Alum Takes Unique Path A Society Starving for Justice Status Quo or Privatization? So often students become The Terri Schiavo Social Security consumed with finding a debate has only just continues to be a hot- “legal” job. C-M alum, begun. The Gavel dives button topic for many Carl Stern, ‘66, who used into the controversy that Americans. Gavel his law degree to embark has consumed America columnists discuss upon two non-traditional and explains how Terri’s whether Pres. Bush legal jobs, discusses non- death was an injustice in is Chicken Little or traditional law careers. a civilized world. Merlin the Magician. CAREER, PAGE 4 OPINION, PAGE 6 OPINION, PAGE 9 THE GAVEL VOLUME 53, ISSUE 5 APRIL 2005 THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT CLEVELAND-MARSHALL COLLEGE OF LAW Side Bar C-Mʼs 90 percent expanded, at job placement: least for now fact or fiction? By Chris Friedenberg STAFF WRITER By Ryan Harrell on overall rankings by publica- A student-led initiative has STAFF WRITER tions such as US News and World resulted in extended hours, ex- Whether a law student is near- Report, individual law schools panded offerings and improved ing the end of the third year or have little flexibility in tabulating service at the Side Bar, the law starting orientation, one ques- their own numbers. school’s snack bar operated by tion is paramount: What are the In addition, because of the Aramark. But Cleveland State chances of employment for a re- competitiveness among law University and Aramark officials Peter Kirner-Gavel cent Cleveland-Marshall College schools, much of the raw data said that some of the improve- of Law graduate? According to compiled by the office of career ments would only be temporary C-M’s Office of Career Planning, planning is not a matter of public if revenues do not sustain the new 90 percent of the class of 2004 record, said Geneva. offerings. found employment within nine The term “employed” has spe- On Oct. 20, the Student Bar months of graduation. cific meaning within this survey. Association (SBA) passed a reso- Numbers can be used to say al- While most students understand lution to create a food service most anything, so a little illumina- the term to mean full time em- task force charged “to investigate tion of the terminology and meth- ployment as an attorney in a firm, and promote the wants and needs “You think God is a Republican or odology of this survey is needed agency or other legal organization, of C-M students with respect to for a fuller understanding. the term used in the survey has a the food services provided at the Democrat? God isnʼt even American.” All law schools that conduct broader meaning. law building.” The resolution Controversial talk-show It is speculated that job placement surveys are required For instance, if a graduate is also expressed the desire that the host Jerry Springer visited C- Springer may someday run to adhere to standards set forth by working in a law clerk position snack bar be open from 7:30 a.m. M on April 29 to speak about for governor of Ohio on the the American Bar Association. that could otherwise be filled by a to 8 p.m. politics in America. Springer Democratic ticket. Prior to his C-M Director of Career Services, student, that person is employed Scott Kuboff, 1L, the Senator focused his lecture on Ohio talk-show, he held the office of Jane Geneva, explained that be- within the context of the survey. who authored of the resolution, politics, especially regarding Mayor of Cincinnati. cause job placement rates have an Likewise, if the graduate worked See FOOD SERVICE, page 5 education. Turn to page 3 for more. impact of as much as 12 percent See SURVEY. page 5 hould kn Teaching ethics, not the MPRE s o By Michael Luby ity. Lazarus said that many stu- general but because the MPRE w u Opportunity STAFF WRITER dents today have become obsessed is required to practice law, there o . Y According to the National with the Bar Exam, and to a lesser should be some emphasis on the . to vote on Conference of Bar Examiners extent the MPRE, often indicating test as well. (“NCBEX”), responsible for the that they would much rather just Both Snyder and Lazarus uti- the U-Pass administration of the Multi-state learn the rules, and in essence, lize essay questions on exams, but Professional Responsibility Exam the test. Lazarus said he believes Lazarus also uses multiple-choice (“MPRE”), “Students who have he owes a duty to train students questions with as many as seven taken and received a two or three to be professionals, including the possible answer choices. Lazarus On April 18, the student government association (the credit law school survey course in methodology of approaching a believes this method helps to give undergraduate