni panels throughout Friday. Students may also register that morning, beginning at 8:15 a.m. outside of the Maggie Davis room. Three sessions of panels on Friday begin at 9:35 a.m., 10:45 a.m., and 11:50 a.m. on the second floor of Baker (in rooms 226, 229, 230, and 231). Panels feature alumni currently working in fields such as business, family law, and government.

The panelists’ variety of careers reflect the versatility of a law degree beyond the courtroom.

“I hope that the students learn about the wide range of career opportunities available to those with legal training. Students will hopefully walk away with a better understanding of the ever-present place that law has in all of our lives,” said pre-law adviser Larry Hayman.

The 12 panels throughout Friday focus on a range of topics including applying to law school, different careers in the law, and advice on landing jobs and internships. For students considering applying to law school, Hayman hopes some of these panels will offer guidance.

“I had a law professor who used to say that ‘the law is a seamless web.’ It really is. I think any student who is on the fence about law school would benefit from attending any of the panels. Each panel will provide a greater understanding of what it means to practice law or to think like a lawyer. However, particular panels that may be of interest to students on the fence include ‘Is Law School Worth It?’ and ‘What I wish I would have known before I went to law school,’ and ‘Alternative Careers in the Law,’” Hayman said.

There are several opportunities for OHIO undergraduate students interested in the law to prepare themselves to apply to law school. Some programs, including English, history, and political science, offer a pre-law track for majors in their department. In addition, OHIO offers an interdisciplinary certificate in Law, Justice & Culture.

Students with questions about these opportunities or considering law school are invited to drop by the Center for Law, Justice & Culture (Bentley 001) from 1-4 p.m. on Wednesdays for “Walk In Wednesdays” with Hayman.

Pre-Law Day 2014 is co-sponsored by the Center for Law, Justice & Culture and the Honors Tutorial College.