2014-15 VIEWBOOK
ONULAW
The Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law A PERSONAL APPROACH TO LEGAL EDUCATION
WHAT IS THE ONU LAW DIFFERENCE?
OUR MISSION
A PERSONAL APPROACH TO LEGAL EDUCATION
Welcome from Dean Bales I am excited to be the new ONU Law dean. We are anything but a one-size-fits-all law school. Dig a little deeper; come visit us and discover for yourself the true ONU Law difference.
ONU Law is truly unique. Our history, location and sense of community are merely pieces of what make up the ONU Law difference. If you’re looking for a large urban environment for legal study, ONU Law is not the place for you. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a place where everyone knows your name, with faculty and staff who care deeply about your success, and a curriculum nationally recognized for its innovation, you should consider joining the ONU Law family.
DEFINING THE ONU LAW DIFFERENCE…
A legal education should provide a strong foundation of legal theory while teaching the skills needed to hit the ground running. A legal education should help you build a diverse network of friends and colleagues across the globe. Most importantly, a legal education should provide faculty, mentors and advisors who challenge and support you every single day. The educational experience defines the ONU Law difference.
OUR MISSION A PERSONAL APPROACH TO LEGAL EDUCATION
At ONU Law, we are committed to your success. Though we are a small school, we have one of the strongest academic support programs in the country. We have two full-time academic support directors, faculty mentors who know your individual aspirations and who will help you attain them, and an extensive bar prep program. Our commitment to you is not just rhetoric – ONU Law students pass the bar and get incredible jobs. Our bar passage rate in Ohio is consistently first or second, and was 100 percent in February 2013. Our nine-month employment rate is consistently above the national average, and for the last two years we have placed second in the state for students getting jobs where a JD is required – not just preferred. Student success defines the ONU Law difference.
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Just as you are looking for a different kind of law school, we are looking for a different kind of law student. We want students whose backgrounds demonstrate a strong work ethic. We want students who “play well with others” and can work in a team environment. We want students with a diverse array of backgrounds and experiences that will enhance the learning environment of the ONU Law community. You are not an LSAT number when you apply, and you’re not a number when you arrive. Our students define the ONU Law difference. As dean, I intend to be readily available to every student. If you have any questions or concerns throughout the application process, contact me directly at r-bales@onu.edu. You also can locate me on Facebook by searching for “Rick Bales.” I look forward to welcoming you to the ONU Law community.
Contents Our Mission
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Our History
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Job Placement
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ONU Law Alumni Our Curriculum Our Faculty
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ONU Student Life Richard Bales Dean, College of Law
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Our Facilities
Law Admissions
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OUR HISTORY
EXCEPTIONAL VALUE, 128 YEARS OF TRADITION, INNOVATION THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Ohio Northern Law has a long history of exceptional value and true innovation. For more than 125 years, ONU Law has provided legal education at a marginal cost. Our tuition is consistently one of the lowest of all private Ohio law schools and is comparable to many public law schools across the country. ONU Law has been at the forefront of experiential learning and practical skills training. In the early 1960s – nearly 20 years before almost any other university in the country – ONU Law became one of the first schools to expand its focus from standard theory-based learning to skills-based training. In the early 1990s, we enhanced our curriculum by adding skills courses designed to train students on the professional skills they need to hit the ground running. Every student is now required to complete at least 10 credit hours of skills courses prior to graduation. In 2001, ONU Law continued to add value to its curriculum by building one of the most extensive academic support programs in the country. ONU was the first school in the country to offer a bar-prep course for academic credit within the third-year curriculum. Our success on the bar exam demonstrates the true impact of these programs. In 2010, our curriculum was once again enhanced through the addition of the January Term, recognized by The National Jurist for its innovation in illustrating how theories learned in the classroom can be applied in a real-life setting.
Our History
What Does an ONU Legal Education Mean to You? Verbatim “During my third year of law school, I worked alongside students from two other Ohio law schools at an internship with the Ohio EPA. It didn’t take long before I realized the true value of my ONU legal education. I was the only intern who had prior experience drafting complaints and writing briefs and other legal documents thanks to the skills courses I was required to take while at ONU. Within days, it was clear I stood out.” James Barker, JD ’13 Yoss Law Office Woodsfield, Ohio
TAKE NOTE 100 percent of ONU Law graduates passed Ohio’s February 2013 bar examination on their first attempt, and in July 2012, ONU graduates had a 91 percent passage rate for first-time takers.
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Concentrations in nine areas 11 clinical placement programs Two dual programs (international and tax) A 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio Extensive public interest opportunities A diverse and loyal alumni base for networking A history of strong bar passage More than $4 million in scholarships and grants Guaranteed skills training
law.onu.edu
ONU LAW OFFERS
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JOB PLACEMENT Success After Graduation “With more than 20 years of experience counseling ONU law students, I can help you make informed career decisions, assist you in setting realistic goals, and help you create opportunities to meet those goals.” – Cheryl Kitchen, director of alumni and career services
Legal training is only part of the bigger picture; your ultimate goal is to land that perfect job. Our unique combination of a career services office and alumni office allows us to streamline our students’ ability to network and to locate jobs across the U.S. Beginning in November of your first year, you will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the director of career services to begin career exploration. We tap into our extensive alumni base of more than 5,000 attorneys to offer networking opportunities and to further strengthen our recruiting channels across the country and abroad.
TAKE NOTE ONU Law is ninth in the nation for placement in government and public interest legal jobs, according to The National Law Journal. For the second consecutive year, ONU Law is second in Ohio for placement in jobs requiring a JD.
LIST OF STATES WHERE ALUMNI RESIDE
JOB PLACEMENT ONU GRADUATES LEAVE PREPARED
TOTAL U.S. ALUMNI: 5,038 INTERNATIONAL ALUMNI: 60
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Alabama: 14 Alaska: 6 Arizona: 56 Arkansas: 5 California: 92 Colorado: 58 Connecticut 61 Delaware: 9 Florida: 252 Georgia: 68 Hawaii: 7 Idaho: 11 Illinois: 85 Indiana: 182 Iowa: 15 Kentucky: 73 Louisiana: 2
Maine: 11 Maryland: 71 Massachusetts: 43 Michigan: 106 Minnesota: 18 Mississippi: 6 Missouri: 29 Montana: 4 Nebraska: 5 Nevada: 29 New Hampshire: 14 New Jersey: 176 New Mexico: 10 New York: 295 North Carolina: 88 North Dakota: 3 Ohio: 1,929
Oklahoma: 4 Oregon: 10 Pennsylvania: 610 Rhode Island: 11 South Carolina: 51 South Dakota: 4 Tennessee: 43 Texas: 81 Utah: 11 Vermont: 3 Virginia: 167 Washington: 19 West Virginia: 109 Wisconsin: 39 Wyoming: 3
ONU Alumni Hire Graduates “As part of our summer internship program, our agency regularly conducts on-campus interviews for interested law students. We began on-campus interviews at Ohio Northern University in 2002, and in the succeeding years we have hired numerous ONU Law students. I have been impressed with the dedication, hard work, and professionalism that ONU students have brought to public defender work.”
