Chapter 6 - Student Affairs

 6.6. Student Complaint and Appeal Procedures

If a student complaint falls under a specific provision in the Manual of Policies and Procedures designed to address complaints of that nature, such as, but not limited to, sexual harassment and grade appeals, the student must file a complaint under the specific governing policy. 

Student Complaint Form PDF 

6.1 Rules Of Discipline

The rules contained in the current edition of Capital University’s What Every Student Should Know shall govern in cases to which they are applicable and which they are not inconsistent with the Manual of Policies and Procedures or with any rules that may be adopted.

Students take an Oath of Professionalism when they enter law school and are expected to abide by throughout their time in school.

“I, as a student entering Capital University Law School, understand that I am joining an academic community and embarking on a professional career. I gratefully acknowledge the privileges inherent in becoming a lawyer and willingly accept the responsibilities that accompany those privileges and are entrusted to me by the bench, the bar, and the public.

I promise to do my utmost to live up to the high ideals of my chosen profession and to uphold the highest standards of academic honesty and ethical practice throughout my training and the remainder of my professional life. I will remember that my actions reflect not only upon myself, but upon Capital University Law School and the legal profession.

To strengthen the law school community, I will conduct myself with dignity and civility and will treat all of my colleagues -- students, staff and faculty -- with kindness and respect.

I vow to be a person of principle, compassion, strength, and courage. I will recognize my weaknesses and strengths and strive to develop the character that is expected of a lawyer and that will earn the respect of my clients, my colleagues, my family and myself.

I commit to conduct my academic, professional and personal life to honor the values and standards that are expressed in the Capital University Law School Academic Honor Code and Rules of Professional Conduct and are shared by the legal profession.

This pledge I take freely and upon my honor.”

6.1.01 General Expectations

Capital University and the Law School expect of its students loyal cooperation in the development and maintenance of the high standards of ethics and conduct, as well as those of scholarship.

 6.1.02 Ethical Obligations

Ethical obligations of law students begin when the application for admissions is submitted. Students are asked several questions that may be relevant to ethical character, including:

Have you ever been apprehended, arrested, cited, or given a ticket for, charged with, or convicted of any crime or offense, including civil or criminal contempt? Answer this question irrespective of whether the incident was a felony or misdemeanor. You need not disclose minor traffic offenses that were not connected with the use, abuse or possession of alcohol, drugs, or other chemicals, or incidents that, in fact, have been officially expunged. Have you ever been court-martialed or charged with fraud? If you answered yes, please provide a written explanation even if the arrest, charge, apprehension, citation, ticket, or conviction was later dismissed, withdrawn, reduced, dropped, or diverted. You need not disclose incidents that occurred prior to the age of 18.

Have you ever been suspended, expelled, discharged, or asked to resign from any school, employment, professional organization, or public office?

Have you ever been in bankruptcy, had a license denied, suspended, or revoked, had a bond canceled, or been declared incompetent by any court?

Applicants for admission are required to answer these questions truthfully and fully. Applicants and law students have a continuing duty to inform the law school of any and all changes to the answers to these questions. The failure of a student to make such a disclosure may result in revocation of admission or disciplinary action by the Law School, or denial of permission to practice law by the state in which the student may seek admission.

6.1.03 Administrative Withdrawal  

Because of the ethical obligations imposed on students, the Law School reserves the power to compel the withdrawal of any student whose conduct at any time is not deemed to be satisfactory. Entrance by the student is deemed to be acknowledgment of this power.

6.1.04 Expectation To Know And Follow The Honor Code

These expectations are implemented in part by the Honor Code of Capital University Law School. All students are expected to know the Honor Code and are bound by it.

 6.1.05 The Ohio Rules Of Professional Conduct

However, the Honor Code does not exhaust the Law School's expectations and requirements as to ethical conduct of its students. Students are expected to know the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct and infringement of this Code may subject students to administrative discipline apart from Honor Code proceedings. The Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct are expressly incorporated by reference into this manual, as if all of its provisions were specifically set forth herein.