Just months after graduating from Capital University Law School in 2024, Anna Doren stood in federal court for the first time, nervous, focused, and fully aware of the weight of the moment. It wasn’t the kind of fear that freezes you in place, but the kind that reminds you why the work matters.
“I was nervous,” Doren said. “But in a good way. It meant it was important.”
That moment marked more than a professional milestone. It symbolized a transition, out of the familiar rhythms of school and into the fast-moving, often uncertain world of litigation. For someone who had spent her entire life in classrooms, stepping into practice felt like “drinking information out of a fire hose.” Yet Doren embraced the challenge, leaning on the support systems she intentionally sought and the foundation she built at Capital Law.
Doren chose Capital Law after completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Cincinnati. After experiencing the scale of a large campus, she wanted something different, smaller, more personal, and more connected.
“I wanted to park my car, walk into one building, and feel like I belonged,” she says. “Capital just fit.”
Law, it turned out, had always been quietly calling her name.
“I remember being a child and getting in arguments with my younger brothers, and [my dad] would have us do mini trials to determine who's right. He'd say, all right, Anna, present your case. I was like 7 years old, so it’s always kind of been in the back of my mind,” said Doren.
It helped that Capital Law was already part of her story. Doren’s father is also an alumnus.
“I am so proud that she was able to follow in my footsteps, join a great alumni base, and begin her career as a new lawyer. It is fascinating to discuss her perspectives as a new lawyer compared with my 30+ years’ experience. It's funny how new lawyers think they know so much, but the experienced ones know that idea is twice baked,” said Robert L. Caplan, J.D. ’94.
“When I began my legal career, I hung out a shingle and helped anyone who needed legal help. Unfortunately, I learned a little about everything, but I did not know a lot about one thing. I eventually focused on family law and now primarily handle those type of cases. I encouraged Anna to find an area of law that appeals to her and to stick with it.”
At Capital Law, Doren found more than academic rigor. She found community. Law school brought together students from every stage of life, parents, career changers, recent graduates, all navigating the same demanding experience. Rather than competition, Doren encountered collaboration.
“Everyone wanted each other to succeed,” she said. “It wasn’t cutthroat. It was supportive.”
That sense of support has followed her into her professional life. Today, Doren practices wage-and-hour and employment law, advocating for workers who are often underpaid, overlooked, or unsure they even have a claim. For her, the work is both logical and deeply personal.
“Time is the most valuable thing anyone has,” Doren said. “When employers say, ‘It’s just a few minutes off the clock,’ that matters. Every minute matters.”
Through class action cases and individual advocacy, Doren has become a voice for employees who may feel powerless, people who need someone willing to say, “This isn’t right.” It’s work she’s proud of, not because it’s loud or flashy, but because it makes a tangible difference.
That approach reflects Doren’s broader philosophy of law. Soft-spoken and thoughtful, she once worried she didn’t fit the stereotype of an attorney. Now, she knows better.
“The best attorneys aren’t the loudest ones in the room,” she said. “They’re the ones who listen, strategize, and do the work.”
Beyond the courtroom, Doren continues to build community through mentorship and professional organizations, including the Ohio Association for Justice. As a young woman in law, she values spaces where questions are welcomed, and experience is shared, places that remind her she doesn’t have to figure everything out alone.
To learn more about Capital University Law School, visit https://www.law.capital.edu/.