Students Invited to Explore Legal Profession at Pre-Law Day, Nov. 8-9

Alumni lawyers speak to students about legal practice during Pre-Law Day 2017

Ohio University’s annual Pre-Law Days will begin on Thursday, Nov, 8, at 5 p.m. in Baker Theater with a keynote address from Ohio University alumnus David Crane titled, “The Looming Darkness: Can we save the Republic under Law?”

Crane graduated from Ohio University with a bachelor’s degree in History in 1972, a master’s in African Studies in 1973, and earned a J.D. from Syracuse University in 1980. Crane was the Chief Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leona, an international war crimes tribunal. Recently, Crane served as the chair of a three-member Commission of Inquiry into 2018 protests in Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Pre-Law Days will continue throughout Friday, Nov. 9, with a variety of panels and roundtables. Alumni from a variety of backgrounds will be present to answer questions, guide discussion, and engage with students. The event is free, and all students are encouraged to attend. Pre-Law Days are a great opportunity for students to engage and network with alumni.

Fridays sessions will begin with a series of panels. These panels will feature between three to five Ohio University alumni who have gone on to obtain Juris Doctor degrees. They will speak about their law school and professional experiences. The panels are a great opportunity to learn more about areas of law and practical issues surrounding becoming a lawyer. Students can attend as many panels as they desire and are encouraged to come with questions about law school, practicing law, and the legal profession.

The mornings panels will be moderated by College of Arts & Science faculty members Amanda Cox, Lecturer of Sociology, Haley Duschinski, Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Law, Justice & Culture, John Gilliom, Professor of Political Science and Associate Dean for Strategy, Finance and Administration, and Kevin Uhalde, Associate Professor of History.

After the panels there will be a series of presentations from law related student organizations at Ohio University. This is an opportunity for alumni to learn about the exciting work that students are doing on campus related to law. It is also an opportunity for undergraduate students to learn about law-related organizations they can join on campus. After a break, the day concludes with a series of round table discussions. The round table discussions provide an opportunity for judges, lawyers, and students to come together to discuss contemporary legal issues in the United States.

The alumni panelists and schedule for November 9^th is as follows:

9:40-10:35 a.m. 1^st Round of Panels

• Law School Advice: Baker 239
  • Panelists: Maddie Rettig, Mark Tierney, Micah Siegal, and Michael Koslen
• Women in Law: Baker 236
  • Panelists: Megan Kelley, Margaret Replogle, Helen Robinson
• Alternative Legal Careers: Baker 226
  • Panelists: David Crane, Fred Bryant, Rob Dorans, Robert Foehl, Patrick Lang
• Pursuing Your Dream Job: Baker 229
  • Panelists: Joseph Gibson, Clark Vandervort, Charles Dyas, David Onega, Dan Kemp

10:45-11:40 a. m. 2^nd Round of Panels

• Corporate Law: Baker 239
  • Panelists: Michael Koslen, Charles Dyas, Dan Kemp, David Onega, Micah Siegal
• Public Interest Law: Baker 236
  • Panelists: Megan Kelley, Maddie Rettig, Rob Dorans, Patrick Lang
• Criminal Law: Baker 226
  • Panelists: Mark Tierney, Margaret Replogle, Joseph Gibson
• Non-Traditional Legal Careers: Baker 229
  • Panelists: Clark Vandervort, Helen Robinson, David Crane, Fred Bryant

11:50 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Student Presentations

• Baker 242
  • Phi Alpha Delta
  • Mock Trial
  • ACLU-OU
  • OIP-U
  • Students for Law, Justice & Culture
  • Undergraduate Black Law Students Association
  • Students Defending Students

2:45-4 p.m. Round table Discussions

• Baker 242
  • This Year at the Supreme Court
    • Mediator: Helen Robinson
  • Gender and the Law
    • Mediator: Megan Kelley
  • Surveillance, Privacy and the Law
    • Mediator: Mark Tierney
  • Terry v. Ohio Turns 50
    • Mediator: Margaret Replogle
  • Social Justice Lawyering
    • Mediator: David Crane
  • The Rule of Law
    • Mediator: Fred Bryant

Pre-Law Days are sponsored by the Center for Law, Justice & Culture. Students with questions about law school or the legal profession should stop by the Center for Law, Justice & Culture on Wednesdays between 1-4 for pre-law advising with Pre-Law Specialist Larry Hayman.