Cleaning, preparing meals, fixing up, or just spending time with the elderly won't show up on a law school class syllabus, but those activities are nonetheless an integral part of a Catholic University legal education.

Community Service Day, traditionally the third and final installment of Orientation Week for the incoming class, drew a large number of new students, current students, faculty, and staff who all fanned out across northeast Washington, D.C., on Aug. 20 for several hours of volunteerism and fellowship.

The non-mandatory day is intended to emphasize the importance of service to others as a core component of every legal career. Community Service Day also helps to solidify and unite incoming student classes as people forge new friendships and get to know each other better during a fun and satisfying day.

There were opportunities for service at five local sites: St. Anthony Catholic School, Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School, the Armed Forces Retirement Home, Carroll Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and The Ronald McDonald House, all within a short drive of the Columbus School of Law.

The morning kicked off with a pep talk and group photo. Then, students boarded buses and dispersed in teams to the respective sites before returning to the law school for lunch and conversation.