Russell S. Cook, JD ’89, West Virginia Public Defender Services
Job Placement
ONU GRADUATES LEAVE PREPARED AND EMPOWERED TO DO GREAT THINGS.
Career Services FAQs For two straight years, ONU Law has placed second in the state for bar-required job placement. We attribute this success to the close-knit academic community that has defined who we are for more than 125 years.
WILL I HAVE JOB OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OF OHIO?
Absolutely. Two-thirds of our students come from outside of Ohio. This means that roughly two-thirds of our students return to their respective states for legal practice. We have more than 5,000 alumni practicing in all 50 U.S. states and abroad. We work individually with students to help them find employment in their preferred state.
WILL I BE ABLE TO FIND AN INTERNSHIP/EXTERNSHIP OUTSIDE NORTHWEST OHIO?
Yes. Our students choose to go back to their home states, relocate to a different state, or stay in Ohio for their summer jobs. It is completely up to your needs and goals for the summers between your first, second and third years.
WHAT SERVICES DOES ONU LAW CAREER SERVICES OFFER ME?
Résumé collection, on-campus interviewing, online job announcements through our Legalsift site, mock interviewing, résumé review, the Public Interest Auction (which raises money for Public Interest Summer Stipends), alumni networking opportunities and brown bag briefs (topical workshops) are just a few examples.
Since 1885
HAS ONU LAW HAD RECENT JOB PLACEMENT SUCCESS?
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ONU LAW ALUMNI Our Alumni, Loyal and Proud With more than 5,000 alumni in all 50 U.S. states and abroad, ONU Law has a geographical reach unmatched by most law schools our size. The impact of ONU Law is felt through all aspects of the legal profession and in regions across the country. Our alumni understand the value of an ONU legal education and have seen firsthand how their time spent in skills courses and in clinics have set them apart in the legal field. They believe in the mission of ONU Law and look for fellow graduates when hiring in their own firms and places of practice. Our alumni sit on federal and state courts, hold executive offices in the U.S. Congress and state legislatures, and are partners and associates at small, medium and large law firms across the country. You can also find our alumni serving as prosecutors, public defenders, judicial clerks and solo practitioners.
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Photo by Wetzler’s Photography Studios, Cleveland, Ohio
ONU LAW ALUMNI OUR ALUMNI, LOYAL AND PROUD
The Honorable JESSICA E. PRICE SMITH, JD ’97, United States Bankruptcy Court
NOTABLE ALUMNI
Mike DeWine, JD ’72, ACIT ’85, Hon. D. ’95, Attorney General, State of Ohio Robert Cupp, ACIT ’71, BA ’73, JD ’76, Hon. D. ’11, Chief Legal Counsel, Ohio State Auditor’s Office Gregory Frost, JD ’74, Hon. D. ’12, Judge, Federal District Court Joseph T. Clark, BSBA ’63, JD ’66, Judge, Ohio Court of Claims Anthony J. Celebrezze, LLB ’36, Hon. D. ’63, Judge, United States Federal Government Keesha Warmsby, JD ’10, Associate, Bricker and Eckler LLP Benjamin Brafman, JD ’74, Principal, Brafman and Associates PC Kelly Savage Day, JD ’99, Attorney, Sedgwick, Detart, Moran and Arnold LLP Bonnie Wolf, JD ’06, Attorney, Frost, Brown, Todd LLC
RECENT ALUMNI TESTIMONIALS “I graduated from law school during one of the most challenging economic climates, but I had little difficulty finding a job. ONU’s Office of Career Services staff played a pivotal role in my success. They edited my résumé on multiple occasions, conducted mock interviews, and put me in touch with ONU alumni in the firms and areas in which I wanted to practice. My education at ONU provided me with the knowledge and skills necessary to litigate complex commercial cases with relative ease, and it has played an essential role in my continued success.” Jessica Salisbury, JD ’09 Dayton, Ohio
Associate, Thompson Hine LLP
Randy Petrouske, JD ’10 Green Bay, Wis.
ONU Law Alumni
“One major thing that sets ONU apart from many other law programs is the emphasis on practical skills. I needed to be able to hit the ground running when I started my first job. Thanks to ONU, I was prepared. Speaking of that first job, a connection through ONU’s alumni network made it happen for me. I began contacting alumni in my home state of Wisconsin, and one of those early connections directed me to a job opening within a couple hours of my hometown. I had a job offer before I finished my third year.” Associate, Everson, Whitney, Everson and Brehm, SC
“What most stands out about ONU is the individualized attention that each student receives. My law professors knew not only my name, but also my goals and aspirations. They focused on preparing me for the legal world. I continue to stay in close contact with many of these same professors. Without a doubt, they are some of my strongest mentors in the legal field.” Emily Simmons, JD ’07 Columbus, Ohio
Assistant Chief, Court of Claims Defense Office of Attorney General Mike DeWine
“Any 2011 law school graduate from across the country will tell you that 2011 was not the ideal time to be looking for a job. Firms either were not hiring, or they wanted someone with years of experience. With the help of professors and ONU’s Office of Career Services, I was able to work and network to receive my dream job offer. Once I began working, there was no doubt that I was prepared for my position, and I have grown to appreciate the real-life practical experience I received with my ONU education.” Associate, Barrett, Easterday, Cunningham and Eselgroth LLP
“At ONU, your professors are more than just educators; they are your biggest supporters. They truly want you to succeed and are there for you even after graduation. I received a firstclass education from ONU and referred to the charming village of Ada as my home for three years. ONU strives to send each student into the world as an ambitious aspiring attorney. They put great care into ensuring you are prepared to pass the bar the first time and help you secure a job in the practice area that’s right for you.” Wesley White, JD ’07 Gilbert, W.Va.
Wesley H. White, Attorney at Law PLLC
Read their full stories at law.onu.edu >> Admissions >> Recent Alumni Stories
law.onu.edu
Amanda Stacy, JD ’11 Dublin, Ohio
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OUR CURRICULUM ONU Law is committed to preparing every student for 21st-century legal practice. Whether your goal is to work in a law firm, open your own practice, become a county prosecutor or work in the state house, ONU Law’s curriculum provides the practical skills you need to be successful in the practice of law. Ohio Northern engages its students in a truly rigorous academic program, dedicated to molding all students into analytical thinkers and well-trained professionals who will grow into successful lawyers. Small class sizes enrich the educational experience and allow professors to bring the curriculum to life for students. ONU law students can choose from a variety of specializations and course options while expanding their experiences by studying abroad, participating in Law Review, accepting research and teaching assistantships, participating in pro bono programs, or taking an active role in Moot Court. The cornerstone of an ONU legal education is practical experience both inside and outside of the classroom. ONU Law’s 11 clinical placement programs provide students with opportunities to delve into the field and gain the experience that will help set them apart after graduation. ONU Law has provided clinical education opportunities for students for more than 45 years, and we continue to be leaders in experiential education.
