News

Capital University Law School welcomed its new incoming class on Thursday, August 19, 2004, with an Opening Convocation and Gavel Ceremony. The Gavel Ceremony reinforces the Law School's ideals of professionalism and ethics in entering students by presenting each of them with a gavel from a university dignitary.

The featured speaker at this year's Opening Convocation  was the Honorable Peggy L. Bryant, Judge from the 10th district court of appeals. Heather Sowald, a 1979 graduate of the Law School and president of the Ohio State Bar Association, also spoke. In addition, this was the first Law School Orientation Dean Jack A. Guttenberg presided over.

"I am honored and excited to join this new class as we build on Capital's tradition of excellence in legal education," said Dean Guttenberg.

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This year's class includes 188 full-time day students, 90 part-time evening students and 2 part-time day students. The class was selected from a pool of over 1,400 applicants. Nearly one-half of the new students are women and 12 percent represent minority ethnic groups.

"Selected from one of the most competitive applicant pools in the history of the law school, we are extremely pleased about its academic strength," said Linda Mihely, Assistant Dean of Admission and Financial Aid. "This year's class also brings a variety of experience and backgrounds to our student body."

The new students represent 12 different states and 9 foreign countries. They range in age from 21 to 52 and 23 of the students already have graduate degrees. The class includes physicians, engineers, chemists, pharmacists, teachers and accountants.

A new project launched at Capital University Law School will more than double the number of dispute resolution classes it offers, making Capital's one of a handful of law schools nationwide with such an extensive program.

Made possible by a $300,000 challenge grant from the Nationwide Foundation, the Project for Advanced Dispute Resolution Education is the Law School's response to the increased need for advanced dispute resolution curriculum and training. Others with a vested interest in dispute resolution, including significant contributions from the Columbus Bar Foundation and Columbus Bar Association, provided matching funds totaling $150,000.

"Nationally, more than 95 percent of all lawsuits are settled, so dispute resolution transcends the boundaries of the legal and business professions," said Capital University President Ted Fredrickson. "The Nationwide Foundation is generous and forward thinking in its effort to enable Capital's Law School to increase training in this important, growing field and in making such training accessible to all who want it."

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"Capital has long understood the significance of dispute resolution. It began in 1970 with the Night Prosecutor Mediation Program and continued in 1984 with the start of the Center for Dispute Resolution," Law School Dean Jack Guttenberg said. "This grant allows the Law School to broaden its program by opening it to learners from various backgrounds who will contribute their knowledge to multiple professions."

In addition to giving students more options for study in mediation, the project will:

• Establish a certificate program in advanced dispute resolution for people in legal and non-legal professions;

• Create an area of concentration in dispute resolution in Capital's Master of Laws in Business program; and

• Sponsor a national conference on alternative dispute resolution geared toward minorities.

The Nationwide Foundation is the charitable arm of Columbus-based Nationwide, one of the country's largest diversified insurance and financial services organizations, which ranks 118 in total revenues on the Fortune 500 list.

Capital University Law School is proud to announce the appointment of Jim Hatch as the new Director of the Graduate Law Programs. He is responsible for the graduate law, business and tax programs.

A lawyer and business leader, Hatch has substantial experience developing programs and working with legal professionals throughout Ohio.

Formerly, Hatch served as Executive Director for the Ohio Continuing Legal Education Institute. In this position, Hatch led the product development and marketing effort for over 100 programs. His other experience includes positions as Director with the Pennsylvania and North Carolina Bar Associations.   

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He has experience developing course materials and leading workshops on a variety of topics relating to business and professionalism, including negotiation skills, ethics, time management and substance abuse.

He sees the successful development of a comprehensive program for dispute resolution as one of his highest priorities.

"I believe in high quality education to improve the profession and the related areas of study undertaken by those who work with and for lawyers," said Hatch. "I have a personal interest in the field of dispute resolution."

