Page 5 - November 2018 | Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal

COLUMN BarJournal

JULY/AUGUST 2015

OUR INAUGURAL WELCOMING

PROGRAM FOR LAW STUDENTS FROM
CASE AND CLEVELAND-MARSHALL

PLANTING AN IMPORTANT SEED TO
BENEFIT OUR CURRENT AND FUTURE

LEGAL COMMUNITY

Marlon A. Primes FROM THE PRESIDENT

hirty-two years ago, I began my faces of law students from both schools, When I lived in D.C. in the late 1980s, it
journey in the legal profession who had the opportunity to meet bar leaders was not the gleaming and cosmopolitan
as a first-year law student at and learn how to participate in our award- city where my adult children reside today.
Georgetown University Law winning 3Rs Program, brief advice clinics, In the 1980s, the places they currently live
T Center in Washington, D.C. and other activities that will enhance their were unsafe and blighted, and D.C. was far
Because I come from a family of tire workers in legal education and law school experience. from the present-day haven that is now
Akron and am the first member of my family to Thanks to the hard work of our bar home to the largest millennial population
attend law school, I carried the hopes, dreams, association employees, Mary Groth and in the country. By hosting the reception,
and prayers of generations of the Primes family Madeline Poll, students also met representatives the leaders of my law school and the legal
with me to the nation’s capital. of affiliate bar associations and other legal community relayed the important message
But the Georgetown faculty and the groups in the local community. They had the that D.C. is a great place to practice law
leaders of the District of Columbia Bar valuable opportunity to speak with the leaders and plant roots. Many of my classmates
Association helped allay any concerns and of bar associations that specialize in corporate heeded the call and stayed in D.C., and
anxiety I had by hosting an outstanding law, intellectual property, and criminal law. they have been an integral part of the city’s
welcoming program for first-year students Additionally, the rich diversity of our remarkable renaissance.
at the iconic Kennedy Center, which had legal community was on display when the Thirty years from now, I hope that the hands
long red-carpet walkways on top of pristine students met the leaders of the local African- of time will also demonstrate that our bar
white marble floors. The building was as American, Asian, Asian-Pacific, and Hispanic association was able to relay a similar message
opulent as it appeared on television. There, bar associations. Through those interactions, to our bright young law students: a message
like my fellow classmates, I was in awe and students were able to hear and see that our that loudly proclaims that we are moving
reflected on all the presidents, world leaders, community values diversity, which will in the right direction and that we, too, need
and famous entertainers that had walked the encourage a diverse group of students to the best and brightest from all demographic
same hallways. Although the venue of the launch their legal careers in Cleveland and and economic backgrounds to plant roots in
welcoming program was memorable, I also remain in our city. Northeastern Ohio and become a part of the
cherish the kindness of the members of the Finally, students from our great local law continued renaissance of our great city.
D.C. Bar Association. They knew many of us schools had the unique opportunity to meet For photos and more information about the
would pursue legal careers far away from the and interact with one another. For so many event, see page 22.
D.C. metropolitan area, but they went out years, it appeared that the local law schools
of their way to ensure that all students felt operated in separate silos and had few, if any,
welcomed in our new home. joint activities. The reception gave all of the Marlon A. Primes has been a CMBA member
Given my experience at the Kennedy law students a special chance to make contacts since 1993. He previously served as: a member
Center, I am so pleased to have helped outside of their respective institutions. Seventy of the Board of Trustees, the Chair of the
plan and organize an inaugural welcoming percent of the lawyers in our community Litigation Section, the Chair of the 3Rs
program for law students at the Case Western have gone to law school locally, and the Committee, and the Chair of the Justice for
Reserve School of Law and Cleveland- early interaction attending students had will All Committee. Marlon has worked as an
Marshall College of Law at our bar association help form bonds between the future judges, Assistant U.S. Attorney in Cleveland for the
on September 13, 2018. Associate Dean partners, and other leaders of our community. past 26 years. He received his law degree from
Michael J. Borden at Cleveland-Marshall and Those bonds will continue to bear fruit, Georgetown University Law Center and his
Michael T. McCarthy, who is the Director of strengthening and enhancing us all. undergraduate degree from Ohio University’s
Student Services at Case Western Reserve, Looking back more than 30 years ago to E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. He can
provided outstanding assistance to make the the welcoming program I attended in D.C., be reached at (216) 622-3684 or Marlon.
inaugural program a great success. Our efforts I now realize that it had the additional Primes@usdoj.gov. Follow him on Twitter
were rewarded by the smiling and grateful benefit of helping to revitalize the region. @MPrimesCMBA.
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