Pelotonia 2012: One Goal, End Cancer

Anyone living in Columbus has probably noticed those green arrows displayed on business windows and people's cars.  Four words printed on the arrows boldly stand out, "One Goal End Cancer."  These arrows help spread awareness for Pelotonia, an organization founded to raise money for cancer research.  For the past three years, thousands of riders have traveled across the state on their bikes for this great cause.  This year, on August 11, riders will start in Downtown Columbus and ride as short as 25 miles to Pickerington or as long as 100 miles to Gambier, the home of Kenyon College.  True cycling enthusiasts also have the option to ride back to Columbus the next day - a total of 180 miles over two days!

If you ask Tom Lennox, Pelotonia Founder and CEO, what this organization is all about, he will tell you, "It is all about the money."  That is because every single dollar raised by riders and volunteers goes to cancer research at Ohio State's Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute ("The James").  In its first three years, Pelotonia has raised $25.4 million for The James, and after its fifth year, Pelotonia's goal is to have raised $50 million.  Pelotonia has already raised over $1 million this year, and there are still 105 days left until ride.

Last year, Capital Law joined this fight against cancer with the formation of the Capital Law Cycling Club.  Six students and two faculty members (current Capital Law School Dean, Richard Simpson, and former Capital Law School Dean, Jack Guttenberg) courageously rode in a Peloton on behalf of Capital and raised a total of $14,338.97.  Four additional students also helped volunteer the day of the ride.

This year, the Cycling Club hopes to significantly increase the number of riders and volunteers, as well as the total amount of money raised.  Because Capital will be hosting an exclusive "feed zone" in Pataskala, we need around 30 volunteers.  These volunteers will serve the riders food and beverages to keep their energy levels high, but more importantly, they will cheer them on.  Moral support goes a long way. It can be just what riders need to give them that little extra boost of stamina.

Staff, Faculty, Students:  Are you interested in riding or volunteering?  Potential riders can send questions to Ryan Schick (rschick@law.capital.edu), and potential volunteers should contact Molly Dames (mdames@law.capital.edu) or Tom Jeffcott (tjeffcott@law.capital.edu).  If you are on the fence, I encourage you to watch the video posted below.  After watching it, I was just about ready to sign up for the 180 miler, and I haven't ridden a bike in years.  For more information about the Capital Law Peloton, visit our Pelotonia 2012 profile page.

2011 Capital Law Peloton

Law Review Celebrates Its 40th Year

Forty years ago, Roberta Mitchell was a student at Capital University Law School.  One day she was asked if she wanted to create a Law Review publication for the school.  These kinds of publications were prevalent in law schools across the country, but Capital did not yet have one.  After researching what needed to be done, and finding additional students to work as board members, Roberta Mitchell became the Law Review's first editor-in-chief.  Today, Mitchell serves as a professor emerita, and in honor of this 40-year milestone, this year's publication was dedicated to her.

Staff membership on the Capital University Law Review is a true honor for students.  The Law Review staff works hard throughout the year editing and selecting papers from scholars, attorneys, and judges with fresh ideas who are seeking publication.  Students involved gain a tremendous amount of additional training in legal research and writing.  Because of the sophisticated knowledge and skill that comes as a result of being involved in Law Review, employers look very favorably upon this activity.

But Law Review is much more than your average student organization.  Staff members devote countless hours in making sure articles have all of the correct legal citations and that they are free of spelling and grammatical errors.  In addition to their editing expectations, staff members also write their own articles on a current legal topic.  These student-written articles are also submitted to the Law Review and each year, a number of them are published.

Capital Law students have three different ways to become Law Review staff members.  First, students in the top ten percent of their class receive an automatic invitation.  Second, students who earn one of the top two highest grades in their legal writing class also receive an automatic invitation.  Finally, any other student not falling within one of those previous two categories may participate in the write-on competition.  Competitors analyze a fact pattern with accompanying case law, choose a side, and write a short brief.  A few briefs are selected as the winners of the write-on competition, and those students are extended an invitation to join the Law Review staff as well.

This year's publication focuses on contract and intellectual property, foreclosure, and adoption law.  As an incoming law student, Law Review staff membership is a great goal to set for yourself.  According to Professor Dan Kobil, a faculty advisor, "The students on Law Review tend to exemplify the combination of intelligence, diligence, commitment, and responsibility that make for the best lawyers."

The Barrister's Ball: The Fun Side of Law School

It is often said that attending law school can feel like going back to high school.  Students start and end their day with a trip to the locker room, almost everyone eats lunch in the People's Court Cafe around 12:00, and instead of secretly passing notes in class, students send messages to one another via Gchat.  So, naturally, we also have a Prom. 

