Students participate in discussions and opportunities centered around professional development, cultural competency, community building, social impact, and justice. Since the program fosters deep roots and authentic connections early on, many Buckeyes Building Bridges students naturally go on to become trusted leaders within the Moritz community, including student organization presidents, Student Bar Association representatives, and journal editors-in-chief.

The program starts with a four-day leadership engagement experience, which includes reflection exercises, role-playing activities, small-group conversations, and presentations from Moritz faculty, staff, and central Ohio community leaders alongside excellent food and networking opportunities. The program carries over into the academic year with social, educational, and community-building excursions. Previous years' activities included a golf, yoga, community service with Habitat for Humanity, escape room, axe throwing, and more.

Attendees are not charged to participate in the program. Moritz is incredibly grateful to the law firm of Bailey Cavalieri LLC for their generous support of the early arrival portion of the Buckeyes Building Bridges program. In-semester community building events are supported by the Vorys law firm, while support for student attendance at law-related professional development conferences is supported by the Porter Wright law firm. 

Buckeyes Building Bridges: Student Profiles

There is no better way to understand the impact of the program than to look at the journeys of current and past students. Meet two of our Buckeyes Building Bridges leaders, Irshad and Darren, as they share a snapshot of their backgrounds, their current summer legal work, and their favorite Buckeyes Building Bridges memories.

Irshad

Hometown: Dublin, Ohio

Undergraduate Institution: The Ohio State University

This Summer: Law Clerk at the Juvenile Court of Union County & Fellow at the Law and Leadership Institute

Involvement & Leadership:

Advocates for Children (Vice President)

Equal Justice Works (National Advisory Committee)

APALSA (Asian Pacific American Law Students Association) (Secretary)

Law and Leadership Institute (Fellow)

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) (Volunteer)

Favorite Social Memory: "Last fall, I went to an escape room with BBB and had so much fun. We had a great time working together to solve the puzzles, and dinner afterward was just as fun. It was so nice to catch up with everyone, especially those who were not in our academic sections."

Key Takeaway: "I found the 2L and 3L panel at BBB to be incredibly helpful. They gave us detailed advice about navigating law school—covering everything from handling cold calls, taking notes, and creating outlines to balancing our social lives with academics. It was amazing to see students talk so passionately about the law, and I still use a lot of their advice to this day."

Darren

Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Undergraduate Institution: North Carolina A&T State University

This Summer: Summer Associate at Kegler Brown (Downtown Columbus) practicing in Real Estate and M&A; Volunteer at the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center and Legal Aid.

Involvement & Leadership:

Student Bar Association (SBA) (Treasurer)

Black Law Students Association (BLSA) (Treasurer)

PLL (Program on Law & Leadership) (Executive Board)

Franklin County Teen Court (Coordinator) 

Admissions Fellow

Member of the Business Law Society

Favorite Social Memory: "I thoroughly enjoyed the entire process of BBB prior to orientation. It is nice knowing some students before classes start, and some of my best friends are people I met in BBB. The BBQ dinner at Dean Northern’s was especially memorable as we met professors, enjoyed great food, and got to relax and chat about any and everything."

Key Takeaway: "I truly appreciate everyone I met at BBB. We maintained relationships even after the program formally ended. We still get together on birthdays, plan small get-togethers, and attend the curated events throughout the semester. I have made long-lasting friendships because of BBB."