CSU College of Law

10/30/2026

Only one week until CSU College of Law's Hall of Fame Celebration!

Our Hall of Fame recognizes alumni and friends whose leadership, service, and professional achievements have made a lasting impact on our law school, our community, and the legal profession.

2026 Hall of Fame inductees and Leader on the Rise!
Janet Burney '79
Peter Klein '81
Becky Ruppert McMahon
Elmer Whiting Jr. '55
Robin Wilson '96
Ashley Jones, Esq. '11 - Leader on the Rise

We invite our alumni, friends, and community partners to an evening of celebration and impact. Sponsorship, advertising, and attendance opportunities are available, with proceeds supporting the next generation of legal professionals.

Friday, November 6, 2026
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
CSU College of Law
1801 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH

Together, we are helping students Learn Law. Live Justice.

For more information, visit https://buff.ly/PIJz0Qt
Or contact us:
[email protected]
216-687-5513

10/29/2026

Don't miss this year's featured speaker in our Richard W. Pogue Leadership Conversation Series, David Pogue!

In his presentation, "AI: The Coping Crash Course," Pogue will demonstrate the state of the art in AI, help audiences manage their emotions around it, and prepare them for the years to come.

Tuesday, November 17, 2026
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Seating is limited, so register today: https://buff.ly/z7KTyMZ

Plus, stay for a book signing! David Pogue will sign copies of his New York Times bestseller, Apple: The First 50 Years, immediately following the program. Books will be available for purchase on-site from the CSU Bookstore.

The event is presented by the P. Kelly Tompkins Leadership and Law Center at Cleveland State University College of Law, and is free for CSU students, faculty and staff.

General admission $20
CLE credit: 1.0 hours

10/28/2026

Congratulations to all CSU Law graduates who recently learned that they passed the bar exam!

81% of CSU Law’s first-time takers passed the July 2026 Ohio Bar Exam, which is a nine-percentage-point increase over last July and the second highest pass rate among Ohio’s public law schools.

Congratulations to our graduates on this milestone, and thank you to our bar preparation team, Student Success staff, faculty, and donors for supporting them along the way. We’re encouraged by this progress and determined to build on it. As we celebrate those who passed, we remain committed to supporting graduates who are preparing to try again and strengthening our efforts to help every CSU Law graduate succeed.

10/27/2026

CSU|LAW Professor Laura C. Hoffman, Co-Director of the Center for Health Law and Policy, examines the intersection of public health and Second Amendment rights in an article published recently by the Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics at Harvard Law School.

In the piece, Hoffman explores challenges to assault weapons bans before the U.S. Supreme Court during its 2026–27 term and the potential implications for gun rights and public health.

Read the article: https://buff.ly/8iT2mJt

10/26/2026

On October 23, the Cleveland State Law Review hosted Leadership Under the Law: In Principle and in Practice. The event brought together judges, attorneys, business leaders, scholars, alumni, faculty, staff, and students for thoughtful conversations about ethical decision-making, leadership from the bench, public service, mentorship, organizational culture, and leadership in private practice.

We were especially proud to welcome back CSU|LAW alumni Ian N. Friedman ’97, Judge Ronald B. Adrine ’73, Judge Michael Shaughnessy '01, P. Kelly Tompkins ’81, Julie Crocker ’06, and Chris Harrington. CSU|LAW Professors Harlan Sands, Robert J. Triozzi, and Debbie Hoffman participated in inspiring conversations alongside Ann Marie Sutter Bush, Judge Kristin W. Sweeney, and Aaron Minc.

Special thanks to our amazing students, especially Caden Wendling and Brandon Wetherholt, who led the effort; Editor-in-Chief Samantha Starkey and the Cleveland State Law Review editorial team; and everyone who helped organize and support this student-led symposium.

10/24/2026

Making a difference is more than a day. It's part of who we are.

At CSU|LAW, our students, faculty, staff and alumni put Learn Law. Live Justice. into action every day — serving our communities, advocating for others and using the power of law to create meaningful change.

On , we celebrate all those who turn their commitment to justice into action. 💚

10/23/2026

Get to know 2026 Hall of Fame Honoree Ashley Jones, 2011

Ashley Jones spent years coordinating CSU Law’s Solo Practice Incubator, helping new lawyers launch their own practices – the same leap she took herself right out of law school. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation. She is also a past President of the CSU Law Alumni Association and is the current President of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

“To me, CSU Law means opportunity and grit,” says Ashley. “CSU was the only law school that saw something in me, and that took a chance on me. I owe them my career and the impact I strive to make every day.”

Ms. Jones is our 2026 Leader on the Rise honoree.

Learn more about CSU Law’s 2026 Hall of Fame honorees and this year’s induction ceremony at https://buff.ly/PIJz0Qt

10/22/2026

Congratulations to Debbie Hoffman, Director of CSU Law’s P. Kelly Tompkins Leadership and Law Center, on her recent nomination for the Mortgage Bankers Association’s mPower Visionary Awards, recognizing women making an impact in the mortgage banking industry.

Hoffman attended the mPowering You Summit on October 10, 2026, in Chicago, which was held in conjunction with the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Annual Convention & Expo.

Hoffman helped bring the Mortgage Banking Bound program to Cleveland State University, working with the Mortgage Bankers Association, CSU’s Monte Ahuja College of Business, and mortgage industry leaders to launch the program in 2025. She continues to teach the course, which brings industry professionals directly into the classroom and introduces students to the business, legal, regulatory, and operational aspects of residential mortgage banking.

The program has continued to grow at CSU, including the development of a Mortgage Banking Certificate. Hoffman is working with the Mortgage Bankers Association and the Monte Ahuja College of Business to explore expanding mortgage banking education at the graduate level.

While in Chicago, Hoffman also met with mortgage banking leaders to continue developing industry partnerships and opportunities for CSU students.

10/21/2026

CSU|LAW students are making a global impact! Under the guidance of Professor Milena Sterio, students are contributing critical legal research and evidence gathering to support international accountability efforts for human rights violations in The Gambia, gaining valuable hands-on experience while advancing the pursuit of justice.

Read more:

A first of its kind at CSU, the efforts are being led by Professor Milena Sterio

10/21/2026

Get to know 2026 Hall of Fame Honoree Robin Wilson, ’96

In addition to building a distinguished litigation career, Robin Wilson is deeply committed to CSU College of Law. She has remained actively engaged through leadership in the Alumni Association and the CSU Law Board of Visitors, and by teaching First Amendment law as an adjunct professor.

“CSU Law changed the course of my life, giving me the opportunity to pursue a profession that aligns with both my intellectual curiosity and commitment to advocacy,” shares Robin. “The legal training and support I received – both during law school and afterward – paved the way for my career and helped shape the success I have achieved.”

Learn more about CSU Law’s 2026 Hall of Fame honorees and this year’s induction ceremony at https://buff.ly/PIJz0Qt