226 New Attorneys Sworn in by Ohio Supreme Court

A total of 226 new attorneys who met the challenges of law school, passed the bar exam, and met all other requirements for admission were sworn in today at a ceremony officially admitting them to the bar. Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Robert R. Cupp offered remarks at the ceremony, which took place during a special session of the Supreme Court at the historic Ohio Theatre.

Justice Cupp cautioned the attorneys that while the legal profession includes interesting challenges and new opportunities, it also requires the assumption of more responsibility. “For one cannot accept the benefits of the legal profession without also accepting its obligations,” he said. “And these include following the rules of ethical conduct both to the letter and in the spirit, and putting the client’s interests ahead of your own interests.”

Justice Maureen O’Connor administered the oath to the new attorneys.

Lisa Weekley Coulter, chair of the Board of Bar Examiners, presented a motion to admit the successful applicants. Also present at the ceremony were Chief Justice Eric Brown and Justices Paul E. Pfeifer, Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, Terrence O’Donnell and Judith Ann Lanzinger.

Robert H. Rawson Jr., dean of the Case Western Reserve University School of Law, and Barbara J. Howard, president of the Ohio State Bar Association, also offered remarks.

“We deans who have had the privilege of mentoring you as students have full confidence in your preparation, in your energy, in your aspirations and in your values,” Dean Rawson said. “Consequently, we are confident you are poised to begin successful careers and to make substantial contributions to our profession.”

OSBA President Howard welcomed the new lawyers to the profession. “We invite each of you to become active members of the association,” she said. “We also urge you to engage not only in the OSBA community, but in the geographic community you call home. For both professional responsibility and civic duty are integral parts of a lawyer’s commitment.”

The attorneys sworn in today passed the February 2010 bar examination and satisfied all of the Supreme Court’s other requirements for admission. Overall, 271 applicants out of 413 (65.6 percent) received passing scores while 79 percent of the 238 first-time applicants received passing scores.

Following the ceremony, the attorneys were encouraged to visit the Ohio Judicial Center, including the Supreme Court Courtroom and the Law Library. New attorneys were also urged to file their registration paperwork and learn about the Supreme Court’s mentoring program.

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.

The oath of office session was recorded and will be re-broadcast on the Ohio Channel’s local public broadcasting stations. For more information, and to view an archived video of the ceremony online, visit www.ohiochannel.org.

Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow at 614.387.9250.