CUA Cover Winter 2004 final (Page 2) - Columbus School of Law

A L T E R N A T I V E C A R E E R SGENEROUSGUIDANCEIt’s a great credit to the law school’s Office ofCareer Legal Services that the answer to “now what?”is rarely dictated by economic imperatives. No onedecided to flip hamburgers for lack of a better choice.Indeed, the overall employment rate for the Class of2002, for example, is 93.2 percent nine months aftergraduation, with an average starting salary of morethan $72,000. For those who chose private practice,starting paychecks averaged $110,000. The ColumbusSchool of Law’s unusually high job placement ratereflects the hard work of many people, especially thecaring and generous alumni who mentor, nurture andguide our newest graduates into the legal workforce.“Last year, more than 120 alumni came to speakto students about career options and conductedmock interviews,” notes CLS Director KristenMcManus. “I hear countless stories about individualalums who mentor students one-on-one or agree toinformational interviews with students. And, ofcourse, this doesn’t even begin to count the number ofCUA graduates who post internship or job noticeswith our office and wind up hiring our students andgraduates. I have found the support of our CUAalumni community truly extraordinary.”It should be noted that for all of the help thecareer legal services office extends to students andgraduates, it does not attempt to steer anyone into“traditional” legal jobs. There are shelves of resourcesdedicated to alternative careers for lawyers, a handouttitled Exploring Alternative Careers, and job listings andperiodicals devoted exclusively to alternative legalcareers.Law school can be a cold, impersonal experience.The Columbus School of Law strives mightily not tobe that; instead, it offers students a first-rate educationwhile they’re here and the opportunity for a lifetimeof support and camaraderie through its alumni network.Our graduate vine grows and matures with eachpassing year, sustaining old friendships and givingblossom to new ones. It is you who makes it happen.Winter 2004 / C UALAWYER21