Every year, students and faculty members get excited for the Barrister's Ball.  This black-tie optional affair is a great opportunity to get to know your colleagues outside of the confines of the law school.  This year's Ball was held at the Columbus Anthenaeum in its beautiful Olympian Ballroom.  From 7:00 - 11:00, those in attendance enjoyed hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and plenty of dancing.  Additionally, each person received a voucher for chips to use at one of six casino tables ran by celebrity professor dealers.

A unique aspect of this year's Ball was the addition of photo booths.  Everyone had free access to two booths, which fit up to fourteen people.  The booths offered unlimited photo printouts in color, black & white, or sepia.   People could also choose from a  number of outlandish props to include in the picture.  In addition to the photo booths, raffles for prizes from BarBri and other local businesses were held.

The Barrister's Ball is an event that no law student should miss.  It is a chance to dress up, cut loose, and have fun with classmates and professors.  A special thanks to the SBA for organizing such a memorable night!

Capital Recognized for Its High Bar Passage Rate

The LSAT is a test that has the power to produce mixed emotions from a lot of people.  Some enjoy cracking the puzzles of the logic games, while others cringe.  We are told that the LSAT is primarily designed to reflect success in law school.  So does this mean that if a person receives a low LSAT score, he or she will have a hard time passing the bar exam?

The National Jurist, a legal magazine distributed nationally, recently conducted a study looking at the correlation of LSAT scores and bar passage rate.  Researchers wanted to find out if law schools with a lower median LSAT had a lower bar passage rate.  They discovered that most schools have bar passage rates that correlate to their incoming LSAT scores, but that Capital "buck(ed) the average".  The article goes on to showcase Capital's high bar passage rate.

To highlight some of Capital's effective preparatory programs, the article quotes Professor Yvonne Twiss, Director of Bar Services, and former Student Bar Association President Thomas Siwo, L'11.  Siwo talks about his experience with the Academic Success Protocol, a program which helps admitted students prepare for law school, during the summer, before classes begin.  He states, "We spent 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in mock classes...practicing reading and writing techniques with professors who taught classes.  It really gave me a heads up on how to think and perform in law school."  Siwo's hard work paid off.  He passed the bar last summer and now practices law at Bricker & Eckler, one of Ohio's largest firms.

Professor Twiss talks about the success of the Capital Advanced Bar Studies (ABS) course.  In 2005, the American Bar Association lifted a ban on for-credit, in-house bar prep at law schools.  Capital crafted a course to help students get ready for the process of studying for the bar exam.  Although it is not mandatory, around 95% of students choose to take this class.  The course has certainly proven its value.  Now, after the implementation of ABS, the average percentage of first-time test takers passing the bar at Capital in the past five July exams is 90.26 percent, compared to 88.26 for all other Ohio schools.

Click here to view the entire article.

Capital Students Lend A Helping Hand

Based on my experience thus far as a Capital Law student, I have come to realize that there is a strong sense of camaraderie among the student population.  Before starting law school, I had heard tales of cut-throat students hiding books in the library to gain a competitive edge over their peers.  I wondered if this was going to be an accurate prediction for the next three years of my life.  But, my reservations proved to be false.  At Capital, students are quick to lend a helping hand.  Recently, this positive perception of mine was affirmed when I read about how Capital Law students are currently helping another student in a time of need.


Adam Bessler finished classes at Capital Law in December 2011.  With hopes to take the February bar exam, Adam began studying.  But, on February 6, 2012, Adam found out that his young son, Jameson, was diagnosed with leukemia.  Adam has now put the bar exam on hold to spend time with his family.  Adam's wife, Megan, has been working as a teacher at Jane's Montessori Academy and is due to have another little girl, Olivia, very soon.  To help alleviate the cost of Jameson's medical bills, and assist Adam and Megan with their day-to-day living expenses, students have donated money to "Jameson's Get Better Fast" cause. 


Yesterday, Jameson received some very good test results that puts him in the best possible prognosis for his leukemia.  But, this will still be a long road for Jameson and his family.  He is currently going through chemotherapy, and is being cared for at Nationwide Children's Hospital.  To help keep his spirits high, supporters have also been sending cards to Jameson's room.  Nationwide Children's actually has a website that allows cards to be ordered and sent directly to his room, J5321.


To stay up-to-date with Jameson's progress, the Bessler family has set up a Facebook page. After spending some time reading about Jameson's strength and positive attitude, you will see how this little boy is a true inspiration to us all.  I wish Jameson and his family all the best.  Here's to Jameson getting better fast!

Experience Capital Law

Are you still on the fence about whether you want to apply to law school?  Maybe you have already been accepted at Capital but you are unsure about what to expect as a Capital Law student?  The decision of where to attend law school is one that requires a lot of thought.  Luckily, Capital offers a number of programs throughout the year to help prospective students make an informed and confident choice.

