The University of Tulsa College of Law

Introduction

Legal education at the University of Tulsa offers a world of new energy and infinite possibilities. Our law school family proves daily that it is possible for friendliness, challenge, respect, and excellence to coexist in law school. Housed in the newly renovated and technologically advanced John Rogers Hall on the University of Tulsa campus, and fully accredited by the ABA, the law school presents a forum for the study and exploration of legal issues enhanced by professors with exemplary credentials. With an 11.2:1 student-to-faculty ratio, a true open-door policy invites students to expand their legal education from the classroom through one-on-one accessibility and interaction with the TU Law faculty. We also honor student talent with scholarships ranging from partial to full tuition. Approximately 67 percent of an entering class receives merit- or need-based assistance. Coming from many locales and backgrounds, our student body is a rich fabric of diversity that expands the learning experience of every student. Beautiful, culturally diverse, and extraordinarily friendly, the city of Tulsa offers our students award-winning ballet, national touring concerts, world-class museums, gorgeous parks, and vibrant neighborhood shopping areas. Tulsa also boasts an internationally recognized, burgeoning environment for high-tech industry and commerce.

Curriculum and Specialization

Full-time and reduced schedule options, as well as summer classes, are available. Students may choose either general legal study, which covers a broad expanse of expertise, or a specific concentration. Certificates offered include Sustainable Energy and Natural Resources Law, Native American Law, Comparative and International Law, and Health Law.

Summer- and semester-abroad programs offer students the opportunity to experience different cultures on three overseas continents. The summer-abroad programs include Dublin (Ireland), Tianjin (China), and Buenos Aires (Argentina). Students also have the opportunity for a fall semester of study in London.

Students at Tulsa have a great variety of career choices available to them, which are enhanced by the opportunity for interdisciplinary study. The following joint-degree programs are available: JD/MBA, JD/MA in Anthropology, JD/MA in History, JD/MA in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, JD/MA in English, JD/MS in Computer Science, JD/MS in Biological Sciences, JD/MA in Clinical Psychology, JD/MS in Geosciences, JD/MS in Finance, and JD/MS in Taxation.

Practical Experience

Tulsa law students gain first-hand training beyond the classroom. The Boesche Legal Clinic offers the Immigrant Rights Project in which law students have the opportunity to represent clients in important immigration proceedings under the supervision of an expert clinical education professor.

Students may earn academic credit through legal and judicial externships. Legal externs work in a law firm, business, nonprofit organization, or government entity under the supervision of highly skilled attorneys pursuant to academic plans they negotiate with their supervising attorneys and the College of Law. Judicial externs work in federal and state courts under the supervision of a judge or a lawyer who is a court clerk or a court administrator.

The College of Law also offers nonacademic practical experiences. The Legal Internship Program enables a student to represent clients in criminal and civil cases, subject to rules authorized by the Oklahoma Supreme Court. The Pro Bono Program allows students to assist with cases going to trial, assist with civil legal matters, participate in interviewing clients and witnesses, and perform research.

A Federal Criminal Defense Practicum is offered by the Honorable Claire V. Eagan, Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, and other dedicated professionals within the Northern District's criminal justice system. Students are guided through every step of a federal criminal case.

Professors

Knowledge and experience, matched by a passion for teaching, typify the character of the professors at the University of Tulsa. Recognized nationally and internationally for their expertise, Tulsa professors are always accessible to their students. Specializations and strong experiential expertise in areas as diverse as international trade, energy regulation, family and juvenile law, sports law, Native American tribal jurisdiction, trial advocacy, and bioethics confirm the rich learning experience available to Tulsa law students. The ability to develop strong relationships with professors will strengthen Tulsa students' law school experiences and their future legal practice in remarkable ways.

Library and Physical Facilities

Cited by the National Jurist as one of the top libraries in the US, the impressive Mabee Legal Information Center (MLIC) is an ideal locale for collaborating, preparing for class or exams, working on journal scholarship, conducting extensive research, conferring with reference librarians, or preparing for a moot court competition. Over 50 computers are available for use through the information center, including several laptops that are available for check out. Student staffing offices for the Board of Advocates, the Tulsa Law Review, and the Energy Law Journal provide generous working space for these important enterprises at the College of Law. Specialized classrooms include a technology training center and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Center where negotiation exercises are possible within a variety of simulation configurations. The Utsey Family Native American Law Center and the Frank M. Rowell, Jr., Comparative and International Law Center offer inviting forums for study, research, and the exchange of ideas, with impressive artwork providing a showcase for these two disciplines. The John F. Hicks and John Rogers Archives Room was opened to preserve the rich history of the college and to provide the means to collect important documents, photographs, and artifacts for the many significant achievements of the College of Law now and in the future.

If quiet study is for you, the two main reading rooms offer quiet, inviting, wide-open spaces with natural lighting. With over 600 seats available and six miles of shelving space, there is plenty of space for students, alumni, and books.

Professional librarians, most with law degrees, are ready to help with legal research in the 400,000-volume collection. An impressive array of electronic resources is accessible to students on-site or from home. McFarlin Library, the main campus library, provides students and faculty with direct access to print and electronic library holdings of more than three million items.

The College of Law has 802.11n wireless access available throughout the building. Classrooms are equipped with a full array of technology, including dual wide-screen HD projectors/screens, computers, VGA and HDMI connectivity, wireless microphones, and built-in classroom capture and recording capabilities.

The Boesche Legal Clinic and the modern Price-Turpen model courtroom bring the same state-of-the-art capacities to the study and training for trial and appellate advocacy. These are outstanding facilities in which the best in preparation is available for Tulsa law students as they prepare for future legal practice and train for many regional and national moot court competitions.

Office of Professional Development

Students at TU enjoy a full-service Professional Development Office (PDO) offering support and resources for students' respective professional aspirations. PDO counselors are attorneys with wide-ranging practice experience in local and regional markets. Students participate in professionalism programs as a requisite to graduation, including a first-semester seminar on the legal profession taught by the dean. These programs cover topics such as setting professional goals, managing the stresses of legal practice, and legal market trends. TU Law's placement rate of over 92 percent in 2010 and 90 percent in 2011 is in part due to a strong focus on professional development, mentoring, and networking opportunities. These percentages compete with or exceed the respective national annual placement rates reported by law schools.

Housing

Law students at Tulsa may choose to live on or off campus. On-campus housing includes well-maintained and modern apartments built exclusively for law and graduate students. Located within an easy walking distance from the law school, each apartment unit includes computer connections and large, spacious floor plans. With a very attractive low cost of living, the city of Tulsa offers a great variety of affordable housing opportunities. Information about housing may be obtained by calling 918.631.5249 or by contacting the Office of Law Admissions at 918.631.2406.

Applicant Profile

The University of Tulsa College of Law

This chart is to be used as a guide only. Nonnumerical factors are strongly considered for all applicants. These numbers reflect admitted applicants.