Using this Handbook 2
Law School Services 3
Student Services Center 3
Academic Affairs 3
Academic Support 3
Financial Aid 4
Office of Career Planning 4
Student Affairs………………………….. 5
Student Records Office 5
Cleveland-Marshall Law Alumni Association 5
Computers, Internet and Miscellaneous Information 6
University Services 8
Graduation Requirements and Course Selection Information 11
I. Graduation Requirements 11
II. Subjects Tested on the Ohio Bar Examination 13
III. Interdisciplinary Courses 13
IV. Course Prerequisites 14
V. Upper Level Electives 14
VI. Special Curricular Programs 17
A. Dual Degree Programs 17
1. J.D./M.B.A. Program……………………………………………………………………… 17
2. J.D./M.P.A. Program & J.D./M.U.P.D.D. Program……………………………. 18
3. J.D./M.A.E.S. Program………………….. 18
4. J.D./M.S.E.S. Program……………………………………………. 18
B. Pro Bono Program 19
C. St. Petersburg Summer Law Institute 19
D. Concentrations 19
E. Center for Health Law & Policy – Health Law Certificate…………………………………………… 20
VII. Grading Guidelines……………………………….. 20
VIII. First Year Curriculum……………………………………………………………………………………... 21
Graduation Requirements Worksheets (2008 & After; 2005-2007) 21 A-D
Concentration Information 21 E-P
Course Descriptions 22
The Master of Laws Degree 55
Academic Regulations 58
The Honor Code 73
CSU Graduation and Bar Examination Application Requirements 79
Student Rights and Responsibilities 82
I. Affirmative Action 82
II. Sexual Harassment 82
III. Veterans Services 82
IV. Student Rights Regarding Education Records 83
V. Student Rights Regarding the Release of Directory Information 83
VI. Student Code of Conduct 83
Student Organizations 84
Disability Services… 88
Campus Map and Building Guide 89
Faculty 92
Officers and Administrative Staff 103
Law Library Staff 104
Support Services Staff 105
Trustees and Officers of the University 106
C|M|LAW
Cleveland State University
Using this Handbook
This Handbook (online at https://www.law.csuohio.edu/currentstudents/resources/studenthandbook) provides vital information about the policies, programs, and requirements of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law of Cleveland State University. Every law student who matriculates at the College will receive a copy and will be presumed to be familiar with its contents.
The information provided here, including but not limited to graduation and degree requirements, academic regulations, and honor code provisions, is subject to change and applies to all students after the effective date of the change.
The Contents page reflects the structure of this Handbook. Course descriptions outline the aims and content of courses offered. They are arranged alphabetically and provide the course number for reference. Graduation requirements and other information intended to assist students in making elective course choices are also provided.
Specific information is provided for the following programs: the Law and Public Policy Program, the Health Law Certificate Program, the law school’s dual degree programs, and LL.M. The Academic Regulations and Honor Code of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law are also reproduced here. All students are expected to review these materials and to be familiar with them. Questions concerning the application of any Regulation or Honor Code provision should be addressed to an appropriate dean or faculty member.
Information about a variety of student services is available directly from the offices providing the services. In particular, students are directed to the following offices:
Department Contact Office Phone
Dean Craig M. Boise LB108 687-2300
Associate Dean Heidi Gorovitz Robertson LB 130 687-9264
Associate Dean Mark Sundahl LB 111 687-2300
Director of the Law Library Kristina Niedringhaus LL 212A 687-3547
Academic Affairs Jean Lifter LB 143 687-4557
Academic Excellence Program Daniel Dropko LB 146 687-2226
Admissions and Financial Aid Christopher Lucak LB 137A 687-2304
Sandra English LB 139 687-6887
Amy Miller LB 135 687-5317
Alumni Mary McKenna LB 121 687-2368
Jill McDonnell LB 120 523-7357
Bar Exam Preparation Mary Jane McGinty LB 147 687-2297
Budget/Administration Jeane White LB 112 687-2306
Career Planning Jennifer Blaga LB 137B 687-2540
Francie Fields LB 137D 687-2260
Kristen Rutter LB 137D 687-2264
Event Scheduling Sandra Natran LB 145 687-2354
Pro Bono Program Pamela Daiker-Middaugh LB 59C 687-6878
Student Affairs Valissa Turner LB 140A 687-4596
Student Records / Marcie Rechner LB 142 687-2289
Supreme Court & Bar
Examination Registration
Student Services Center Israel Payton LB 138 687-2344
Information Desk
Note: All staff and faculty may be contacted through email addresses in the following format:
Note: LB designates Law Building; LL designates Law Library
Note: Current and updated information for students, including the law school calendar, book and first class assignments, current news and anonymous posting of course grade distributions, may be found on the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law website – https://www.law.csuohio.edu/currentstudents and https://www.law.csuohio.edu/academics.