I remember how excited I was when I received my acceptance letter from Capital University Law School.  However, I suspected moving from a rural undergraduate campus to a law school located in downtown Columbus was going to be an adjustment.  I knew that I was going to have to visit Capital first in order to quell any fears associated with relocating to a city.  That is when I heard about an upcoming Capital Law Accepted Students Day.  I immediately made a reservation.

The time soon arrived to attend the event.  I woke up early one Saturday morning, left Oxford, and was en route to Columbus.  As it turned out, the accepted students day solidified my desire to attend Capital Law School.  The faculty, staff, and students involved in planning the event were so welcoming that I immediately felt comfortable in the school.  I particularly remember an inspiring presentation by a recent Capital Law grad who had defended a young man accused of murder.  This young attorney spoke of her hard work gathering new evidence and uncovering the truth behind a careless crime scene investigation which ultimately led to a resounding verdict of not guilty.  I left Columbus that day feeling confident that Capital would provide me with an outstanding legal education.

It is important to note that I am not the only person who thinks highly of these types of events.  Capital recently hosted an Open House that numerous prospective students attended.  The positive evaluations of the event were overwhelming.  Persons in attendance thought the activities, which included presentations on professional development, admissions, and financial aid, were both engaging and informative.  Additionally, the student panel discussion received rave reviews.  Based on a final evaluation survey, not a single person stated he or she was less inclined to apply after attending this event.

As you can see, attending an open house, or an accepted students day, is a great way to make your decision of whether to apply or attend Capital Law School easier.  To stay up-to-date with the latest information regarding open houses and events visit http://law.capital.edu/Experience/.  If you cannot attend one of these Experience Capital events, you can always set up an individual visit where the Office of Admissions will tailor a visit to your individual needs.

Columbus, OH: A Foodie's Hidden Mecca

When one thinks of Columbus, OH, the first thing that probably comes to mind is college football.  But, if you look closely, you will find that there is much more to this city than pigskins and buckeyes.  For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a "foodie" is defined as "a person having an avid interest in the latest food fads."  It may come as a surprise to learn that Columbus cuisine has been showcased in the Chicago Tribune and on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations.  But, after discovering the diverse range of culinary options scattered throughout the city, you will understand why the Columbus food-scene is steadily gaining momentum.  Below are three ways the city of Columbus can help you discover your inner foodie.

North Market
Located in the heart of the Arena District, the North Market is a smorgasbord of tasty eats.  A great spot for lunch, the North Market is home to dozens of diverse vendors.  Patrons have their choice of Indian, Vietnamese, Barbecue, Sushi, and many more.  For those with a sweet tooth, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams is a must.  Using a wide-array of Ohio ingredients, Jeni's transforms normal ice cream into bold flavor experiences with options such as "Goat Cheese with Cognac Figs" and "Cumin and Honey Butterscotch Cake".  Looking to improve your cooking skills?  Check the schedule at the School of Cooking and take a class upstairs in the Dispatch Kitchen.  For more information, and a full list of vendors, visit www.northmarket.com.

Columbus Food Adventures
Tired of only spending time with your study group in the library?  Or maybe you want to impress that girl in your Torts class with an awesome first date?  Columbus Food Adventures is the way to go.  Owner, Bethia Woolf, will lead you on an exciting food-oriented tour of Columbus.  Tours include:  German Village Tour, Alt Eats Tour, Short North Food Tour, Taco Truck Food Tour, and All Dessert Tour.  In addition to Bethia's tremendous amount of local cuisine knowledge, stops on the tour will involve private meetings with restaurant owners, head chefs, or bakers.  And, best of all, each tour provides plenty of samples.  As a past participant of the All Dessert Tour, I would definitely advise anyone interested to wear loose fitting pants the day of the event.  To purchase tickets, visit www.columbusfoodadventures.com.


Food and Drink Festivals
Throughout the year, Columbus hosts numerous food and drink festivals.  Most recently, I attended the Columbus Beerfest.  With the purchase of a ticket, each guest received a commemorative tasting glass and twenty-five sampling tickets.  The festival showcased over fifty craft breweries including Columbus natives:  Columbus Brewing Company, Barley's, and Elevator.  If you are disappointed that you missed out on this event, don't fret.  Another beer festival, AleFest-Columbus, is Saturday, February 4, featuring over 180 great beers from various breweries around the world.

The Food Truck craze has propelled mobile dining into the mainstream.  This past summer marked the first annual Food Truck and Cart Fest held at Columbus Commons - a downtown grassy oasis.  Over twenty vendors parked their trucks and carts on the lawn, and Columbus residents got the chance to discover a great variety of sandwiches, tacos, crepes, and desserts.  Judging by the popularity of the event last year, I expect to hear about a second festival this summer.  Just remember, these mobile eateries can set up almost anywhere, so it can be difficult to track them down on the street.  But, if you find one you like, most trucks and carts keep Facebook or Twitter pages up-to-date with their latest locations.