FIRST-YEAR CURRICULUM FIRST SEMESTER:
Legal Research and Writing I Civil Procedure I Contracts I Property I Torts
JANUARY TERM:
Legal Problem Solving and Analysis
OUR CURRICULUM MELDING THEORY WITH PRACTICE
UPPER-DIVISION CURRICULUM:
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SECOND SEMESTER:
Legal Research and Writing II Civil Procedure II Contracts II Property II Public Law and the Legal Process Criminal Law
Legend: * – Upper division required courses CP – Required course to receive a certificate in corporate law CM – Required course to receive a certificate in commercial law CR – Required course to receive a certificate in criminal law IL – Required course to receive a certificate in international law PP – Required course to receive a certificate in public law and policy CL – Required course to receive a certificate in civil litigation T – Required course to receive a certificate in taxation SF – Required course to receive a certificate in small firm general practice RP – Required course to receive a certificate in real property law JD/LLM – Required course to receive the concurrent JD/LLM TAKE NOTE The National Jurist listed ONU Law as one of the most innovative law schools in the country in 2012.
Verbatim “Our curriculum has all the features of the ideal course of study in law proposed by the Carnegie Foundation and others. It begins with a core curriculum in legal theory that includes work with statutes and administrative regulations. The core curriculum develops students’ legal writing and familiarizes them with principles of accounting and finance that all lawyers need to know. A student completes the core curriculum by the third semester, and the remainder of the student’s time at the college can be spent in meaningful opportunities to develop skills essential to the practice of law.” Stephen C. Veltri, professor of law
ONU LAW’S INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO MELD THEORY WITH PRACTICE AND CREATE A HIGH-IMPACT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERY STUDENT.
COURSES:
Entertainment Law Environment Law Environmental Law and Policy (PP) (RP) Environmental Law Seminar Estate Planning (T) (RP) Estates, Wills and Trusts Evaluation and Proof of Personal Injury Damages (CL) Evidence* Federal Courts (PP) (CL) Federal Income Taxation (CM) (T) Financial Literacy Guardian Ad Litem Law and Practice (CL) Icelandic International Law Thesis Immigration and Nationality Law (IL) (PP) Independent Study Insurance (CL) Intellectual Property and Unfair Competition (CP) Intellectual Property Seminar International and Comparative Law: Non-Governmental Organizations International Business Transactions (CP) (IL) International Commercial Arbitration Law (CP) (CM) (IL) International Comparative Law (IL) International and Comparative Law of NGO’s (IL) International Criminal Law (CR) (IL) (JD/LLM) International Law (IL) (JD/LLM) International NGO Law (JD/LLM) International Protection of Human Rights (IL) (JD/LLM) International Tax (T) Internet Law Interviewing-Counseling-Negotiation Judicial Opinion Writing Judicial Decision Making Jurisprudence Seminar Jury Instructions Juvenile Law (CR) Labor Law (PP) Land Use Planning Seminar (RP) Law and Economics Seminar Law and Literature Seminar Law Office Economics and Management (SF)
Law of War Seminar Law Review Legal Context of American Business Legal History Seminar (American) Legal Issues in Transitional Democracies (IL) (JD/LLM) Legal Profession* Legislative Process and Drafting (PP) Moot Court Moot Court II Municipal Corporations (PP) Negotiation Workshops Negotiation: Dealing in Emotions Seminar Nonprofit Organizations (T) Oil and Gas Law (RP) Patent Law and Practice Personal Financial Literacy (Skills) Poverty Law Products Liability (CL) Real Estate: Residential Conveyances (RP) Real Estate: Commercial Development (RP) Real Estate Finance and Mortgage Law (RP) Remedies (CL) Rule of Law Seminar Scientific Evidence and Opinion (CR) (CL) Securities Regulation (CP) Selected Topics in Democratic Governance and Rule of Law Sports Law Taxation: Federal Income Tax Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders (CP) (T) Taxation of Partnerships and Partners Taxation of Estates, Gifts and Trusts (T) (RP) Terrorism and Criminal Law (CR) (IL) (JD/LLM) Transition to Ohio Practice Transition to Practice: Multi-Jurisdictions Women and the Law Seminar
Our Curriculum
Administrative Law (PP) Advanced Legal Research Advanced Trademark/Copyright Law Alternative Dispute Resolution (CL) American Legal System Antitrust Law (CP) Arbitration (CP) Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights (CM) Bankruptcy: Practice and Procedure (CM) Business Organizations I* Business Organizations II (CP) Business Planning (CP) (T) Capital Punishment Seminar Church and State Seminar Civil Practice: An Introduction (CL) Civil Rights (PP) Climate Change: Science and Law (PP) Commercial Code: Secured Transactions (CM) Commercial Code: Negotiable Instruments and Check Collection (CM) Commercial Law: Payments (CM) Commercial Law: Sales and Secured Transactions (CM) Commercial Transactions (CM) Comparative Administrative Law (IL) (PP) (JD/LLM) Comparative Constitutional Law (IL) (PP) (JD/LLM) Competitiveness and Corruption (CP) (JD/LLM) Complex Litigation (CL) Conflict of Laws (CL) Constitutional Interpretation Seminar Constitutional Law I* Constitutional Law II Constitutional Law: Federalist Understanding Constitutional Law: Mass Media Law Seminar Constitutional Origins Seminar Corporate Finance (CP) (CM) Creating Families: Marriage, Adoption and NonTraditional Alternatives (PP) Criminal Practice: An Introduction (CR) Criminal Practice: Advanced (CR) Criminal Procedure (CR) Domestic Relations (CL) (RP) (JD/LLM) Elder Law Electronic Discovery Employment Discrimination Law (PP)
SPECIAL TOPICS
Forensic Evidence Law and Economics The First Amendment Law and Theory
All students are required to take 10 credit hours of skills courses prior to graduation. • Advanced Legal Research (2) • Alternative Dispute Resolution (2) • Bankruptcy Clinic (3) • Bankruptcy: Practice and Procedure (3) • Business Planning (3) • Civil Practice: An Introduction (2) • Complex Litigation (2) • Corporate Finance (3) • Corporate Transactional Clinic (3/6)
• Criminal Practice: Advanced (2) • Criminal Practice: An Introduction (2) • Environmental Clinic (3) • Estate Planning (3) • Governmental Clinic (3) • Guardian ad Litem Law and Practice (2) • International Commercial Arbitration Law (3) • J.D./LL.M. Domestic Externship (6)[1] • Judicial Externship (2) • Legislative Process and Drafting (2) • Litigation Clinic (3/6) • Moot Court (2)
• Moot Court II (1) • Municipal Government Clinic (3/6) • Nonprofit Litigation Clinic (3/6) • Ohio Northern University Legal Clinic (3/6) • Personal Financial Literacy (2) • Prosecutor Clinic (3/6) • Public Defender Clinic (3/6) • Transition to Ohio Practice (3) • Transition to Practice: Multi-Jurisdictions (2/3) • Trial Advocacy (3) • Trial Advocacy: Advanced (3) [1]
Limited to JD/LLM students.
