July 24, 2009
Law and Leadership Students Turn Tables on Chief Justice
Supreme Court of Ohio Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer was in the unusual position this week of answering questions instead of asking them.
As part of the Law and Leadership Institute, eighth-grade aspiring attorneys asked why the Chief Justice chose a career in the law, whether he preferred civil or criminal cases, and to name the most rewarding part of his career, among other questions.
The Law and Leadership program seeks to improve diversity in the legal profession by sparking an interest in the law among students from underserved communities. In its second year, the program expanded to four additional Ohio cities this summer (Akron, Cincinnati, Dayton and Toledo) from the original sites last year in Columbus and Cleveland. About 140 students are involved in the program overall. The Supreme Court serves as one of the program’s sponsors.
On Thursday, students gathered at law schools around the state and spoke to Chief Justice Moyer via a video connection. Today, the Chief Justice addressed Columbus students in person at the Ohio Judicial Center.
Chief Justice Moyer said he enrolled in college with a different career path in mind than the law considering his father and brothers were lawyers. “When I started out at Ohio State University, I was going to be a doctor,” he said. “It only took two or three quarters of science to realize that was the end of pre-med for me. I changed to pre-law.”
The Chief Justice similarly advised students to keep their options open to different career choices and be aware of what opportunities fit their personalities. He also encouraged them to consider pursuing a career in the law, which, even if they don’t become lawyers, can prepare them for many professions.
Additional partners for the 2009 summer institute include the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio Center for Law Related Education, the Ohio State Bar Foundation, Ohio’s metropolitan bar associations, city school districts and Ohio’s seven other law schools: the University of Akron School of Law, Capital University Law School, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, the University of Cincinnati College of Law, the University of Dayton School of Law, Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law and the University of Toledo College of Law.
Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow, 614.387.9250.