UC College of Law Welcomes Class of 2010 as 175th Anniversary Year Begins

The end of summer has come early for the University of Cincinnati College of Law as 120 first-year students flooded the building’s halls, starting August 13, in pursuit of a law degree. The Class of 2010 got a "taste of law school" as they experienced the annual week-long "Introduction to Law" seminar. Classes officially begin Tuesday, August 21, when they will be joined by second and third-year students for the school’s 175th academic year.

"This year’s entering class is one of the most academically strong and diverse groups in recent years," said UC College of Law Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Al Watson. They boast an average GPA of 3.63. And, the top quarter of the class bring GPAs of almost 3.9. Moreover, the median Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) score for the first-years is 161, the highest the law school has seen since the mid 1990s.

The 120 students that make up the Class of 2010 were chosen from an applicant pool of 1,300. This represents an almost 10 percent increase in applications, even while applications were down nationally by four percent. 

The entering class, ranging in age from 20 to 43, represents 56 college and universities from across the country, with a significant number from Miami University. Several students are also graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): Fisk, Morehouse, and Howard. They are former residents of 19 states and two foreign nations — Canada and China.

The first-year students are highly educated, with diverse backgrounds and experiences. One student is a Peace Corp volunteer. Another student spent the summer in Rwanda working with a human rights program. The class also includes political campaigners, government interns, engineers and Ivy League-level athletes. Yet another has a "side job" as an emergency medicine physician at University Hospital.

"We’re excited and pleased that this highly talented group of students has chosen to join us here at the College of Law," said UC College of Law Dean Louis D. Bilionis. "They are truly leaders of their generation — people who have already made their mark and are sure to do so for years to come in law, government, business and life."

This academic year, the law school will be celebrating its 175th Anniversary. The fourth-oldest, continuously-operating law school in the nation, the College of Law is exceeded in age only by Yale, Harvard and Virginia. Numerous events, including the first all-alumni reunion, inaugural symposiums, plays, and celebratory activities are planned throughout the year.

The celebration will "kick off" on Sept. 28 with a giant anniversary party, featuring a William Howard Taft look-alike contest, as well as a trip to a Reds game, CLE opportunity, great food and fun!

For more information about the anniversary celebration, visit the law school’s new website at www.law.uc.edu.