Since 1885
SKILLS COURSES
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OUR CURRICULUM Pursue a Specialty Choose from nine comprehensive certificate programs, all designed to provide a unique perspective in that specific course of study. The certificate programs at ONU Law are intended to reward student achievement and provide guidance for students seeking to focus their studies on particular areas of the law. Each certificate program is tied to a specific type of legal practice. To receive special recognition by the college, students must complete the 15 credit hours of courses with a 3.0 GPA or higher in the area of concentration. In addition, students can use the requirements of each certificate program as a guide to framing their course of study so as to take courses viewed by the faculty as most useful for those practicing in the designated field.
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
OUR CURRICULUM MELDING THEORY WITH PRACTICE
BANKRUPTCY AND COMMERCIAL LAW
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CRIMINAL LAW
Required Courses: Criminal Procedure, ProsRequired Courses: Bankruptcy and Creditor’s ecution or Public Defender Clinic Rights, Two of the following three (the other may Electives: Criminal Practice: An Introduction, be taken as an elective): Bankruptcy Clinic – Criminal Practice: Advanced International CrimiDebtor’s Counsel, Bankruptcy Clinic – Chapter nal Law, Juvenile Law, Scientific Evidence and 7 Trustee, Judicial Externship (Federal Bankruptcy Opinion, Terrorism and Criminal Law, Trial Advocacy, Trial Advocacy: Advanced Judge) Electives: Bankruptcy: Practice and Procedure, Commercial Code: Negotiable Instruments INTERNATIONAL LAW (January Term Only), Commercial Code: Secured Required Course: International Law Transactions (January Term Only), Commercial Electives: Comparative Administrative Law, Law: Sales and Secured Transactions, CommerComparative Constitutional Law, Immigration cial Law: Payments, Commercial Transactions and Nationality Law, International Business (Summer Only), Corporate Finance, InternationTransactions, International Commercial Arbial Commercial Arbitration Law, Federal Income tration Law, International Comparative Law, Taxation International Criminal Law, Legal Issues in Transitional Democracies, International Human Rights Law, International and Comparative Law CIVIL LITIGATION Required Courses: Trial Advocacy, ONU Legal of NGOs, Terrorism and Criminal Law Clinic Electives: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Civil PUBLIC LAW AND POLICY Practice: An Introduction, Complex Litigation, Required Course: Administrative Law Conflict of Laws, Domestic Relations, EvaluaElectives: Federal Courts, Climate Change: tion and Proof of Personal Injury Damages, FedScience and Law, Creating Families: Marriage, eral Courts, Guardian ad Litem Law and PracAdoption and Non-Traditional Alternatives, tice, Insurance, Products Liability, Remedies, Legislative Process and Drafting Civil Rights, Scientific Evidence and Opinion, Trial Advocacy: Employment Discrimination Law, EnvironmenAdvanced tal Law and Policy, Immigration and Nationality Law, Labor Law, Municipal Corporations, Environmental, Governmental and/or Municipal CORPORATE LAW Government Clinic, Comparative Administrative Required Course: Business Organizations II Electives: Antitrust Law, Arbitration, Business Law, Comparative Constitutional Law Planning, Corporate Finance, International Business Transactions, International Commercial Arbitration Law, Securities Regulation, Corporate Transactional Clinic, Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders, Intellectual Property/Unfair Competition Law, Competitiveness and Corruption
REAL PROPERTY LAW
Required Courses: Real Estate Finance and Mortgage Law, One of the following (the other may be taken as an elective): Real Estate Residential Conveyances, Real Estate Commercial Development Electives: Land Use Planning, Environmental Law and Policy, Estates, Wills, and Trusts, Estate Planning, Taxation of Estates, Gifts and Trusts, Domestic Relations, Oil and Gas Law
SMALL FIRM GENERAL PRACTICE
Required Courses: Law Office Economics and Management, Three credit hours in the Civil, Criminal, Municipal or Transactional Clinic Electives: Four credit hours from the following: Real Estate: Residential Conveyances, Trial Advocacy, Guardian Ad Litem: Law and Practice, Alternative Dispute Resolution Six credit hours from the following: Domestic Relations, Juvenile Law, Sales and Secured Transactions, Estates, Wills, and Trusts, Criminal Procedure, Municipal Corporations, Federal Income Tax
TAXATION
Required Course: Federal Income Tax Electives: Estate Planning, Business Planning, International Taxation, Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders, Taxation of Partnerships and Partners, Taxation of Estates, Gifts and Trusts, Nonprofit Organizations, Corporate Transactional Clinic
HIGH-IMPACT, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Pursue a Clinic CLINICAL PLACEMENT PROGRAMS More than 45 years of providing real-life practical experience, in and out of the classroom.
We are excited to offer some of the most extensive clinical placements in the Midwest. They allow students to interact with and represent clients; draft pleadings, briefs and memos; provide research and writing for federal judges; and make court appearances. Every student is mentored by a specialized attorney, providing the student the opportunity to receive guidance at the elbow of someone who has mastered his or her craft. More than 60 percent of ONU Law’s student body participates in our clinical programs, which are offered for academic credit.
Verbatim “Participating in the clinic experience at ONU is invaluable. Being able to prove to potential employers that you have taken classroom education and applied it to real-world experiences can mean the important difference between landing an interview and receiving the final offer.”
WHY PARTICIPATE IN A CLINICAL PROGRAM?
Sarah Gillis, JD ’11 Associate, Myler Disability Fort Wayne, Ind.
While we pride ourselves on our ability to teach theory, the skills learned in programs like our clinics set our students apart, both on their résumés and in practice settings. These opportunities to stand out from graduates of other law programs make participating in clinical programs worth every minute.
BANKRUPTCY CLINIC (CM)
3/6 Credits
ONU provides placements with both a bankruptcy attorney in the Lima and Toledo areas and a panel Chapter 7 trustee. These two placements, in combination with a judicial externship with Judge Richard Speer, BSEd ’63, JD ’66, a bankruptcy judge in Toledo, Ohio, form the clinical portion of a bankruptcy concentration offered by the College of Law. Under the supervision of a bankruptcy panel trustee or bankruptcy practitioner, students actively research, draft pleadings and make court appearances in federal bankruptcy court.
