 RALPH ANZIVINO, professor of law and relisher of law classes
It was nearly 30 years ago when Ralph Anzivino, a new graduate of Bowling Green University and owner of a very fresh degree in accounting, realized that on a scale of 1 to 10, his interest in what accountants do fell off the end of the chart — the low end. He went back to school, to law school, and graduated in 1971 with a degree in the field that from that moment on would truly make his heart dance. “I loved the experience of law school. I call it a psychedelic experience because it just expands your mind. So many issues on the front page of the newspaper — political, environmental, global — I don’t care what it is, none of it is divorced from the law. Being in law school was an incredible experience for me and, of course, that’s why I’m still here.
“Law school is all about teaching students to think like lawyers. On the first day of class I tell my students to forget everything they think they know about the law. Just let it go, because now you’re going to learn what the law really is. When a lay person tells a lawyer about a problem they’re having, they don’t know what kind of legal problem it is. The lawyer has to identify the problem, what law is applicable and what the solution might be. To get to teach that day-in and day-out is really fun.
“I’ll tell you a funny stat. There is a direct correlation between the number of lawyers in a society and the freedoms citizens enjoy. I feel so fortunate to assist in the development of individuals who will defend the rights of the citizens of this country. That’s a really significant thing. I tell my students that with a law degree, they will always know what’s right and what’s wrong. I tell them that they are making a wonderful investment for life that will pay dividends over and over.”
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