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Nearly 230 new attorneys who met the challenges of law school and passed the bar exam were sworn in today at a ceremony officially admitting them to the bar. Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton offered remarks at the ceremony, which took place during a special session of the Supreme Court at the historic Ohio Theatre.
“I know that admittees are excited to take this final rite of passage,” Justice Stratton said. “I hope that at least one ‘Tip for Success’ that I gave them will stick and help speed them on their way.”
The new attorneys were led in the professional oath by Justice Paul E. Pfeifer.
Michael P. Morrison, chairman of the Board of Bar Examiners, presented a motion to admit the successful applicants. Also present at the ceremony were Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer and Justices Maureen O’Connor, Terrence O’Donnell, Judith Ann Lanzinger and Robert R. Cupp.
Robert F. Ware Jr., president of the Ohio State Bar Association, and Geoffrey S. Mearns, dean of Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, also offered remarks.
“On behalf of the members of the Ohio State Bar Association, I want to congratulate our new lawyers and welcome them to the practice of law,” said Ware. “The Ohio State Bar Association’s mission is to assist the lawyers of Ohio in their practices, so I encourage every new lawyer to take full advantage of their OSBA membership as they embark on this exciting new chapter of their professional lives.”
Dean Mearns urged Ohio’s newest attorneys to embrace the ideals of not only professionalism inherent in the practice of law but also the patriotism that goes along with it. “I believe that our profession is a patriotic calling,” Mearns said. “Lawyers played an important role in drafting our Constitution. For more than 200 years, lawyers have worked to implement that remarkable vision articulated in that document. And it is lawyers who continue to ensure that the ideals and fundamental values of our Constitution are preserved and protected.”
The attorneys sworn in today passed the February bar examination and satisfied all of the Supreme Court’s other requirements for admission. Overall, 283 applicants out of 432 (65.5 percent) received passing scores while 194 of the 234 first-time applicants (83 percent) received passing scores. The University of Cincinnati, Ohio Northern University and The Ohio State University each had 100 percent of their first-time applicants pass.
Following the ceremony, the attorneys were offered a tour of the Ohio Judicial Center, including the Supreme Court Courtroom and the Law Library.
The bar exam is administered by the Supreme Court, which regulates the practice of law in Ohio, including the admission of new attorneys, the biennial registration of current attorneys, attorney discipline in cases of misconduct, and the administration of continuing legal education.
Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow at 614.387.9250.