Ohio University’s two-day Pre Law Day connects students with legal alumni, celebrates launch of new pre-law mentorship program

Ohio University’s annual Pre‑Law Day, a two‑day program designed to connect undergraduate students with alumni across the legal profession, brought together more than 150 students and 24 alumni attorneys and judges on February 26 and 27, 2026, for an immersive experience focused on mentorship, professional development, and career exploration.  The program was organized by the Center for Law, Justice & Culture in the College of Arts & Sciences and co-sponsored by the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, the Honors Tutorial College, and the Ohio University Alumni Association. 

This year’s program emphasized the many pathways within the legal field, from public interest and criminal defense to business law and international practice, while also celebrating the launch of the CLJC Pre-Law Mentorship Program designed to provide sustained guidance beyond the event itself.

The program opened on Thursday, February 26, with a keynote conversation featuring nationally recognized criminal defense attorneys Sonya Pfeiffer (B.S.J. ’95) and David Rudolf, who explored how cognitive biases influence wrongful convictions and decision-making in the legal system. Both attorneys are featured in the documentary "The Staircase," with Rudolf serving as Michael Peterson’s lawyer.

Read a student's perspective on the keynote conversation

The program continued on Friday, February 27, with a full day of programming.  That day kicked off with welcome remarks delivered by College of Arts and Sciences Dean Matthew Ando and Larry Hayman, director of legal engagement and the Pre‑Law program, who organizes Pre‑Law Day and oversees Ohio University’s pre‑law initiatives.

“Pre‑Law Day is about helping students see what is possible and helping them understand that there is no single path to a career in law,” Hayman said. “We are working to create deeper, more meaningful connections between students and alumni that can last well beyond their time at Ohio University.”

On Friday, students participated in multiple rounds of alumni‑led panels, each organized around a particular area of legal practice. The concurrent panels featured four to five attorneys per session and offered an interactive look at law school, career decisions, and the realities of legal work.

Panel topics included Public Interest Law; Business Law, Deals & Innovation; Courts and Communities; International Law; Human Rights & Accountability; and Government Law, Regulation & Compliance Careers, giving students exposure to a wide range of professional possibilities.

Alongside Pfeiffer and Rudolf, featured alumni included David Crane, former chief prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone; Laura Myers, Ohio University’s first director of legal compliance; Pierce Reed, director of the Ohio Innocence Project; and Darian Pinkston‑Clark, an attorney in the Office of the General Counsel of the United States Navy. Alumni shared how their legal careers evolved and how their Ohio University experiences shaped their professional identities.

A key addition to this year’s Pre‑Law Day was the celebrating the launch of the CLJC Pre-Law Mentorship Program, a new alumni‑student mentorship program, which pairs interested students with Ohio University alumni attorneys and judges for longer‑term advising and professional support.

The mentorship initiative, a collaboration between CLJC and OUAA, builds on relationships formed during Pre‑Law Day panels, networking sessions, and roundtable discussions, allowing students to continue conversations about law school applications, career decision‑making and professional development throughout the year.

“What stood out to me was how accessible the alumni were,” said Addison McDermott, a first-year student majoring in political science, with a minor in African American Studies and certificate in Law, Justice & Culture. “Talking with attorneys who were once Ohio University students made law school and a legal career feel much more attainable. Participating in the mentorship program as a first year student makes me feel very supported all around.”

Midway through the program, Ohio University’s pre‑law student organizations presented their work and upcoming opportunities, encouraging peer involvement and leadership. Organizations included the Undergraduate Black Law Students Association, Ohio University Mock Trial Team, ACLU of Ohio University Campus Action Team, Phi Alpha Delta, Ohio Innocence Project Undergraduate Chapter, Kappa Alpha Phi, and Ohio University Students Defending Students.

Additional programming included resume review sessions, where alumni provided individualized feedback, as well as structured networking opportunities. Students also engaged in roundtable discussions on topics such as rural and small town legal practice; how technology and artificial intelligence are reshaping the legal profession; and professional identity, well being, and success in law school and legal careers.

The two‑day program concluded with acknowledgments and student scholarship and internship awards. These include awards from the Law School Application Support Fund, the Social Justice Internship Support Fund, the Mary Stanley Public Service Internship Support Fund, the Yousef Faroniya Scholarship in Law, Justice & Culture, the Amy E. Flowers Scholarship, the Debra Maynard Scholarship, the Jennifer Stevens College Impact Fund, and the Adele Morelli Legacy Fund. 

Alumni participants expressed enthusiasm for returning to campus and supporting students navigating the same questions they once faced. Through expanded programming and the introduction of ongoing mentorship, Pre‑Law Day continues to strengthen Ohio University’s commitment to experiential learning, alumni engagement, and access to the legal profession, preparing students to pursue legal careers that serve communities at the local, state, national, and international levels.