CORPORATE TRANSACTIONAL CLINIC (CP) (T) 3/6 Credits
The ONU Transactional Clinic provides legal assistance to nonprofit organizations in incorporating as well as attaining nonprofit status pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. In addition, the clinic has developed a long-term working relationship with the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church (comprising roughly 1,300 Ohio churches), whereby the clinic assists churches with a variety of legal issues, including real estate transfers, incorporations and risk management. The Transactional Clinic is typically staffed by three to five students and maintains an active caseload of roughly 30 cases at any given time.
ENVIRONMENTAL CLINIC (PP)
3/6 Credits
ONU has developed a good working relationship with the Ohio Environmental Council, a nonprofit advocacy organization in Columbus, Ohio, that engages in both lobbying activities and environmental litigation. Within this organization, students engage in research, draft pleadings and participate in other activities pertaining to environmental law. Students have been regularly placed with this organization over the past seven years.
GOVERNMENTAL CLINIC (PP)
3/6 Credits
ONU has placed students in government settings including the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office and the Ohio Pharmacy Board. Students, supervised by attorneys from different governmental agencies, conduct extensive research, draft memos and engage in other activities handled by the agency in question.
JUDICIAL EXTERNSHIP I AND JUDICIAL EXTERNSHIP II (CM)
2 Credits
ONU places students in a variety of judicial settings. Placements are likely to include municipal court judges in Findlay; juvenile court judges in Lima; probate court judges in Findlay; common pleas court judges in Findlay, Van Wert and Tiffin; Ohio Supreme Court justices in Columbus; federal district court judges in Toledo, Dayton and Columbus; and federal bankruptcy judges in Toledo. Under the supervision of selected state and federal judges, students will perform research, writing and other court-related duties that the judge assigns.
Clinic descriptions continued…
law.onu.edu
CLINICAL PLACEMENT DESCRIPTIONS
Our Curriculum
Developing practice-ready lawyers is ONU Law’s mission, and we offer a high-impact learning environment for each student. We created our clinics in the early 1960s, almost 20 years before any other law school in the country.
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OUR CURRICULUM Clinic descriptions continued…
LITIGATION CLINIC 3/6 Credits
With the ONU Litigation Clinic, students have the opportunity to represent clients in civil litigation matters such as family law, landlord/ tenant and other general civil litigation matters at a local legal aid organization supervised by practicing attorneys affiliated with the legal aid organization.
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT CLINIC (PP) 3/6 Credits
Students work with municipal government solicitors or city law directors on civil litigation and criminal litigation issues arising within the context of a municipal government.
NONPROFIT LITIGATION CLINIC 3/6 Credits
ONU Law students, supervised by practicing attorneys or administrators, actively assist nonprofit agencies on a variety of legal issues.
ONU LEGAL CLINIC (CL) 3/6 Credits
The Ohio Northern Civil Clinic is located in Lima, Ohio (approximately 15 miles from the Ada campus). The ONU Legal Clinic is a traditional “legal aid” type clinic, which provides legal services to indigent members of Allen and Hardin counties. The clinic’s students represent clients in matters involving family law, social security disability and general civil litigation cases. The clinic handles between 200 and 250 cases each year and maintains a client waiting list that generally represents an additional 200 cases. The clinic is typically staffed by six to 10 students supervised by a licensed staff attorney.
Ohio Northern Law was the first law school in country to offer a bar-prep course for academic credit. We have experienced incredible success on the bar exam since the course’s introduction in 2001. Professor Nancy Sabol serves as ONU Law’s full-time director of academic support and associate professor of law. In addition to directing the various academic support programs, she is available for individual student counseling to assist them with their studying and test-taking skills.
THE SUCCEED PROGRAM
ONU Law’s Succeed Program consists of a series of structured workshops or study groups for each first-year course and for upper-level courses that cover subjects typically tested on most bar exams. These workshops are open to all students. Each week, a review session is held for each section of one of the first-year courses. First-year students meet with teaching assistants –students who excelled in that course and who work closely with faculty members in developing problems and exercises for the meetings.
ADVISING SYSTEM
ONU Law provides placement in a prosecutor’s office, which represents the state in criminal misdemeanors under the supervision of a licensed practicing attorney. Local opportunities include the Lima municipal prosecutor and the Kenton municipal prosecutor.
PUBLIC DEFENDER CLINIC (CR) 3/6 Credits
ONU BAR REVIEW
ONU provides placement in a public defender’s office under the supervision of a licensed practicing attorney, which involves representing criminal defendants. Local opportunities include the Lima municipal public defender and the Hancock County public defender. In addition, students are placed regularly with the Federal public defender’s office in Columbus, Ohio, and occasionally with the U.S. attorney’s office in Dayton, Ohio.
OUR CURRICULUM MELDING THEORY WITH PRACTICE
From Orientation to the Bar Exam
At the beginning of the first year, each student is assigned a faculty advisor who meets with the student at least once per semester throughout the student’s law school career for advice and counseling. In addition, the faculty advisor assists in plotting a course of study advantageous to that student’s professional goals and to the particular bar exam the student will take.
PROSECUTION CLINIC (CR) 3/6 Credits
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ACADEMIC SUPPORT
In the spring semester, faculty present weekly workshops to assist third-year students in bar preparation. Difficult material in bar subjects is reviewed, and practice essay and multiple-choice questions are presented. Additionally, ONU Law students are required to take Transitions to Legal Practice, a third-year course that provides extensive counseling and bar review for students taking the bar exams in Ohio and throughout the country.
Additional Programs Receive your Juris Doctor and your Master of Laws concurrently in three years The concurrent JD/LLM students must meet all of the requirements of the JD program described online. In addition, they must take the following courses (some of which will count as electives for the JD degree): Comparative Administrative Law, Comparative Constitutional Law, Competitiveness and Corruption, Legal Issues in Transitional Democracies, International NGO Law, International Law, International Criminal Law, International Law of Terrorism, International Protection of Human Rights, Domestic Externship, International Externship and Rule of Law Seminar.
JD/MPPA IN TAXATION
Receive your Juris Doctor and your Master of Professional Practice in Accounting in three years JD/MPPA students take advanced coursework in the following areas: Professional Ethics and Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance, Corporate Governance and Accounting, Business Valuation, Basics of Expert Testimony, Federal Income Tax, Research Methods in Taxation and Accounting, Taxation of Corporations, Taxation of Partnerships and Partners, Taxation of Estates, Gifts and Trusts, Nonprofit Organizations, Business Planning and Estates, Wills and Trusts.