Law School Services
Student Services Center
The Student Services Center is located off the law school atrium, near the elevator to the right of the passageway into the Cleveland-Marshall Law Library. The offices for Admissions, Career Planning, Financial Aid, Student Records, and Academic and Student Affairs are all here, making it convenient for students to find the assistance they need in these areas of law school life.
At the entrance to the Student Services Center is the law school Information Desk, where students can pick up course handouts, purchase photocopied course materials, view exams during specified exam review periods, and pick up scheduling, registration, and other information, such as student insurance applications, graduation applications, transcript request forms, and address and name change forms. The Receptionist is Israel Payton, 216/687-2344.
The Center is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mondays and Tuesdays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday. Extended hours are scheduled during periods of peak student demand and by appointment. Please check individual offices for their hours of operation.
Academic Affairs
The Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs is Jean Lifter; she may be reached at (216) 687-4557 or via email at . The Office of the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs is located in LB 143 in the Student Services Center. The office is a source of information regarding:
Registration, including adding/dropping courses
Academic advice and counseling
Accommodations for disabilities
Transfer and transient credit evaluations
Academic Standards Committee petitions
LL.M. program
Academic Support
Mary Jane McGinty is the Director, Bar Exam Preparation and Academic Support. She may be reached at (216) 687-2297 or via email at . Her office is located in LB 147 in the Student Services Center. Daniel Dropko is the Manager of the Academic Excellence Program. He can be reached at (216) 687-2226 or via email at . His office is located in LB 146 in the Student Services Center.
Ø Academic Support – The goal of academic support is threefold: first, to help first year students through the transition into law school and, thereby, increase student retention; second, to help strengthen students’ analytical reasoning, critical thinking and exam-taking skills; and, finally, to help students develop the skills necessary to pass the bar exam and become good lawyers. Our academic support programs include:
The Academic Excellence Program I (AEP-I) – An academic support program conducted by teaching assistants who meet in small group sessions once a week. Its purpose is to help strengthen analytical reasoning, critical thinking, and exam-taking skills. The teaching assistants also have office hours when they are available to give one-on-one assistance to the small group members or others seeking help.
The Academic Excellence Program II (AEP-II) – An academic support program that, like AEP–I is designed to help strengthen analytical reasoning, critical thinking, and exam-taking skills. It is offered in a large group workshop format to all first year students. Daniel Dropko, Manager of the Academic Excellence Program, lectures on subjects such as reading cases, outlining, preparing for exams, and exam writing. Students are encouraged to draft answers to hypothetical exam questions, which Mr. Dropko reviews and provides feedback.
One-on-one Assistance – Mary Jane McGinty and Daniel Dropko are available to provide one-on-one assistance in essay writing whether or not the students are participants in either the AEP-I or the AEP-II Programs.
Legal Careers Opportunity Program (LCOP) – Daniel Dropko assists the LCOP class make the transition from undergraduate school to law school. Participants are given a head start in the development of legal and analytical skills.
Bar Preparation Workshops – Throughout the year, Mary Jane McGinty presents workshops covering topics such as essay writing for the bar exam, studying for the bar exam, and responding to the Multistate Performance Test (MPT).
Ø Ohio Bar Strategies & Tactics (OBEST) – This three credit hour class meets once a week and concentrates on helping the participants hone their essay writing, analytical and exam-taking skills. Over the course of the term, participants will answer and analyze Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) questions; write essay answers to bar exam questions and receive individual critiques on their essays; and, write and receive individual feedback on practice MPT problems. The course will focus on heavily tested areas on the MBE and Ohio essay portions of the bar exam.
Financial Aid
The Office of Admission and Financial Aid, located in the Student Services Center, is prepared to address financial aid questions and provide guidance to all law students. The Admission Staff will call upon the expertise of the University Financial Aid Office and will assist students in navigating financial aid procedures to find solutions to any financial aid matters. The office may be contacted by phone at (216) 687-2304, or by email at . The office is located in LB 135 in the Student Services Center.
