Claude W. Pettit College of Law

Ohio Northern University, Claude W. Pettit College of Law History

Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit College of Law was established in 1885 and is a private institution. The 280-acre campus is in a small town 80 miles northeast of Columbus. The primary mission of the law school is to educate and train students from diverse backgrounds to become responsible and successful practitioners capable of exemplary legal service in roles throughout society. Students have access to federal, state, county, city, and local agencies, courts, correctional facilities, law firms, and legal aid organizations in the Ada area. Facilities of special interest to law students include the Lima Legal Aid Office, ONU Legal Aid Clinic, and Legal Services of Northern Ohio. Housing for students is available on campus and reasonable off-campus housing is also available. About 90% of the law school facilities are accessible to the physically disabled.

Ohio Northern University, Claude W. Pettit College of Law Academics

Clinics include Legal Aid, Bankruptcy, and Transactional Clinics. Seminars are open to second- and third-year students and include Kids Who Kill, Women and the Law, and Land Use Planning Seminar. There are Civil and Criminal Internship Programs. Students are required to do a major research project, worth 2 credits, as part of the seminar requirement. Field work includes judicial externships with state and federal courts, criminal externships, and governmental-legislative externships. The Annual Kormendy Lecture Series sponsors prominent national legal figures. Recent lecturers have included Justice Clarence Thomas and Professor Deborah Rhode, Stanford School of Law. The college will give credit for ABA-approved law schools’ study-abroad programs with prior approval. There is an Icelandic Study Exchange Program. The Academic Support Program includes student tutors for all required courses. Minority students benefit from the Black Law Students Association-sponsored study groups and the EXCEL-Academic Success Program. The Asian-Pacific-American Law Student Association also sponsors special programs. Special interest groups include International Law Society, Legal Association of Women, and Environmental Law Society. The most widely taken electives are Criminal Procedure, Decedents’ Estates and Trusts, and Commercial Transactions.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 87 total credits, of which 45 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure I and II, Contracts I and II, Criminal Law, Legal Research and Writing I and II, Property I and II, and Torts I and II. Required upper-level courses consist of Business Organizations I, Constitutional Law I, Evidence, Federal Income Tax, and Legal Profession. Students must complete 10 hours of skills courses chosen from a wide range of options.The required orientation program for first-year students comprises a 2-day introduction to university and law school procedures and the instructional approach followed by 4 special continuing orientation programs.

In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0 and have completed the upper-division writing requirement.

Ohio Northern University, Claude W. Pettit College of Law Unique Programs

Library

The law library contains 222,422 hard-copy volumes and 115,944 microform volume equivalents, and subscribes to 2245 serial publications. Such on-line databases and networks as CALI, CIS Universe, DIALOG, Infotrac, Legal-Trac, LEXIS, LOIS, Mathew Bender, NEXIS, OCLC First Search, WESTLAW, and Wilsonline Indexes are available to law students for research. Special library collections include a federal government depository and developing Celebrezze archives. Recently, the library upgraded the computer laboratory and a wireless network. The ratio of library volumes to faculty is 12,357 to 1 and to students is 762 to 1. The ratio of seats in the library to students is 1 to 1.

Special Consideration

The law school recruits minority and disadvantaged students by means of on-site college recruitment, CRS mailings, and campus visit days. Requirements are not different for out-of-state students. Transfer students must have attended an ABA-approved law school and provide a letter of good standing, a transcript of law school work, undergraduate transcripts, and the LSDAS report.

Ohio Northern University, Claude W. Pettit College of Law Admissions

In the fall 2007 first-year class, 1260 applied, 423 were accepted, and 130 enrolled. Figures in the above capsule and in this profile are approximate. The median LSAT percentile of the most recent first-year class was 50; the median GPA was 3.32 on a scale of 4.0. The lowest LSAT percentile accepted was 14; the highest was 93.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT. Minimum acceptable GPA is 2.0 on a scale of 4.0. All credentials in application materials are considered. No specific undergraduate courses are required. Candidates are not interviewed.

The application deadline for fall entry is open. Applicants should submit an application form, LSAT results, transcripts, a nonfundable application fee, maximum of 3 letters of recommendation, a resume, and a personal statement. Notification of the admissions decision is on a rolling basis. Check with the school for current application deadlines. The law school uses the LSDAS.

Ohio Northern University, Claude W. Pettit College of Law Financial Aid

In a recent year, about 95% of current law students received some form of aid. The average annual amount of aid from all sources combined, including scholarships, loans, and work contracts was $29,300. Awards are based on need and merit. Required financial statements are the FAFSA and the school’s financial aid application. Check with the school for current application deadlines. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application at time of acceptance.

Ohio Northern University, Claude W. Pettit College of Law Students

About 45% of the student body are women; 11%, minorities; 7%, African American; 1%, Asian American; 2%, Hispanic; 1%, Native American; and 1%, Indian. The majority of students come from the Northeast (25%). The average age of entering students is 25; age range is 20 to 57. About 71% of students enter directly from undergraduate school. About 3% drop out after the first year for academic or personal reasons; 85% remain to receive a law degree.

Students edit the Ohio Northern University Law Review. Teams compete in the Jessup International Law Competition, tax competitions, and ABA Nationals. Law student organizations include Sports Law Society, Street Law, and International Law. Local chapters of national associations include Environmental Law Society, Federalist Society, and Constitutional Law Society. Campus clubs include the Student Bar Association, Legal Association of Women, Black Law Students Association.

The law school operates on a traditional semester basis. Courses for full-time students are offered days only and must be completed within 5 years. There is no part-time program. New students are admitted in the fall and summer. There is an 8-week summer session. Transferable summer courses are offered.