Yvette McGee Brown, featured speaker at Ohio State’s Moritz College of Law Minority Outreach Program, told students about the benefits and importance of having a law degree Saturday.
“In this economy you’re going to need a graduate degree,” said Brown, who was a judge in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic and Juvenile Branch for nine years.
Brown was the first black person elected to that court.
“When you are a lawyer, it gives you an instant credibility that no other graduate degree does,” she said.
As an undergraduate at Ohio University, Brown majored in journalism hoping to one day be a speech writer for politicians in Washington, D.C.
After consulting with her college adviser, Brown realized that law school should be her next move.
“Law school is rigorous and it is demanding,” Brown said. “That first year, I didn’t know if I was going to make it.”
Brown was determined to work hard and she’s glad she did.
“Those were the best three years of my life,” she said of her experience at OSU’s College of Law.
Her experience as a judge in domestic and juvenile court led to her current position as president of the Center for Child and Family Advocacy at Children’s Hospital.
The center brings police officers, prosecutors, children services, caseworkers, domestic violence advocates and Children’s Hospital medical staff together in one building.
Sarbeth Fleming, assistant director of admissions at Moritz College of Law, said the number of minority applicants to OSU’s college of law has increased since last year.
For Fleming, bringing minorities into the law profession is important.
“The number of minorities in the legal profession is unfortunately very low, but the number of minorities who are affected by the legal system is unfortunately very high,” Fleming said.
Fleming said about 20 percent of applicants are minorities, which means last year her office received about 450 minority applications.
“Instead of letting the legal system happen to you, I think it’s beneficial to find out why is this the legal system, what can I do if I don’t agree with it and how can I help more people not have a negative experience with the legal system.”
Brandy Ethridge, one of the 55 students who attended the day’s activities, said she came because she might be interested in studying family and constitutional law.
“Just having a bachelor’s isn’t enough,” said Ethridge, a graduate student in public administration. “Even if you choose not to become a practicing lawyer, it definitely opens up the door to many other opportunities that are available.””
The Minority Law Outreach Program — now in its fourth year — aims to increase an understanding of career opportunities in the legal profession and of the admission requirements to law school among minority students.