In addition, Cleveland State University has centralized all financial aid functions and services in a convenient, one-stop center, Campus411, located in room 116 of the Main Classroom Building. Campus411 is prepared to assist you with:
· General information about financial aid
· Requesting a FAFSA pin and Filing the FAFSA
· Completing verification
· Printing and signing of your award letter
· Completing the loan entrance/exit counseling and the master promissory note
· Determining eligibility and disbursement of all financial aid
Ø When calling Campus411, dial 216-687-5411, or simply 5411 from a campus phone. To speak with a financial aid specialist, press 0, then 2.
Ø Identify yourself as a law student. Financial Aid rules and procedures may not be the same for every student at the University.
Ø Ask for the name and/or the business card of the specialist with whom you’re dealing.
Ø If you are pleased with the service you receive, ask for that person again and work with that specialist exclusively. If you’re not pleased, you can bring that information to the Law Admission Staff to resolve your issue.
Financial Aid policies and procedures for new and continuing law students, links to required forms, and announcements about scholarships for which you can apply are available online. From the law school’s homepage, click on “Current Students” and then follow the link to “Financial Aid.”
Office of Career Planning
The Director of the Office of Career Planning is Jennifer Blaga; she can be reached at (216) 687-2540 or via email at . The Assistant Director position is shared by Francie Fields and Kristen Rutter. Francie can be reached at (216) 687-2260 or via email ; Kristen can be reached at (216) 687-2264 or via email at . Our coordinator, Jessica Mathewson, can be reached at (216) 687-6871 or via email at . The Office of Career Planning (OCP) is located in LB 137 in the Student Services Center.
· Planning Services, Resources, and Programs: The OCP staff will provide you with assistance and resources in order to facilitate your job search. We will be helping you build your resume all through your law school career. Some of the strong building blocks that you should seriously consider include externships, clinic courses, course concentrations, creative employment opportunities for summers, and networking every chance you can. The OCP has various handbooks to help you with your job search (e.g., interviewing tips, resume/cover letter writing) and many online resources that are available on the OCP website – http://www.law.csuohio.edu/careerplanning/. Take advantage of the career-boosting programs that the OCP provides for you. Typical programs include topics such as informational programs on our recruiting programs, volunteer opportunities, solo practice, judicial clerkships, and preparation for law clerk positions, as well as interactive programs such as our mock interviews and networking programs.
· Symplicity Web Site (https://law-csuohio-csm.symplicity.com/students): Symplicity is a web-based service which manages our resume approval process, job postings, and interview programs. You will be emailed passwords for the service along with directions for use. All of the job postings we receive are placed in this database.
· Out-of-State Job Searches: No matter where in the country your job search takes you, the OCP is here to assist you, be it through networking opportunities, alumni connections, or other job search resources. The OCP has reciprocity with the career planning offices in other law schools around the country. The OCP also receives electronic newsletters and job postings from other schools for positions out of state which are linked to our website and made available in hard copy for your perusal in our office.
* The National Association for Law Placement (NALP) employment guidelines prohibits first-year full-time students from speaking with the career planning staff about specific legal employment prior to Nov. 1, and prohibits first-year students from having contact with employers prior to Dec. 1. Part-time students, however, may seek assistance with job searches during the school term. First year students are urged, along with other C|M| Law students, to attend our many programs highlighting career planning, the different settings in which lawyers work, and the organization and responsibilities of the legal profession.
Student Affairs
The Manager of Student Affairs is Valissa Turner; Ms. Turner may be reached at (216) 687-4596 or via email at . Her office is located in LB 140A in the Student Services Center. She advises students about academics and career options, coordinates the Externship Program, serves on the Judicial Clerkship Program committee, and oversees programs to enhance and support student diversity, including several pipeline programs for high school students. She is also the law school’s administrative liaison to student organizations.
Student Records Office
The law school Records Officer is Marcie Rechner; she may be reached at (216) 687-2289 or via email at or at . The Student Records Office is located in LB 142 in the Student Services Center. This office is your source for:
Ø Information on how to download Application to Register as a Candidate to take the Bar Exam with the Supreme Court of Ohio and the Supplemental Application to take the Ohio Bar Examination (see additional information in the CSU Graduation and Bar Examination Requirements section of this Handbook)
Ø Graduation Applications