governing body) will hold its general elec- professional responsibility should real-life legal problem, not merely students a feel for the MPRE exam tion. There are two major issues on the ballot. be reasonably well prepared to to recite the subject matter of any and it forces students to logically The first issue is whether the university should continue take the MPRE.” specific course. deduce the answer. the U-Pass program at a cost of $25 per student (this is a John Orlando, 3L, disagrees Prof. Lloyd Snyder agreed, Lazarus said the political cli- ten dollar increase from last year). that taking a professional responsi- stating that the format of the mate of the Bar Exam and the The second issue is whether the U-Pass should apply bility course prepares students for MPRE seems to make sense but MPRE was much easier 20 years to all full-time and part-time students (graduate and under- the MPRE. Orlando said his legal each state accedes to its own spe- ago. Today, a practice-oriented graduate). Law students will be able to vote on this issue profession course inadequately cific ethics rules. Snyder said it classroom is necessary to prepare on April 18-20 in the business school or the UC. prepared him for the MPRE. is difficult to identify which rules students for the real world, said Prof. Stephen Lazarus, said he, to teach and it is better to help Lazarus. Many professors across along with most professors, do not students understand the process by the country stress the learning be- approach the course with the inten- which to understand the answers. hind the test and not the test itself Information courtesy of Nick DeSantis tion to teach the MPRE, but rather Greg Mussman, 3L, said it is because that is the essence of law to teach professional responsibil- important to teach legal ethics in school, said Lazarus. THE GAVEL Page 2 LawLaw April 2005 Part-time program is Faculty honors studentsʼ best interests By Jamie Cole evant changes, it is clear that the are scheduled within a 24-hour and including this spring 2005 here full-time Kerlee majority of students do not know period. After looking at the SBA semester. By Steven H. Steinglass STAFF WRITER about the changes that have been proposal, Werber proposed that Other changes that have been C-M’s part-time program is the Over the past couple implemented. students should not be expected to made without attracting the atten- oldest in the state. Its durability rests of years, the Academic A recent and significant change take two exams on the same day, tion of the student body include on the reputation of five generations of Standards Committee that directly impacts students is a slight variation on the SBA’s the following regulations: distinguished lawyers, judges, business (“ASC”), chaired by found under Regulation 3.5: Ex- recommendation. Incomplete grades: An exten- persons and public servants throughout Prof. Stephen Werber, amination Scheduling. More than On their face, the two pro- sion can now be granted upon the country who owe their success to the has been actively work- two years ago, students were, at posals seem similar, but their a showing of “good cause,” as hours that remained after ing to modify C-M’s times, scheduled to take an exam implications are very different. opposed to the previous “higher a full-day’s work or to the academic regulations. standard.” hours they pried from their The ASC is comprised Credit for courses taken at daytime schedules to spend of four faculty mem- other schools: Students can now in C-M’s classrooms and bers and two students. take 30 credit hours outside C-M, library. And its durability With the strong push for instead of the previous 27. The rests on its flexibility: the changes and the success- Grade dispute procedures: Dean’s opportunity to study part- ful results of the ASC’s Amendments added the require- time by day or part-time in efforts, it appears as if Column ment of meeting with the faculty the evening or to combine a vast majority of the member as the first step and ex- the two programs. C-M student body is pressly provides for students to Part-time law students are admitted unaware of the changes be granted permission upon proper under the same academic standards as and how those changes request to review grade sheets full-time students, and we expect of affect them and their law submitted before and after students them the same discipline and dedication school. were identified (confidentiality is that we expect of our full-time students. Werber explained maintained because all So it is gratifying that, despite the mul- that there has been a student names are deleted tiple pressures on their time, most often breakdown in communi- before a student may they excel in their coursework.