Capital University - Law School

Itā€™s a simple fact: Capital University Law School is ā€œan underrated gem.ā€ Boasting ā€œone of the highest Bar passage rates in Ohio,ā€ a ā€œgood practical skills program,ā€ ā€œsmall classesā€ and ā€œabundantā€ resources, itā€™s easy to understand how the program attracts so many future JDs. Students greatly benefit from ā€œa strong mandatory legal research and writing program, including a mandatory drafting class for 3Ls.ā€ Moreover, beyond the general clinic program, students can take advantage of a fabulous ā€œFoster Youth Advocacy Clinic.ā€ Additionally, those prospective students hoping/needing to work while attending law school will be delighted to discover that Capital ā€œoffers [that] rare alternative in legal education, a high-quality part-time evening program.ā€ Students really appreciate the ā€œopportunity to take courses with people who have work experience gives a unique diversity to course discussions.ā€
Impressively, Capitalā€™s faculty is comprised of ā€œscholars who are nationally known in the areas of family, childrenā€™s, environmental, and regulatory law.ā€ Further, a number of professors have ā€œ[practical] experience in litigation, negotiation, and public service.ā€ Accessibility is another common attribute of Capitalā€™s faculty and, typically, they are ā€œmore than willing to meet with students out of class when necessary.ā€ Students here also find that their professors are ā€œmotivated and engaged in the material.ā€ Their ā€œlove for teaching is infectiousā€ and they continually find ways to be ā€œcreativeā€ in the classroom. And, as one sage third-year explains, ā€œthe dedicated professors make all the difference.ā€
Students certainly have a difference of opinion when it comes to Capitalā€™s administration. As one third-year laments, ā€œThe registarā€™s office needs a lot of help.ā€ He further elaborates, ā€œ[A]lmost every semester I attended Capital, it cancelled classes after I registered. During my fall semester of last year four out of five of the classes I wanted to take got cancelled. This semester, a class got cancelled abruptly, with over eighty students registered, because of ā€˜unforeseen changes in the professorā€™s personal life.ā€™ā€ However, a second-year argues that the ā€œadministration is generally quick to address problems,ā€ and a first-year asserts that they ā€œmake great efforts to accommodate the needs of [their] students.ā€

Capital is able to foster a ā€œstrong student community.ā€ This can largely be attributed to the fact that itā€™s ā€œnot overly competitive, and the students at the school are all friends.ā€ As a knowing third-year tells us, ā€œWe share notes, study suggestions, even outlines. Iā€™ve NEVER seen any underhanded or mean competitive actions.ā€ While there tends to be a divide between full-time first-years and part-time students, another third-year informs us that ā€œas soon as you hit 2L year (even as a full-time day student) you almost always have to take a night course or two.ā€ He continues, ā€œI canā€™t underscore how valuable this is to class discourse, diversity or students, and networking. CULS also has a number of veterans in the night program, which brings the conversation to a whole different level.ā€
Outside the classroom, students benefit from CULSā€™s prime Columbus location. Indeed, the programā€™s great reputation and proximity to the capital virtually guarantees ā€œamazing externship opportunities.ā€ A third-year explains, ā€œVarieties of positions are available at the Supreme Court of Ohio, the Legislature, Executive branch, numerous agencies, or lobbying organizations.ā€ And, given the ā€œcurrent evolving legal market, public service work continues to be one of the more stable practice areas. [Attending] CULS provides outstanding preparation and networking opportunities.ā€ Beyond the legal world, students can take advantage of all the great entertainment options Columbus offersā€”from the zoo and aquarium to NHL hockey, the symphony, opera, and numerous restaurants and cafes.