Hatch holds a Juris Doctor and Master's in Adult Education from the University of Florida, Gainesville. He's a founding member of the Inter-Faith Legal Services Pro Bono Legal Clinic in Columbus, OH. Additionally, he has served as a board member for the Inter-Professional Commission of Ohio (OSU) from 1998 to 2002 and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar.

Hatch assumed the post of Director of the Graduate Law and Tax Programs July 19, 2004.

Alums who took the bar exam July 27-29 enjoyed the party that followed at Planks Beir Garten July 29.  Relieved that it was over, 65 alums gathered to drink beer and eat pizza with family and friends. The Office of Alumni and Development hosted the event and gave out door prizes. 

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The results of the exam will not be available until October 29, 2004.

[ View Slam the Exam Slide Show ]

Capital University Law School will host The 2nd National Conference of Minority Professionals in Alternative Dispute Resolution: Eliminating Barriers for Minorities in the Field of ADR May 19-21, 2005, with a pre-conference to offer intensive introductory and advanced trainings on May 18, 2005 .

The Conference Planning Committee is accepting proposals from those interested in presenting a 75-minute workshop at the Conference. The Committee is particularly interested in receiving proposals in the following areas: access, traditional and non-traditional skill building, impact of ADR on minority clients and communities, and research and

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technology. The Committee might decide to accept proposals in other areas that relate to eliminating barriers for minorities in ADR. All proposals must be received by 5:00 pm EST on Friday, October 29, 2004. To learn more about the Call for Proposals and to download the Proposal Submission Form, check here.

For more information about the call for proposals, the conference, or to be added to the mailing list, contact Professor of Law Floyd Weatherspoon at (614) 236-6531, or e-mail him.

This National Conference is supported with grants from the Nationwide Foundation, the Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur, LLP/Estabrook Charitable Trust, and the American Arbitration Association.

Capital University Law School Professor Emeritus N. Douglas Wells passed away on Saturday, June 12, 2004. Professor Wells was a dedicated, energetic, and engaged member of the Law School faculty and contributor to the mission and values of the University.

Professor Wells came to the faculty in 1989 as an Assistant Professor of Law from the University of Illinois College of Law, where he completed his course work toward an LL.M. He taught Property, an important course in the Law School's first-year curriculum, as well as Family Law, Administrative Law and Elder Law. As a teacher he was thoughtful, one of Capital's best, and was well-liked by his students.

Professor Wells gave freely of his time. Students having academic difficulty in his course or with law school in general could count on him for counseling and assistance. Similarly, he served as advisor to the Black Law Students Association and Res Ipsa Loquitur, the student newspaper, and he frequently judged practice rounds of various intercollegiate moot court teams. He was particularly interested and active in the admission process serving on the admission committee and conducting mock classes for prospective students. He would not hesitate to provide advice to his colleagues and read and critique drafts of articles, and was himself a scholar writing in the area of family law and professional ethics.

Professor Wells' professional career included serving as a reporter with the Associated Press in South Carolina and New York; Staff Attorney, Legal Services of East Missouri; Assistant Dean of Admission at the University of Tennessee; and Consultant to the Department of Education and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. He earned his A.B. degree from Morehouse College and his J.D. degree from the University of Tennessee.

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Professor Wells dedicated his life to his family-his wife Sigrid and his children Tammy, Jonathan, and Brittany. He also shared his life with his colleagues at the Law School and at other law schools, and he was an active member of St. Philip Episcopal Church.

Individuals wishing to provide expressions of sympathy for Professor Wells are encouraged to send donations, in lieu of flowers, in memory of "N. Douglas Wells" to either of the following:

Seward Scholarship Fund
St. Phillip Episcopal Church
166 Woodland Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43203

This fund provides scholarships for high school graduates attending college.

or

Lifeline of Ohio
770 Kineer Road
Columbus, Ohio 43212

Professor Wells was very active in this organization, which is involved in reviewing and setting policy with respect to organ donations, transplants, and recipient selection.