Pre-law students visit four law schools in two days

The Ohio University chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity sent 24 students to visit law schools across the state on Oct. 21-22. Students spent two days touring law schools, engaging with law students, and talking with law faculty and admissions staff.

Due to COVID-19, this is the first time this usually annual trip has happened in two years.

In Columbus, students visited Capital University Law School and the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. During these visits, they met with OHIO graduates Olivia Gemarro, a 2L (second-year law student) at Capital, and Lydia Wendel, a 3L (third-year law student) at Ohio State.

Gemarro graduated from Ohio University in 2021 with a double major in English Creative Writing and Sociology-Criminology, a minor in Political Science, and a Law, Justice and Culture Certificate from the College of Arts and Sciences. Wendel graduated in 2020 with a major in Political Science Pre-Law, a minor in Anthropology and a Law, Justice and Culture Certificate from the College of Arts and Sciences.

“I had such a great time meeting and spending time with the latest generation of pre-law Bobcats!" Wendel said. “The CLJC and Phi Alpha Delta continue to be amazing resources for students, and it is wonderful to watch these students flourish and find their paths.”

On the second day of their trip, the OHIO students visited the University of Cincinnati College of Law and Northern Kentucky University Salmon Chase College of Law.

In Cincinnati, students met with first-year law students and OHIO 2022 graduates Ellen Gill-Franks, who earned a B.A. in English Pre-Law and Sociology-Criminology with a Law, Justice and Culture Certificate from the College of Arts and Sciences; Micaela Beatham-Garcia, who majored in Political Science Pre-Law with a Law, Justice and Culture Certificate from the College of Arts and Sciences, and Sebastian Johnson, who majored in Philosophy through the Honors Tutorial College.

“It is wonderful to talk to fellow Bobcats who were in my shoes last year,” said Beatham-Garcia. “I really benefited from speaking to current law students when I was in the throes of the decision process, and so it was really rewarding to be able to pass that on!”

Beatham-Garcia’s enthusiasm for mentorship was echoed by Gill-Franks, “The students on the trip exhibited everything that a great law student should be: inquisitive, engaged and conscientious.”

“Visiting law schools is an important part of students’ law school journey,” said Larry Hayman, Esq., director of legal engagement and the pre-law program at OHIO, who accompanied the students on parts of their visit. “It gives students an opportunity to get a feel for what a particular law school is like that they won’t be able to fully capture by watching a video or researching admissions statistics. At the same time, it demonstrates to the law schools that a student is truly interested in their institution.”

Ohio University senior Sarah Bender noted, “The law school trip was an amazing, eye-opening experience” and allowed students to learn “not just about each school but about the application process and what schools are looking for in an applicant.” Additionally, students had the opportunity to attend a mixer with Capital law students and a lunch discussion with the Ohio Innocence Project Policy Director Pierce Reed, an OHIO graduate who earned a bachelor's degree in Psychology in 1986.

“The Phi Alpha Delta law school trip was an incredible experience that solidified my desire to attend law school. After the trip, I feel so much closer to other members because, in addition to being a professional exploration experience, it was a great bonding opportunity for everyone who came,” said Phi Alpha Delta Secretary Cassandra McFadden.

The trip was funded in part with revenue from last year’s Ohio University Law Fair, hosted by the Center for Law, Justice and Culture and the Center for Advising, Career and Experiential Learning.