Employer's FAQ

What courses are required to graduate?

All students must complete the following courses to graduate:

• Contracts Iⅈ Torts Iⅈ Property Iⅈ Criminal Law; Civil Procedure: Rules & Jurisdiction: Criminal Procedure; Constitutional Law Iⅈ Legal Analysis, Research, & Writing; Evidence; Professional Responsibility; Legal Drafting

How is class rank determined?

Class rank is determined at the end of the fall and spring semesters each academic year. The following class ranks and corresponding GPAs are approximate and may be used as a general guide:

• Top 5% - 3.70
• Top 10% - 3.50
• Top 25% - 3.30
• Top 33% - 3.10
• Top 50% - 2.80

What is the Order of the Curia?

The Order of the Curia was a Law School honorary society. Election of its members occurred annually from graduating students who had earned a Grade Point Average of 3.0 or better, in any semester, after they have completed 60 credit hours. The graduation honor was suspended in 2016.

What is the Order of the Barrister?

A national honor society whose purpose is the encouragement of oral advocacy and brief writing skills through effective law school oral advocacy programs. The Order of Barristers seeks to improve these programs through interscholastic sharing of ideas, information, and resources. The Order also provides national recognition for individuals who have excelled in advocacy and service at their respective schools.

What is the minimum to obtain graduation honors? 

• summa cum laude - a cumulative GPA of 3.6-4.0
• magna cum laude - a cumulative GPA of 3.4-3.59
• cum laude - a cumulative GPA of 3.2-3.39

What awards may a graduate be awarded at graduation? 

• American Law Institute-American Bar Association Scholarship and Leadership Award is given in recognition to the graduate who best represents a combination of scholarship and leadership, the qualities embodied by the American Law Institute and the American Bar Association.
• Dean’s Award is given to one or more graduating students to honor outstanding scholarship and leadership and contributions to Capital University Law School.

• Dean’s Public Service Award is given to one or more graduating students to honor outstanding public service to Capital University Law School and the surrounding community.

• Ronald I. Friedman Memorial Service Award recognizes a graduating student who has actively contributed to the life of the Law School through extracurricular activities.

• Roberta Mitchell Award recognizes a graduating student who has excelled in the Legal Clinic. 

• Judge Joseph M. Harter Memorial Award recognizes the graduating student who has attained the greatest increase in grade point average over the span of one full-time academic year

• Ambassador Award recognizes a graduating one or more students who promote Capital’s mission, values and spirit.
• Pro Bono Spirit Award recognizes a graduating student whose service embodies the true spirit of legal pro bono by devoting the majority of their volunteer hours to programs that provide direct legal assistance to indigent clients.

• Excellence in Pro Bono Service Award honors a student in the part-time program who, despite numerous personal, academic, and professional commitments, demonstrated extraordinary dedication to providing pro bono service.
• National Association of Women Lawyers Award recognizes an outstanding law student.

What is Pro Bono Legal Honors?

Pro Bono Legal Honors recognizes a J.D. graduate's successful completion of at least 50 hours of approved pro bono work as a law student. Recognition is given with a transcript designation of Pro Bono Legal Honors and a certificate of completion. The Pro Bono Recognition Program is administered by the Office of Professional Development and the Pro Bono Coordinator.

Pro bono legal services may include giving legal advice or resolving a legal problem through litigation, legislation, regulation, or alternative dispute resolution, but only to the extent consistent with the ethical constraints on the authorized practice of law. The work may involve legal services for a person of limited means or participation in projects for improving the law, the legal system, or the legal profession. Students may receive neither compensation nor academic credit for pro bono work.

For this program, law students may do pro bono legal work under the supervision of a licensed attorney in a variety of settings, including government agencies, courts, nonprofit organizations, and corporate and law firm pro bono programs.

How does the Moot Court Program work?

To participate in Moot Court, students must pass an Appellate Advocacy course and participate in competitive joint tryouts. To try out for most teams, students must submit a written brief and engage in oral arguments involving legal issues posed by a problem typically based on a case pending before the Supreme Court of the United States. Students are selected based on their ability to organize and advance arguments; ability to provide clear and logical answers to questions; courtroom tone and demeanor; intellectual and academic ability; work habits and competitive attitude; research and writing skills; and ability to work cooperatively with others on a group project. In recent years, the program has included Moot Court teams in Child & Family Law; Corporate Law; Environmental Law; International Criminal Law; Labor Law; Sports Law; and Tax Law.

What is Law Review?

Published four times per year, the Capital University Law Review seeks to provide accurate and timely legal scholarship to judges, scholars, and attorneys. To serve on Law Review is a great responsibility and one of the highest honors that a Capital law student can receive.

Law Review members are chosen in three ways:

• Top 10% of class: Law Review memberships are offered to second- and third-year law students who rank in the top 10 percent of their class.
• Legal Writing Class Rank: the top two students from each Legal Research and Writing class are invited to join Law Review, provided that the grades of those students are A- or better. 
• Write-On Competition: Law Review membership is also offered to students who demonstrate excellent writing and analytical skills in a writing competition.

May students earn a concentration in an area of law?

The following Concentrations are approved for students who were enrolled prior to Fall 2016 (click on concentration to open PDF with all requirements): 

• Children and Family Law  
• Civil Litigation  
• Criminal Litigation  
• Dispute Resolution 
• Environmental and Energy Law  
• Governmental Affairs  
• Labor and Employment Law 
• Publicly Held Companies and/or Small Business Entities  

The following Concentrations have been approved as of Fall 2016 and are available to ALL students (click on concentration to open PDF with all requirements):   

• Children and Family Law
• General Practice
• Litigation
• Regulatory Law
• Transactional Law 

For each concentration, students must complete 11 to 15 credits of course work and earn a minimum grade point average in the selected courses. Some concentrations also require students to write a major paper on a related topic.

What are the different student organizations a student may join?

Students may join over 20 unique student organizations such as legal fraternities, service organizations, and substantive practice area groups. See Student Organizations for a complete listing.

How does a student get listed on the Dean’s List?

The academic recognition of Dean’s List is awarded each Fall and Spring semester to any student with a grade point average of 3.200.

What are CALI Awards?

The CALI Excellence for the Future Award® is given to the highest scoring student in each law school class.

Does Capital University Law School have grade inflation?

No. Although the norm will vary over time, the grade average for first-year courses should fall within a range of 2.6 to 2.75. Below is a guideline showing how first-year grades should be distributed:

The grade average for upper-class required and highly recommended bar courses should fall within a range of 2.85 to 3.00. Below is a guideline showing how grades in those upper-class courses should be distributed: 

Where is the Law School located?

Capital University Law School is located at 303 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215.