New year kicks off at Cincinnati Law

The University of Cincinnati College of Law welcomed 134 students and 11 LLM attorney students to the college with the start of a new academic year. Now members of the Bearcat family, these students will begin law school taking a hybrid of in-person and online classes.

This year’s incoming class features a group of highly accomplished students. In the entering class of 2020, women outpace men in terms of representation; the class is comprised of 52 percent women and 48 percent men. They range in age from 20 to 40, though their average age is 24. About a quarter of the class are first-generation college students.

The 1L Class includes students from many top colleges, including the Ohio State University, Miami University, the University of Kentucky, and Xavier University, with the largest contingent coming from the University of Cincinnati. Twenty-two states are represented, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Utah, and Wisconsin.

The class has a median LSAT average of 158, which is up one point from last year. Eighty-eight percent were on the Dean’s List at their respective colleges and universities.

Many members of the class are the recipients of post-baccalaureate degrees. These include a Master of Arts in Bioethics from New York University, a Master of Arts from Parsons the New School for Design - Fashion Studies, a master’s degree in  International Business from the Ohio State University, a master’s degree in Violin/Viola Pedagogy from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a Master of Public Health from the University of Kentucky and Florida International University, and a Theology and Education Masters of Divinity and Masters of Christian Education and Formation from Princeton Theological Seminary.

Though many are recent college graduates, nearly 40 percent worked or had full-time careers prior to starting law school. These positions include a social worker, paralegal, professional violinist, salon owner, juvenile probation officer, real estate developer, legal assistant, political campaign manager, infantryman in the United States Army, legislative aide for House of Representatives, and an algebra teacher at a charter school. They have worked in government administration, wealth management, and for AmeriCorps, in addition to other areas. Thirty-four percent have worked or studied abroad.

The Class of 2023 are skilled in numerous languages, including Arabic, French, Spanish, Assyrian, Woloof, Bengali, German, Hindi, Urdu, Malayalam, Mandarin, Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Montenegrin, and Telegu.

A number of students have specific career goals post law school, including  practicing international law, becoming a Legal Attaché with the FBI, working in politics, working as a prosecutor or a public defender, working for a non-profit organization, pursuing an LLM, fighting for human rights abroad, working for a large multinational corporation, opening a private practice, joining the Army JAG Corps, working in healthcare, and serving the community in the areas of immigration and civil rights.

The LLM (master’s degree) program for internationally trained attorneys and law graduates continues to expand. Now in its ninth year, the LLM program boasts 11 attorney students representing seven countries: Yemen, Saudia Arabia, Mexico, Colombia, Ethiopia, Bulgaria and Nigeria. In addition, one student will complete the fall semester from his home in Colombia.

Prior to joining Cincinnati Law, many forged careers around the globe. For instance, one worked in the information office at an international airport. Another worked as a Spanish-English interpreter, collaborating with medical and judiciary staff to breach the language barrier between providers and clients. Several have worked as attorneys in their respective countries.

Once they have completed the LLM program, these students have their sights set on careers in various fields.  Some will be working in the airline industry in their country. One hopes to join an international human rights institution. And another individual plans to work in the finance industry, focusing on banking cases.