“Live Law. Live Justice.”

This is the motto of Cleveland State University's Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. A motto that the college hopes to continue to fulfill by hosting its first Living Justice Day on Nov. 6. The goal of Living Justice Day is to generate a new scholarship opportunity for students continuing their law education. 

The Living Justice Scholarship would help law students passionate about racial, social and equal justice continue their education at Cleveland-Marshall. In addition to the Living Justice Scholarship, the school is also looking to increase funding for pre-existing scholarships and fellowships dedicated to current law students. 

Greg McDermott, a Cleveland-Marshall alumnus of the class of 1986, said that giving back to the university is of high importance for alumni to ensure law students at CSU can continue their education, especially in a time of crisis. 

“All one has to do to understand the greatness of Cleveland-Marshall is to look at the success of its alumni, who go on to do great things locally, nationally and internationally,” said McDermott, currently a civil defence attorney with over 30 years of experience, practicing at his firm in Wheeling, West Virginia. “As alumni, we all take great pride in the fact that the U.S. News Law School Rankings always deservedly rate us as a top tier law school.”   

“Cleveland-Marshall is a great law school, and we need to keep it that way. We are currently faced with very difficult times that greatly impact the current generation of prospective law students, and their ability to afford the benefits of a Cleveland-Marshall education," McDermott said.  

During COVID-19, several students and their families have been unemployed or laid off, creating financial stress to pay for their education. McDermott stressed the importance of giving back, especially during the current circumstances. 

"During these tough times it is more important than ever that we do what we can to return the favor to our law school,” he said. “Donate back on Living Justice Day, to ensure that the Cleveland-Marshall tradition of excellence continues, and that the current generation of prospective law students has the opportunity to attend the same excellent law school that we were blessed to attend.” 

Mike Harvey is a Cleveland-Marshall graduate from the class of 1987. As a former CSU faculty member for more than 25 years, a former alumni board member and a practicing attorney in Rocky River, Harvey has no plans to retire any time soon. He said giving back to the university is a moral duty that all law graduates have in order to help other students get the same legal education as alumni. 

“It is central to give back, it's critical to the mission of Cleveland-Marshall to continue to help people that really need that extra incentive,” Harvey said. "Cleveland-Marshall gave me the opportunity to go back [to school] after getting my masters, received a great legal education and met great law students. I made friends in my classes that I am still in touch with and utilize when needed for various things.”

Living Justice Day on Nov. 6 will begin at 12:00 a.m. and end at 11:55 p.m. The day will consist of hourly giving challenges and incentives as well as additional events including speaker programming, opportunities for current students to connect with alumni via Zoom breakout rooms and a presentation by Lunch CLE titled “Changing the Conversation on Race in the Legal Profession.” 

“It's important to give back. All of us have to push the ladder down for others to get the education we got," Harvey said. "A lot of times, they’ve (students) got it all to succeed, but are missing money or mentoring so it's part of our moral duty to give back to those students... I’ve given a lot in the past and I will continue to help Cleveland-Marshall in the future.” 

Current Cleveland-Marshall students will also be connecting with donors throughout the day to thank them for support.