LAW & LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
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TheLLI Team
Brant Lee
Law School Liaison
Professor of Law; Assistant Dean of Diversity & Social Justice Initiatives
University of Akron School of Law
Constance Hill
Cincinnati Site Administrator
Rudy Trejo
Law School Liaison
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Community Engagement, and Equity
University of Cincinnati College of Law
Tim Trepal
Cleveland Site Administrator
Barbara Andelman
Law School Liaison
Assistant Dean for Admission and Financial Aid
Cleveland State College of Law
Alyson Suter Alber
Law School Liaison
Associate Dean for Enrollment Planning and Strategic Initiatives
Case Western Reserve University School of Law
Victoria Peterson
Columbus Site Administrator
Kathy Northern
Law School Liaison
Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence, Robert M. Duncan/Jones Day Designated Associate Professor of Law
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
Shaneece Green
Law School Liaison
Diversity Initiatives Coordinator
Capital University Law School
Jade Bonner
Dayton Site Administrator
Julie Jackson
Law School Liaison
Assistant Director, Career Services
University of Dayton School of Law
Marilyn F. Preston
Site Administrator/Law School Liaison
Professor of Legal Research and Writing
University of Toledo College of Law
Honorable Jeffery Hopkins
President, Law & Leadership Institute, LLC
District Judge, Southern District of Ohio
David W. Alexander
Senior Partner, Squire Patton Boggs, Ret.
Karim A. Ali
Partner, Porter Wright, Morris & Arthur
Neema Bell
Partner, Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, Ret.
Brandon Craig
Assistant Director, Office of Equal Opportunity & Access, University of Cincinnati
Frank DeSantis
Partner, Thompson Hine, Ret.
Tammy R. Bennett
Adjunct Professor, University of Cincinnati College of Law
Alycia N. Broz
Partner, Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP
Karla Garrett Harshaw Administrator, Iddings Foundation
Ronald V. Johnson, Jr.
Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Brandon McClain Attorney
Kathy Northern
Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence, Robert M. Duncan/Jones Day Designated Associate Professor of Law, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
Sharon Reaves
Director and Chief Human Resources Officer, County of Summit
Robert Solomon
Vice President, Office for Inclusion Diversity & Equal Opportunity at Case Western Reserve University
Michael N. Ungar
Partner and Chair, Litigation Department, Ulmer & Berne LLP
Marcus L. Wainwright Director, Wilkins, Griffiths & Dougherty CO., L.P.A
Jim Weiler
Chief Sustainability Officer, The Robert Weiler Company
E.J. Wunsch
Heather A. Creed Executive Director
President, International, The Wendy's Company
Steve Jemison, Esq.
Board Member Emeritus, Law & Leadership Institute, LLC
Chief Legal Officer, Procter & Gamble, Ret.
Nancy H. Rogers
Board Member Emeritus, Law & Leadership Institute, LLC
Professor Emeritus, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
Carl Smallwood
Board Member Emeritus, Law & Leadership Institute, LLC
Director, Divided Community Project
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
William Weisenberg
Board Member Emeritus, Law & Leadership Institute, LLC Policy Advisor and Consultant, The Ohio State Bar Association, Ret.
Message from the President
Judge Jeffery Hopkins was the 2024 recipient of the Ohio State Bar Foundation’s highest honor, the Ritter Award The following is an excerpt from his remarks
As lawyers, Ohio needs our constancy and contribution of our unique talents, skills, creativity, problem solving, and ideas I am confident that working together we can make a difference to help solve the problems that have for so long plagued our nation In the words of Cicero, “while there is life, there is hope!”
By dedicating ourselves in this fashion we will be in keeping with the legacy of the late Chief Justice Tom Moyer who recognized this concern...[and sought a solution by creating LLI to] not only improve the administration of justice in our state, but also the perception of fairness, inclusion, and belief by all Ohio citizens in the ideals of our great Republic.
One need only attend the final state-wide moot court, mock trial, and spoken word competitions LLI holds each summer at the Ohio Supreme Court to see and feel the emotional and life-changing experience that the Law & Leadership Institute offers to high schoolers who could not otherwise fathom the idea of themselves becoming lawyers LLI changes lives for the betterment of our profession and the administration of justice in our state not just for the students it serves, but also for the parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and other relatives who watch their children grow, develop, and do amazing things with the lawyering skills they’ve mastered, like the best that our profession has to offer
Another byproduct is that LLI changes us, too, for the betterment. Through these students we can see...the future of [effective leadership] and of our beloved profession [where we work] competently, professionally, ethically, and within the bounds of the law so that ends of justice are served
Dr King reminds us that “Progress never rolls in on the wheels of inevitability It comes through all of us working together to achieve success” We, as lawyers and citizens concerned about the health and welfare of our nation, must apply ourselves in this ongoing struggle to make it so
PROGRAM
WITH PURPOSE
Our 9th graders learned criminal law and trial procedure, took field trips to places like Wendy’s Headquarters and mayors’ offices, and heard from daily speakers. Students competed in mock trial locally and at the statewide competition at the Supreme Court of Ohio.