JD/LLM IN DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AND RULE OF LAW (INTERNATIONAL LAW)
“Students with a strong interest in international development and law reform have a unique opportunity at Ohio Northern to receive their JD and LLM in Democratic Governance and Rule of Law in three years. Through specialized courses with international LLM students and two summer externships with international organizations here in the U.S. and overseas, our concurrent students graduate with the background and experience for careers in international development. Graduates are at work in a variety of international organizations in the U.S. and abroad, and they have become part of a global network of reform-minded young lawyers from more than 25 countries with the ONU LLM.” – Howard N. Fenton, director of international legal studies and professor of law
LOWER LSAT, HIGHER GPA? A program built to ensure your success in law school
This unique non-conditional eight-week jumpstart program allows students to complete two first-year law courses during the summer prior to their fall entry. Every student who completes this summer program automatically becomes a member of the fall entering class. No re-application is necessary. The true impact of this program stems from the personal attention built into its structure. Every student is required to meet one-on-one each week with the assistant director of academic support. Each class holds mandatory weekly TA sessions, taught by second- or third-year students who have previously excelled in that class. The goal is for every student to understand how to take a law school exam and how to manage his or her time prior to fall entry. For more information, go to www.law.onu.edu/Admissions/ SummerStarterProgram
Our Curriculum
JD/LLM IN INTERNATIONAL LAW
SUMMER STARTER PROGRAM
PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES
The faculty encourages students to engage in pro bono work and to develop a sense of obligation to contribute as a member of the legal profession. Students who complete 30 or more hours of pro bono work during their three years in law school receive a notation on their transcript. The law college annually recognizes a student, faculty member or graduate selected by the Pro Bono/ Public Interest Committee for their outstanding Pro Bono efforts. The Office of Career Services, along with the Public Interest Law Association, sponsors the annual public interest auction, which provides stipends to students engaged in public interest work over the summer.
Since 1885
CONCURRENT PROGRAMS
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OUR FACULTY Verbatim “The days in which firms were willing to provide on-the-job training for young lawyers are gone, and law schools need to adapt the way they teach and prepare students for this new reality. ONU has been at the cutting edge of this trend for years. From our first-year curriculum, in which students are exposed to real-world problems and work-like situations, to the requirement that students complete 10 credits of skills courses, to the availability of numerous clinical opportunities, ONU has provided an education that prepares lawyers for practice far longer than almost any law school in the country.”
Faculty Involvements Nancy Armstrong, director of the law library and professor of law, has served on numerous occasions as a member of an ABA site evaluation team.
ONU LAW FACULTY NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SCHOLARS
C. Antoinette Clarke, professor of law, is on the state board of the ACLU of Ohio.
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Howard Fenton, professor of law and director of the LLM program, is an active consultant for the U.S. Agency for International Development Rule of Law and Democracy and Governance Projects. In the past several years, he has been an evaluator or consultant on projects in Georgia, Ethiopia, Albania and the Ukraine. He also is co-editor in chief of the Ohio Administrative Law Handbook and Agency Directory, an annual publication of the Administrative Law Committee of the Ohio State Bar Association Bruce Frohnen, professor of law, is editor-in-chief of Political Science Reviewer and a senior fellow of the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal. In recent years, he has organized multiple colloquia for the Liberty Fund.
Jean-Marie Kamatali, assistant professor of law, is chair of the African Studies Association’s Human Rights and Legal Change. He routinely makes numerous U.S. and overseas presentations on human rights, genocide, reconciliation and the rule of law. Since 2008, he has served on the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Special Investigations as an expert witness on genocide. Michael Lewis, professor of law, twice gave testimony before committees of the U.S. Congress in 2010, routinely makes presentations on national security issues at other law schools, and contributes op-ed pieces in national publications on the conflict with al Qaeda. Recently, he has made presentations in Australia and The Hague. John Martin, professor of law, co-chaired the Legal Education Committee of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel from 2008-11, served on the Executive Committee (Board of Directors) of
Michael Lewis, professor of law
the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, and annually writes commentary and annotations for the Michigan Estates and Protected Individuals Code. Stephen Veltri, professor of law, in 2008 was appointed as the American Bar Association (ABA) representative on the committee formed to study the desirability of a unified payments code by the Uniform Law Commission. He also assists attorneys in corporate and business practice by annually co-authoring a comprehensive review of payments law under the Uniform Commercial Code that is published in ABA’s Business Lawyer. Sherry Young, professor of law, served during 2011-12 as chair of University Council and, due to that service, served as a member of the University Board of Trustees. Previously, and for three years, she served as (interim) University Title IX compliance officer. Currently, she is a member of the Ohio Higher Education Learning Commission Accreditation Committee.
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SCHOLARS. KNOWLEDGEABLE AND ACCESSIBLE
ELENA V. HELMER Assistant professor of law Assistant Director of LL.M. in Democratic Governance and Rule of Law LL.M., Yale Law School JD, Kazakh State University School of Law • Competitiveness and Corruption • International Business Transactions • Arbitration
JEAN-MARIE KAMATALI Assistant professor of law Ph.D., Karl-Franzens Universitat-Graz MA, Notre Dame University License en Droit, National University of Rwanda Bachelier en Droit, National University of Rwanda • Democratic Governance • Rule of Law • Human Rights • International Criminal Law • International Economic Law
DEIDRÉ A. KELLER Assistant professor of law JD, Emory University BA, Yale University • Property • Intellectual Property • Copyright • Trademark • Entertainment Law
MICHAEL W. LEWIS Professor of law JD, Harvard Law School BA, Johns Hopkins University • Law of War Seminar • Corporate Finance • Commercial Law • Conflict of Laws
JOHN H. MARTIN Professor of law JD, University of Michigan AB, University of Michigan University College, London and London School of Economics • Estate Planning • Estate and Trust Administration • Charitable Organizations • Federal Income and Estate and Gift Taxation Law
LAUREN A. NEWELL Assistant professor of law JD, Harvard Law School BA, Georgetown University • Negotiation and Dispute Resolution • Business Organizations • Contracts
LIAM S. O’MELINN Professor of law Ph.D., Yale University JD, Columbia Law School BA, University of California, Santa Cruz • Intellectual Property and Unfair Competition • Advanced Problems in Intellectual • Property Contracts
DAVID T. PIMENTEL Visiting associate professor of law JD, Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley MA, University of California, Berkeley BA, Brigham Young University • Rule of Law • American Legal System • Remedies • Law and Economics
NANCY P. SABOL Director of academic support and associate professor of law JD, Ohio State University College of Law BA, Ohio University • Employment Discrimination • Remedies • Woman and the Law • Bar Examination Preparation
STEPHEN C. VELTRI Professor of law LL.M., Columbia University JD, Georgetown University BA, University of Pittsburgh • Commercial Transactions • Property • Commercial Law
SHERRY A. YOUNG Professor of law JD, Harvard University BA, Michigan State University (James Madison College) • Torts • Products Liability • Domestic Relations • Sports Law
law.onu.edu
BRUCE P. FROHNEN Professor of law Ph.D., Cornell University JD, Emory University MA, University of California BA, California State University • Constitutional Law • Comparative Law
ONU Law Faculty
FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS
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ONU STUDENT LIFE
Frequently Asked Questions WHAT IS ADA LIKE?
