Capital Law Supports Graduates Taking Bar Exam

July 31, 2009

Taking the Bar exam is one of the most stressful times in a law graduate’s career and for the past five years the Office of Alumni Relations has been there to help alleviate some of this stress for its graduates by providing breakfast and lunch during the Ohio Bar Exam in the Veteran’s Memorial parking lot.  Capital Law had 155 graduates apply to take the July 2009 Ohio Bar Exam and the Office of Alumni Relations estimates that about 130 of them attended the tailgates over the thee-day exam period.  The last day of the exam is followed by an After-the-Bar Party at Planks Bier Garten on South High Street to celebrate the graduates’ survival.

Rain or shine, staff, faculty, Dean Guttenberg and Professors Yvonne Twiss (Bar Services Director) and Joe Bodine (Academic Success Director) are present to show support for the graduates and encourage them on.  Professor Bodine even brings his beloved dog, Chewbacca, to help provide comfort to the graduates.

In addition to power foods like bananas, oatmeal, fruits and vegetables that provide healthy nutrition for the exam takers, the Law School has an ample supply of ear plugs, which was the hot item this year.  The “drug store” on hand also includes, Tums, pencils, saline solution, tissues, Tylenol, cough drops and many other sundries that an anxious exam taker might need.

One thankful graduate, Matt Wolfe, L’09, explains what this truly means to the graduates:  “I just want to personally thank all of you for your support and effort that you put forth this week to make this stressful time go as smooth as possible.  It’s extremely comforting to know that that support is there if needed, and that breakfast/lunch is waiting, along with practically any other item that one may need to make it through the day.  Honestly, it is very much appreciated, and I am positive others in our class feel just as I do.  There are not many people who would set up shop in the pouring rain (minus going to a Jimmy Buffett concert) just to personally help relieve the stress and tension of another.”

[ "Law graduates taking Ohio state bar exam are offered creature comforts courtesy of their alma maters" from the July 30, 2009 Plain Dealer ]