The Law & Leadership Institute, LLC is a state-wide initiative in collaboration with the legal and business community that inspires and prepares students from underserved communities for post-secondary and professional success through a comprehensive four-year academic program in law, leadership, analytical thinking, problem solving, writing skills and professionalism.
10th graders learned some civil law highlights and spent a week doing internships with a local law firm or government office. Additionally, they studied various aspects of Constitutional Law and prepared for a mock congressional hearing in the We the People competition
Our 11th grade students completed an SAT preparation course, a research paper on a landmark Supreme Court case, and a spoken word piece based on someone who demonstrated resilience during the course of that case Our juniors also joined our seniors to visit college campuses
12th graders prepared an appellate brief in the case of United States v. Cado Toste, a case generously given to LLI by the Ohio Center for LawRelated Education. At the conclusion of the summer, the students’ oral arguments were heard in a moot court competition at each of the sites and at the statewide competition.
SENIOR TRIP TO WASHINGTON, DC
For the third year, we were able to take our rising seniors to Wash included the following highlights:
-Howard University
-Georgetown University
-University of District of Columbia
-United State Supreme Court
-Martin Luther King, Jr and Lincoln Memorials
-National Museum of African American History and Culture
-Tour of the Capitol
-National Archives
-The Old Post Office Museum
-WWII and Korean War Memorials
-Bowling at Bowlero
-Various DC-cultured food spots
RESULTS
“My student learned that he has everything he needs to succeed! And he walks taller and completely in his purpose.”
According to Instructors’ evaluations of students:
Improved or significantly improved their public speaking 93%
Improved or significantly improved their selfconfidence 93% 92%
Improved or significantly improved their legal knowledge
According to end-of-the-summer surveys of parents:
Agreed their student had increased their determination to achieve their goals 91%
87%
Agreed their student had increased their problem-solving ability
Agreed their student had increased their confidence 93%
CLASS OF 2024
The Class of 2024 started high school in 2020 - a very uncertain time. They accepted our offer to defer their start until the following summer and persisted through their high school careers. This fall they are attending: The Ohio State University, University of Akron, University of North Carolina, University of Cincinnati, North Carolina
A&T, and Kent State University.
Athena Williams Miami University, ‘21 Cleveland State University College of Law, ‘24
I cherish the friends I made through [LLI] and the instructors who volunteered their precious time and efforts I am grateful for the program's insistence that not only would we succeed but that LLI would support us in our endeavors The consistency of all my instructors and LLI staff to expect excellence (even in summer) prepared me to have high standards for my education This orientation to expect both rigor and quality propelled me through [my education], sitting for the bar examination in Ohio, and now as an Associate at a large law firm I thank LLI for setting the foundation that allowed me to picture myself in this field and to instill a need to give back to encourage others to do the same
Amilcar Torres University of Cincinnati, ‘22 University of Cincinnati College of Law, ‘26
My participation in the Law and Leadership Program was wonderful as it let me gain exposure and knowledge of the legal system and the Cincinnati legal community from a young age This helped me as I began my law school experience because I already had a basic understanding of the field which helped me get a good start once classes began
Miles Sibley
The Ohio State University, ‘20
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, ‘23
Participating in LLI was the first time that I had ever met a lawyer or been exposed to the legal field at all Just having the opportunity to see that a legal career was an option was groundbreaking for me and the foundational skills that I learned over those summers helped me in college and eventually in law school Without LLI I m not sure that I d be an attorney today because of how foreign and unreachable I thought the legal field was to me Today I’m happily practicing law in Chicago as a housing and eviction defense legal aid attorney
Olivia Merie Riggs University of Cincinnati, ‘23 University of Cincinnati College of Law, ‘27
One of the major lessons I learned from the Law and Leadership Institute is the ability to network horizontally and vertically Meaning look at the students around you, look at those who are also going through the same things you are, and talk to them They might be your next coworker or colleague Also, learning how to focus, put the phones down and be present You can learn so much through Law and Leadership if you put away the distractions and focus on the assignments and projects This is a skill you will need whether you go to law school or not
LLI’S IMPACT ON THE LEGAL PROFESSION
DIVERSITY IN LEADERSHIP FELLOWSHIP
The Diversity in Leadership Fellowship is a 1-year fellowship that seeks to create a culturally competent generation of leaders who are confident in their diversity and leadership expertise, and who will be advocates in promoting DEI as they lead now, and as they continue to positions of higher leadership in the future We were excited to add
undergraduate mock trial students to our cohort this year The fellows represent:
Capital University Law School
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University School of Law
Cleveland State University College of Law
NKU Salmon P Chase College of Law
Ohio University
The Ohio State University
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
University of Akron School of Law
University of Cincinnati College of Law
University of Dayton
University of Dayton School of Law
University of Michigan
University of Toledo College of Law
Demographics of Fellows:
GRANTORS
AKRON BAR FOUNDATION
AKRON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
CINCINNATI BAR FOUNDATION
CITY OF AKRON ARPA VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION
DAYTON BAR ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION
DINSMORE & SHOHL LLP
DUKE ENERGY
GREATER CINCINNATI FOUNDATION
HARRY C. MOORES FOUNDATION
JONES DAY
KEATING MUETHING & KLEKAMP PLL
MIROLO CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
MURRAY & AGNES SEASONGOOD GOOD GOVERMENT FOUNDATION
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SUMMER
LEARNING AND AFTERSCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES
GRANT
OHIO STATE BAR FOUNDATION
PROCTER & GAMBLE
SHAW FOUNDATION FUND OF AKRON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
SQUIRE PATTON BOGGS
STEVE & LISA ESCHLEMAN FUND OF THE COLUMBUS BAR FOUNDATION
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO
TAFT STETTINIUS & HOLLISTER LLP
TOLEDO BAR ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION
U.S. DISTRICT COURT, NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
U.S. DISTRICT COURT, SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
VERNON L. ODOM FUND OF THE AKRON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
THE WENDY’S COMPANY
INTERNSHIP HOST CONTRIBUTORS
ADVOCATES FOR BASIC LEGAL EQUALITY (ABLE)
COLUMBUS CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
CUYAHOGA COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE
DINSMORE & SHOHL LLP
EASTMAN & SMITH LTD.