Ada, Ohio, is the quintessential small midwestern town. Residents and students enjoy the quiet atmosphere, while the bustling campus provides students with all of the benefits of a large university.
WHAT IS THERE TO DO IN ADA?
ONU STUDENT LIFE A COMMUNITY WORTH JOINING
Main Street in Ada is flanked by a variety of shops and restaurants that cater to ONU students. A bowling alley, movie theatre and ice cream shop are just a few of the locations students frequent. Ada also is conveniently located approximately 20 minutes from Lima and Findlay, which offer the larger variety of dining and entertainment options that one typically finds in mid-sized cities.
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WHERE DO LAW STUDENTS LIVE?
With a variety of options for all tastes and budgets, ONU Law students have the option of living either on or off-campus. ONU Law was recognized in 2012 by The National Jurist for our outstanding on-campus deluxe apartments. On-campus apartments can be found in two buildings (Courtyard or Polar Place) conveniently located within walking distance of the law college. The apartments provide two bedrooms, one bathroom, a common room and kitchen. For students interested in living off-campus, there are a variety of apartments and houses in the area. The cost of living in Ada is extremely low, and the average total rent for two students renting a two-bedroom apartment is approximately $550 per month.
A COMMUNITY WORTH JOINING
WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS FOR INVOLVEMENT WITHIN THE LAW SCHOOL?
Whether you are passionate about environmental law or public policy, or have a particular interest in politics, one of our approximately 20 student organizations would be a perfect fit for you. Additionally, you are welcome and encouraged to start a new organization if one of your interests is unrepresented. A student organization fair takes place during the first week of class each year, allowing first-year students to discover where their interests lie.
WHAT TYPES OF EVENTS AND SPEAKER SERIES ARE AVAILABLE AT ONU LAW?
ONU Law offers several speaker series, including the Carhart Symposium, the Kormendy Lecture Series, and the BLSA Diversity Forum. Individual professors and student organizations also invite speakers to campus throughout the year, allowing for excellent educational and networking opportunities.
WHAT IS THE CAMPUS LIKE?
ONU Law is nestled in the middle of Ohio Northern University, located on a beautiful 342-acre campus, which provides the perfect setting for successfully studying law. Although the law school is contained in one building, law students are welcome to use any of the undergraduate buildings and university facilities. ONU prides itself on being a safe campus with a variety of student-centered services.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Black Law Students Association (BLSA) The Campus Chapter of the International Justice Mission (CCIJM) Christian Legal Society (CLS) Environmental Law Society (ELS) Federalist Society Icelandic Legal Exchange Program (ILEP) International Law Society LAMBDA Law Students’ Association Law School Democrats Legal Association of Women (LAW) Moot Court Ohio Northern University Law Review Phi Alpha Delta International Fraternity (PAD) Public Interest Law Association (PILA) Sports Law Society Street Law Society Student Bar Association (SBA) Veterans Association
WHAT CAMPUS RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO ME?
All resources offered by Ohio Northern University to undergraduate students are available to law students. Resources include Health Services, King Horn Sports Center (offering extensive athletic facilities including an indoor pool, cardio room, and indoor track), on-campus housing, the Office of Career Services, the Barnes and Noble Bookstore, the Inn at ONU, several on-campus dining options, and others. ONU Student Life
At ONU Law, we pride ourselves on our community atmosphere. Many law schools are plagued by overly competitive students who are unable to rely on their peers for support. At ONU Law, students have a healthy level of competition, but we encourage our students to support each other by participating in study groups and as teaching assistants.
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS:
WHAT IS THERE TO DO OUTSIDE OF ADA?
With its central location within Ohio, ONU Law students can easily access many of the Midwest’s largest cities, including Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Toledo, Chicago, Indianapolis, Ft. Wayne, Detroit and Louisville. This location makes weekend trips or even a weeknight dinner outing popular options for students.
Since 1885
WHAT IS THE ATMOSPHERE LIKE AT THE LAW SCHOOL?
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OUR FACILITIES
VIRTUAL TOUR ONLINE AT LAW.ONU.EDU
OUR FACILITIES TECHNOLOGICALLY ENHANCED
Go to experience.onu.edu/law to take a virtual tour of our facilities.
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Hanson Reading Room
Alumni Moot Courtroom
ONU Law’s building is the ideal place to study law. Most primary spaces have been renovated and updated in the last 10 years, including both moot courtrooms, the primary technology classroom, both student lounges, the south annex of the library (which includes seating for more than 100 students), two seminar alcove classrooms, a formal seminar classroom, three private group-study spaces and a computer lab. Other recent additions include the Anthony J. Celebrezze Archives room, which is regularly used as a meeting space, and the David C. Crago Rare Book and Special Collections Room, which houses ONU Law’s collection of rare books. All classrooms are housed within the law building, allowing for the easiest transition for students managing their time between classes and studying. Faculty offices are conveniently housed between one of the main classroom hallways and the student lounge, allowing for easy access and interaction with faculty members. The student lounge is located in the center of the building and offers an ideal setting for socializing.
ONU Law Facilities Faculty Suite
Student Lounge Anthony J. Celebrezze Archives Room
Willis Seminar Room
David C. Crago Rare Book and Special Collections Room
law.onu.edu
Celebrezze Moot Courtroom
Library Study Room
Narol Technology Room
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LAW ADMISSIONS Admissions HOW TO APPLY, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, APPLICATION ADVICE, AND MORE: NO APPLICATION FEE IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES SEPT 3
Application available for submission
MAY 15
DEC 1
Acceptance packets sent on a rolling basis
JUNE 9
June 2014 LSAT (scholarships available for June LSAT test takers)
DEC 1
Invitations to interview for the Summer Starter Program sent
JUNE 15
Second seat deposit deadline
AUG 15
Deadline to apply for Fall 2014 entry
APRIL First seat deposit deadline 15
STEPS TO APPLY
LAW ADMISSIONS ADMISSIONS AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. 2. 3.
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Deadline to interview for the Summer Starter Program
Complete or work to finish your bachelor’s degree. Register with LSAC and decide when you will take the LSAT, which is offered annually in June, October, December, and February. ONU Law accepts June 2014 scores for fall 2014 applicants. Register with the Credential Assembly Services (CAS), which will compile all LSAT scores, transcripts and letters of recommendation and send them to ONU Law as a complete report. 4. Request letters of recommendation from professors, employers or mentors who can speak to your academic achievement and overall readiness to attend a rigorous law school. Letters of recommendation should be sent to LSAC. 5. Prepare a personal statement; writing several drafts eliminates spelling or grammatical errors. The personal statement can be uploaded directly to ONU Law’s online application. 6. Polish your résumé and ensure all activities, work experience and leadership roles are up-to-date. The résumé can be uploaded directly to ONU Law’s online application. 7. Include a detailed explanation of any character and fitness issues (if applicable). 8. Complete and submit ONU Law’s free online application. 9. If you are an international applicant or transfer applicant, provide additional documentation, which is listed on the admissions webpage. 10. Indicate on your application if you have ever attended any law school previously (if applicable).
