When 3L Titus Wheeler was considering capstone options, he focused on expanding his skillset. “I wanted to learn how to combine my finance degree from the University of Toledo with the skills that I have learned at CWRU Law,” he said. “I think CWRU Law is great at teaching the foundational skills necessary to be an attorney, but I was interested in the different ways that I could learn to use my legal knowledge and skills.” This mindset drew him to Vantage Financial Group, a financial advising firm in Independence, Ohio.
Vantage had not hosted capstone students before, but that didn’t deter Wheeler. Instead, he located a prospective supervisor–Kemper Arnold–and set up a meeting.
“I took the initiative to reach out to Mr. Arnold,” Wheeler said, “and after learning that our interests aligned we were able to create a position.”
Wheeler’s time at Vantage demonstrated that financial and legal advising can work together to provide meaningful outcomes for clients.
“Throughout my capstone…I learned how [Kemper Arnold’s] legal knowledge and expertise allowed him to carve out a niche within the financial industry as he could provide clients with a comprehensive finance strategy while taking advantage of unique tax strategies.”
At Vantage, “no two days looked the same,” Wheeler notes. He engaged in client meetings, conducted legal research, learned about new financial products and sat-in on financial advising sessions. The sessions in particular, Wheeler says, “were helpful to get a grasp of the clients’ short-term objectives and long-term goals, which enabled us to create a client-tailored financial plan” heavily informed by legal constraints and considerations.
“I was able to conduct the legal research for particular tax deferral and estate planning concepts which would synthesize the law into a more palatable medium for both current and prospective clients,” he says.
Wheeler built solid relationships over the course of the semester, acknowledging that the benefit of a capstone externship involves not only practical experience and skills development but the opportunity to expand one’s professional network, too.
“The most rewarding part of my capstone experience,” he says, “was having the opportunity to converse with the people at Vantage…the relationships I fostered will be fruitful in the long-term.” Wheeler’s coworkers, he adds, “had a wealth of knowledge and they were all very accommodating when it came to telling me about their career path, where they see the financial industry going, and how they see the legal industry and financial industry working together. Although I chose the capstone because of the practical work, I was delighted to receive tons of advice related to my legal career and future family planning.”
Wheeler’s advice to 2Ls in the thick of capstone planning is to “start early,” especially those who are thinking of self-arranging their own capstone opportunity. CWRU School of Law allows students to craft capstone experiences beyond what is offered in the clinics and via partner sites. For those with unique or specific practice goals, like Wheeler, the self-arranged option is extremely valuable. “Don’t be afraid to reach out to places that interest you,” he notes. A little confidence and drive can go a long way.