“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
I’m pleased to announce that our Class of 2018 has achieved a 95.5% employment rate! Following on the heels of our state-high 93% pass rate for the July 2018 Ohio bar examination, this is the highest employment rate for CSU Cleveland-Marshall College of Law since the Great Recession hit in 2007. In addition to the 95% total employment rate, more than 80% of the Class of 2018 is employed in full-time, long-term jobs that require bar passage or for which the law degree is a distinct advantage.
We stand out for our outstanding faculty, practical hands-on experiential opportunities, industry-aligned Cybersecurity, Health Law, Criminal Justice, and Global Space Law Centers, and technologically advanced Trial Courtroom, Solo Practice Incubator, and Learning Commons.
But there’s something else that also distinguishes us that is just as important. 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.
So I call our graduates’ bar passage and employment rates, our Grit Rate.
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. 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 employment outcomes are the result of focused efforts by our graduates, supported by our faculty, staff, and alumni champions.
Special thanks to our exceptional faculty for teaching and preparing our students, to our alumni who served as “C|M|LAW Champions” by mentoring and connecting our students to employers, to Heather DiFranco, Director of our Office of Career Strategy & Employment, Sarah Beznoska, Assistant Director, Ann-Marie Ahern ’98 and Jason Bristol ‘00, Co-Chairs of our Board of Visitors Career Strategy & Employment Work Group, and Associate Dean and Professor Carolyn Broering-Jacobs and Professor Jonathan Witmer-Rich, who work closely with our Office of Career Strategy & Employment.
We believe that our alumni network is one of the most committed in the country, and they show up every year to help our graduates make connections and secure employment both during and after law school. If you would like to learn more about joining our alumni champion program, please contact our Office of Career Strategy & Employment at 216-687-6871 or careernull@law.csuohio.nulledu
Our graduates’ bar pass rate and employment rate are a reflection of their grit, perseverance, and talent.
Once again, we are demonstrating to our students and graduates that we are their law school for life.
This Week’s Monday Moment: Angela Duckworth TED Talk: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Have a great day. Have a great week.
My best,
Lee