KEGLER BROWN HILL + RITTER
KETTERING MUNICIPAL COURT
LEGAL AID OF WESTERN OHIO, INC. (LAWO)
MONTGOMERY COUNTY PROBATE COURT
PORTER WRIGHT MORRIS & ARTHUR LLP
REMINGER CO., LPA
RODERICK LINTON BELFANCE, LLP
ROETZEL & ANDRESS
SHUMAKER, LOOP & KENDRICK, LLP
SQUIRE PATTON BOGGS
SUMMIT COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURT
SUMMIT LEGAL DEFENDERS
VORYS SATER SEYMOUR PEASE LLP
WALTON + BROWN
IN KIND SUPPORTERS
COLUMBUS BAR ASSOCIATION
IMPROVING
OHIO CENTER FOR LAW-RELATED EDUCATION
OHIO STATE BAR ASSOCIATION
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO
UNIVERSITY OF AKRON SCHOOL OF LAW
CAPITAL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI COLLEGE OF LAW
CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY MORITZ COLLEGE OF LAW
UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON SCHOOL OF LAW
UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO COLLEGE OF LAW
INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTERS
ALAN ABES
RONALD ADRINE
PATTY & DAVID ALEXANDER
NEEMA BELL
STEPHEN BUCHENROTH
DREW CAMPBELL
MATTHEW COOPER
BRANDON CRAIG
STUART CUBBON
FRANK DESANTIS
STEVE DUNBAR
LISA ESCHLEMAN
ELIZABETH FARRAR
TOBA FELDMAN
JAMES FLYNN
YOLANDA GWINN-HARLESTON
PAUL HARRIS
JONATHAN HOLLINGSWORTH
THE HONORABLE JEFFERY HOPKINS
BARBARA HOWARD
DAN JAFFE
STEVE JEMISON
CREOLA JOHNSON
RONALD V. JOHNSON, JR.
MELISSA KENDRALLA
SUSAN LEAR
BRANT LEE
GREGORY LESTINI
JOSEPH MANN
JANET GREEN MARBLEY
MICHAEL AND ELIZABETH MATTINA
JAMES MCLEAN
ROBERT MILLER
BROCK MISKIMEN
DAVID MOYER
KATHY NORTHERN
JEROME PHILLIPS
THOMAS PLETZ
WALTER REYNOLDS
DOUG AND NANCY ROGERS
STANLEY ROSS
DAVID SCHAEFER
EMILY SCHIFFER
ARLENE SINGER
CARL SMALLWOOD
ROBERT SOLOMON
JILL & CHRISTOPHER SPIKER
MICHAEL UNGAR
JIM AND SANDY WEILER
ROBERT WEILER
LEE WENDEL
WILLIAM WEISENBERG
MERLE WILBERDING
E.J. WUNSCH
Investing in the Future
Tom and Kathy Kahle have endowed a scholarship at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law for a law student who participated in the Law & Leadership Institute while in high school. The first of its kind, this is a true investment in students who have long demonstrated a commitment to their futures and a desire to lead We are grateful the Kahles have seen the value of LLI programming and are supporting the bright futures of our students!
OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER
LAW & LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
PERSONAL ENGAGEMENT FINANCIAL ENGAGEMENT
Opportunities to engage with students vary to some degree by city and season but generally include:
Speaker presentation during Summer Institute
Host 10th grade student for 4-day academic internship in mid-July
Host group of students for afternoon field trip
Judge in local or statewide competition in late July
Speak to Diversity in Leadership Fellows (law students and undergraduate students) in Columbus
Financial engagement at any level is appreciated. Some designated levels of sponsorship include:
Sponsor one year of programming for one student ($2,500)
Fund a recruiter for one city ($3,000)
Sponsor of statewide competition ($7,500)
Sponsor the cost of local supervisor in one city ($11,000)
Statewide lunch sponsor ($30,000)
Sponsor of one city's class through graduation (4-year commitment of $25,000 each year)
614.236.6305
lli@lawandleadership.org
www.lawandleadership.org