IMPORTANT DATES, DEADLINES, REQUIREMENTS AND ADMISSIONS FAQS
WHAT IS THE LSAT AND LSAC?
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is administered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). LSAC provides many resources for prospective JD students at every stage of their law school search process. The LSAT is the standardized test that is used by all law schools as a predictor of future success in law school. The LSAT tests acquired-reading and verbal-reasoning skills and is one of multiple factors used by ONU Law when reviewing a file.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO TAKE THE LSAT? SHOULD I TAKE IT MORE THAN ONCE?
Most prospective law students take the LSAT after their junior year in June, October or December. Although these are the most popular times to take the LSAT, it is important to take the LSAT only when you have had time to properly and thoroughly prepare for the exam. Law schools will see all of the scores you have received on the LSAT. ONU Law will take the highest LSAT score a student has on record. It is not recommended that a student take the LSAT more than three times. LSAT scores are valid for five years, so it is possible to take the LSAT earlier in your undergraduate career if you do not wish to wait until your senior year.
WHAT DOCUMENTS SHOULD I HAVE READY WHEN I APPLY TO LAW SCHOOL?
You should have the following pieces of information available when completing your application: LSAT scores, names of recommenders, personal statement and résumé.
may select your recommenders and assign them to the appropriate law school using your LSAC.org account. Once assigned, the request for the recommendation will be emailed to the recommender, and her or she can upload their letter to LSAC. You also may print the recommender form and give it to the recommender to sign and mail with the accompanying letter.
HOW MANY LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION DO I NEED? WHO SHOULD WRITE THEM AND WHAT SHOULD THEY SAY?
ONU Law will accept as many as three letters of recommendation, which are most commonly written by professors and academic advisors. You also can ask an employer or alumnus of the law school to write a recommendation on your behalf. Successful letters of recommendation identify specific reasons, including personal character attributes, why an applicant would be successful in law school.
Law Admissions
GENERAL ADMISSIONS FAQS
WHAT DOES ONU LAW LOOK FOR IN A PERSONAL STATEMENT?
Your pre-law advisor or career services office should be the first stop when looking for helpful tools and techniques for beginning your personal statement. The personal statement shows the admissions committee your best writing skills, provides a clear picture of why you want to attend law school, and identifies what makes you a qualified and diverse candidate. Students often share personal anecdotes that describe a particular experience that led to their interest in law. The Office of Law Admissions at ONU reviews hundreds of personal statements each year, so it is important to create a piece of writing that is unique.
WHAT MAKES A RÉSUMÉ STAND OUT? DO LAW SCHOOLS LOOK AT MY TRANSCRIPT(S)? HOW DO YOU WEIGH WORK EXPERIENCE?
WHERE SHOULD MY LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION AND TRANSCRIPT(S) BE SENT?
Letters of recommendation and transcript(s) must be sent directly to LSAC from the recommenders and registrar’s office, respectively. A transcript must be submitted from any institution, graduate or undergraduate, that you have attended. LSAC’s Transcript Request Form, available after you register with the CAS, must be used for this purpose. A transcript takes, on average, two weeks to be processed, and most institutions charge a nominal processing fee. Letters of recommendation may be submitted by mail or uploaded online. You
ONU Law looks highly on students who were involved during their undergraduate career, participating extensively in several organizations or taking a strong leadership role in just one. Additionally, work experience, whether part- or full-time, is a positive aspect of any résumé and shows that students have mastered the balance between working and studying.
HOW DO YOU CONSIDER AN APPLICANT WITH GRADUATE EXPERIENCE?
Graduate experience is positive when the prospective law student was successful in studying at the graduate level in an area that was of sincere interest to them.
HOW DO YOU WEIGH GPA VS. THE LSAT SCORE? GPA and LSAT scores are both primary factors that ONU Law takes into serious consideration. The LSAT and undergraduate GPA are the top two predictors for success in law school and must be used accordingly in making admission decisions.
Since 1885
ONU Law reviews and considers every aspect of your application throughout the admissions process. Your transcript(s) can play a crucial role in helping the reviewer understand your academic history. Ideally, ONU Law would like to see a strong GPA each semester, earned by a student taking challenging academic courses throughout their entire academic career (up to, and including, the last semester). It also is extremely important that the reviewer be able to see a positive progression (an upward trend) within your undergraduate career.
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LAW ADMISSIONS VISITING ONU LAW
Tour the law school
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Sit in on a first-year class
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Have coffee or lunch with current students Las Vegas
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Meet with a financial aid advisor
Denver
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Salt Lake City
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Chicago
Ada
Lexington
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Los Angeles
Depending on your interests, you also can meet with members of the faculty associated with ONU’s JD/LLM in Democratic Governance and Rule of Law (international law) program, JD/MPPA (taxation) program, or other areas of law in which you may have an interest.
LAW ADMISSIONS VISITING ONU LAW
New York Philadelphia
Pittsburgh Washington D.C. Columbus Indianapolis Cincinnati
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30 Atlanta
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Boston
350 Buffalo 250 m m Detroit 150 100 Cleveland
s ile s le mi iles m
Seattle ONU Law is highly encouraged to Every student considering schedule a campus visit. Our size, location and atmosphere Paul make us truly unique. Campus visits are tailoredMinneapolis/St. to every student and will provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision. During a standard visit, you can: • Meet with an admissions director
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Lima
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Ada
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Kenton
Dallas
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CAMPUS VISIT SCHOLARSHIP
To schedule a visit, submit the online form, available on the admissions page, or call 419-772-2211.
law.onu.edu
We believe that getting to know a student takes more than reading a personal statement or reviewing an application. We want to get to know the “whole you,” and the best way to do this is by meeting in person. Students who complete a “full” campus visit during spring or summer 2014 (January through August), including a brief interview with the dean or a member of the administration, will be considered for a $1,000 Dean’s Campus Visit Scholarship. The scholarship is for a student’s first year only and, if awarded, will be split between fall and spring semesters.
Law Admissions
GETTING TO KNOW THE WHOLE YOU.
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OHIO NORTHERN UNIVERSITY PETTIT COLLEGE OF LAW Office of Law Admissions 525 South Main Street Ada, Ohio 45810 Phone: 419-772-2211 Toll Free: 877-452-9668 Fax: 419-772-3042 lawadmissions@onu.edu law.onu.edu
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