University of Oklahoma College of Law

Introduction

The University of Oklahoma College of Law is one of our nation's great public law schools. Founded in 1909, OU Law provides a dynamic intellectual community dedicated to teaching, learning, research, and service in the pursuit of law and justice. OU Law delivers an exemplary legal education at an accessible cost to students and is consistently recognized as a "Best Value" law school.

The OU Law campus is located just south of the university's main campus in Norman, a city of approximately 100,000 adjacent to the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. OU Law enrolls more than 500 students annually in their Juris Doctor (JD) and Master of Laws (LLM) degree programs. The entering JD class is approximately 175 students and first-year sections consist of 45 students. The John B. Turner LLM program attracts students worldwide wishing to specialize in the college's core areas: energy, natural resources, and Native American law.

OU Law is housed in beautiful Andrew M. Coats Hall, where a $19-million renovation and expansion was completed in 2002. It has the most extensive law library in Oklahoma and houses three courtrooms equipped with the latest technology for training and enrichment purposes. Throughout the past 10 years, OU Law graduates taking the bar exam averaged a 94 percent passage rate. More than 40 full-time OU Law faculty foster student success while preparing them for the practice of law and for leadership positions in the state, nation, and world.

Admission

OU Law utilizes a rolling admission process. A faculty committee meets regularly throughout the academic year to review applications. Admission to OU Law is highly competitive, and many factors are considered in the selection process. Although considerable weight is given to undergraduate grade-point average and performance on the LSAT, thoughtful attention is also given to an applicant's extracurricular activities, employment experience, graduate studies, military service, and adjustments to personal difficulties, as well as other relevant factors.

In addition to the regular fall entering class, OU Law enrolls about 20 students in a special Early Admission Program (EAP) each summer. Admission is offered to a select group of students who have demonstrated a probable capacity for success in the study and practice of law. The focus of the program is to give students a first-look at law school, help build confidence and skills necessary to succeed in law school, and provide the opportunity to earn law school credits during the summer. Students in the program typically receive five hours of credit for the summer study and then join the fall class.

International Programs

Since 1974, OU Law has held a summer program in Oxford, England, for American law students. The program affords students an opportunity to live and study in stimulating and beautiful surroundings under the guidance of American and English legal educators. The 2012 Oxford Summer Program at Brasenose College offers 12 credit hours. Classes will not meet on Fridays to provide students with time for sightseeing and travels.

Students enrolled in the International Human Rights Clinic travel abroad to compile extensive reports that are submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the UN's regular review of these areas. In August 2011, students traveled to Morocco and Ecuador. Other countries visited included Uganda, Venezuela, and Suriname. Through these experiences, OU Law students learn how to become advocates for the voiceless while gaining a global perspective of the rule of law.

In addition, OU Law is currently developing a summer program for students at Renmin University of China Law School in Bejing.

Library and Physical Facilities

The OU College of Law is housed in a stunning 170,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility, featuring study rooms, courtrooms, classrooms, and a law library equipped with the latest technology.

The 250-seat Dick Bell Courtroom is one of the largest and most technologically advanced courtrooms in the nation and hosts live trials from the various courts in central Oklahoma. The Bell Courtroom has hosted appellate cases from both the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals (including a death penalty appeal) and the US Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, as well as civil trials from the US District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.

The Donald E. Pray Law Library at OU Law provides a comfortable and modern setting for studying the law and conducting legal research. The law library features the Chapman Great Reading Room, a rare books room, 2 computer labs, 50 computer workstations that provide access to several online resources, 6 group-study rooms, wireless Internet access, 425 seats, and the most comprehensive law resources collection in the state. More than 100 seats have built-in power outlets and network connections. In addition, the library includes four multimedia study rooms; each accommodates eight students and features a large LCD monitor, Blu-ray player, video camera, and DVD recorder.

Student Activities

OU Law has more than 30 student organizations to accommodate a variety of interests, including a robust competitions program and three major student-directed journals: Oklahoma Law Review, American Indian Law Review, and Oklahoma Journal of Law and Technology.

Since 1948, the Oklahoma Law Review has been published quarterly to give expression to legal scholarship nationally and to serve the profession and the public with timely discussion of important legal issues. The American Indian Law Review, published biannually, serves as a nationwide scholarly forum for the presentation of important developments in Native American law and affairs. The Oklahoma Journal of Law and Technology is a web-based collection of important articles on the various aspects of intellectual property. The student Board of Editors continually monitors and updates the articles and other material on the website.

OU Law's competitions program affords students the opportunity to participate in a wide range of extracurricular interscholastic appellate moot court, counseling and interviewing, negotiation, and trial advocacy competitions. The student Board of Advocates works closely with the students to facilitate participation in these competitions and provide intramural competitions for 1L and upper-level students.

Career Services

The Office of Professional and Career Development (OPCD) is dedicated to assisting law students explore various legal, business, and alternative career options. The OPCD provides comprehensive counseling, programming, and job-search resources for current law students and alumni. Students should contact the OPCD to receive individualized cover letter and résumé review. In addition, the OPCD hosts a fall and spring recruiting program to assist prospective employers in securing interns and associates.

OU Law student services include one-on-one career counseling; on-campus recruitment programs; "Lunch and Learn" presentations and speakers; mock interviews; internship and extership assistance; online job postings; networking events; and résumé, cover letter, and application material review. Since 2008, an average of 88 percent of OU Law graduates secured positions within nine months of graduation. Our graduates are employed in a variety of positions, including academics, business, government, military, judicial clerkships, law firms, public interest, and nonprofits.

Applicant Profile

University of Oklahoma College of Law

This grid includes only applicants who earned 120–180 LSAT scores under standard administrations.

Apps = Number of Applicants
Adm = Number Admitted
Reflects 99% of the total applicant pool; highest LSAT data reported.