Three bricklayers are asked: “What are you doing?” The first says, “I am laying bricks.” The second says, “I am building a church.” And the third says, “I am building the house of God.” The first bricklayer has a job. The second has a career. The third has a calling.” ― Angela Duckworth
Employers often tell us that what distinguishes our graduates from other law schools’ graduates is grit and perseverance. It’s the difference between approaching your next chapter as a job, a career, or a calling.
This morning, I’m asking for your help to launch our 2020 graduates into successful careers and to help them find their calling. Finding the right position, especially in today's market, requires a well-developed network of supporters and the interpersonal skills to engage that network. At C|M|LAW, we know that the power of our alumni and supporter network impacts employment outcomes.
Your support of just one graduate can change a career path, improve our overall employment outcomes, and make a difference for the graduate and for C|M|LAW. The American Bar Association measures employment outcomes for this class as of March 15, 2021, and we are working to help every graduate who is seeking to secure employment by this important date.
Are you hiring? Hire grit. Hire C|M|LAW.
Do you know someone who is hiring? Refer a class of 2020 student for the role.
You can learn more about some of our class of 2020 students by reviewing our new graduate profiles. You can offer your assistance for one of these graduates, or others who are seeking employment, by contacting Assistant Dean for Student and Career Services Sarah Beznoska at s.beznoskanull@csuohio.nulledu or Assistant Director, Student and Career Services, Jaime Gay at j.gay21null@csuohio.nulledu
For our class of 2020, who graduated in December 2019 or May 2020, relying on our alumni and supporter network to help them launch their careers has never been more important.
Our recent graduates had to quickly adapt to remote learning in Spring 2020, faced significant uncertainty in their bar preparation (with changing timelines and exam formats throughout the summer and fall), lost their chance for an in-person graduation, lost jobs they were counting on, and more. They had to be resilient and adaptable while studying for the bar exam, and they are continuing to use that resiliency and adaptability now, as they continue to seek their first legal jobs often while also working part-time roles to keep developing their legal skills.
Special thanks to Assistant Dean Sarah Beznoska and Assistant Director Jaime Gay, and Ann-Marie Ahern ’98 and Jason Bristol ‘00, Co-Chairs of our Board of Visitors Career Strategy & Employment Work Group, who lead our efforts to help our graduates make connections and secure employment after law school.
We work to help our students engage our alumni and supporter network from day one, leveraging the first-year student alumni mentor program, offering programs and opportunities to connect with alumni, and making introductions where we can. We not only teach substantive law but also focus on the practice-ready skills of critical thinking, practical problem solving, project management, initiative, creativity, empathy, and teamwork.
Our graduates have a strong sense of why they pursued their law degree. They also understand the power of relationships, an exceptionally strong work ethic, and the ability to communicate and collaborate with colleagues and clients to solve problems.
Please help us fulfill the promises we make to open doors to employment for our graduates and to be their law school for life.
Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay Committed to Living Justice.
Have a great day. Have a great week.
For copies of past messages, please go to this link: Monday Morning Messages.
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My views in all my Monday Morning Messages are my personal views alone and do not reflect the views of our law school or our university.
My best,
Lee
Lee Fisher
Dean, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law | Cleveland State University
Joseph C. Hostetler-BakerHostetler Chair in Law