School of Law

Oklahoma City University, School of Law History

Oklahoma City University School of Law was established in 1907 and is a private institution. The 68-acre campus is in an urban area about 2 miles from the state capitol building and 3 miles from downtown. The primary mission of the law school is to help students become responsible professionals through a rigorous program of instruction that focuses on students’ intellectual and professional development and enables them to become leaders in law, business, government, and civic life; and contributes to the improvement of law and legal institutions through research and scholarship. Students have access to federal, state, county, city, and local agencies, courts, correctional facilities, law firms, and legal aid organizations in the Oklahoma City area. Oklahoma City, as the state capital, is a major center for law, business, health care, and banking in the region. Facilities of special interest to law students include the nearby state capitol complex, which contains the Supreme Court, the Court of Criminal Appeals, the Court of Civil Appeals, the state legislature, and various state administrative and regulatory agencies. The law school is also near the U.S. District Court and numerous other federal and state entities, law firms, the Oklahoma Medical Center, and business institutions. Housing for students is in on-campus dormitories and an on-campus apartment complex. Many inexpensive private apartments are also available in the metro area. All law school facilities are accessible to the physically disabled.

Oklahoma City University, School of Law Academics

The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration).

The School of Law offers concentrations in certificates, in business law, public law, and client representation in alternative dispute resolution. The law school offers an extensive externship program through which students earn academic credit while working under the guidance of attorneys and judges in numerous settings, including the United States District Court, the Oklahoma Supreme Court, the United States Attorney’s Office, the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office, the Oklahoma County Public Defender’s Office, and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Approximately 5 seminars are offered each semester on advanced topics. Recent seminars include Bioethics, Current Developments in Corporate Law, and Tribal Law. Students who obtain a Legal Intern’s license (authorized by the state of Oklahoma) and have a sponsoring attorney may appear alone in court on certain matters. With a supervising attorney present, they may handle any court proceeding. Students may conduct research through seminars, advanced research courses, supervised papers, or directed research projects. They may also assist faculty members as research assistants. An externship program is offered with live-client placements in many courts and governmental and other offices in or near Oklahoma City. The Native American Legal Resource Center also offers clinical opportunities. The annual Quinlan Lecture Series presents a nationally preeminent legal scholar or jurist. The annual Brennan Lecture presents a national prominent scholar or jurist in the field of state constitutional law. The Center on State Constitutional Law and Government presents several prominent state and local public officials each year. OCU co-sponsors 4 summer international programs (4 credit hours each) in Tianjn, China; Granada, Spain; Freiburg, Germany/The Hague, The Netherlands; and Buenos Aires, Argentina. The academic achievement program includes individual tutoring by faculty and upper-class students, programming by the Director of Academic Achievement, and a bar exam preparation program. Students with writing difficulties may seek help from the University Writing Center. The law school’s Native American Legal Resource Center works closely with Indian tribes in the state of Oklahoma and administers numerous federal grants to assist tribes. There are numerous opportunities to engage in pro bono services. The most widely taken electives are Wills, Trusts, and Estates; Consumer Bankruptcy; Agency and Unincorporated Business Associations.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 90 total credits, of which 60 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 4.5 on a 12.0 scale 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 Analysis, Legal Research and Writing I, and II, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of Administrative Law, Agency and Unincorporated Business Associations, Commercial Paper, Constitutional Law I and II, Consumer Bankruptcy, Corporations, Criminal Procedure I, Evidence, Income Tax Law, Legal Profession, Sales and Leases, Secured Transactions, and Wills and Estates I. The required orientation program for first-year students is a 6 day program that includes a course on Legal Analysis for academic credit.

In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 4.5 and have completed the upper-division writing requirement.

Oklahoma City University, School of Law Unique Programs

Library

The law library contains 321,561 hard-copy volumes and 146,404 microform volume equivalents, and subscribes to 2791 serial publications. Such on-line databases and networks as CALI, CIS Universe, Infotrac, Legal-Trac, LEXIS, LOIS, NEXIS, OCLC First Search, WESTLAW, Wilsonline Indexes, Index Master, Legal-Trac, LLMC Digital, HeinOnline, JSTOR, Index to Legal Periodicals, Audio Case Files, Befress Legal Journal, CCH Internet Tax Research, Constitutions of the Countries of the World, eBrary, EBSCO, Foreign Law Guide, NewsBank, Oxford English Dictionary, RIA Checkpoint Academic Advantage, U.S. Congressional Serial Set (LexisNexis), and WorldCat are available to law students for research. Special library collections include the Native American collection with a concentration on the Indian tribes of Oklahoma. The ratio of library volumes to faculty is 8932 to 1 and to students is 538 to 1. The ratio of seats in the library to students is 1 to 2.

Special Consideration

The law school recruits minority and disadvantaged students through directed mailings and visits to campuses with high minority concentrations that are complemented by events at the law school co-hosted by minority student organizations throughout the academic year. Upon acceptance, minority and diversity candidates are contacted by students and alumni who answer questions and ease concerns about cost, prospects for success, and the job market. Requirements are not different for out-of-state students. Transfer students must have attended an ABA-approved law school and complete their last 45 hours at the school, be in good standing at their former law school, and submit a letter from the dean along with official transcripts. The law school offers a limited number of students whose academic credentials may not qualify them for regular admission the opportunity to participate in the Alternate Summer Admissions Program. This 7-week program includes Legal Method and Legal Writing. Students must pass both courses to be admitted in the regular fall program.

Oklahoma City University, School of Law Admissions

In the fall 2007 first-year class, 1237 applied, 692 were accepted, and 217 enrolled. Three transfers enrolled. The median LSAT percentile of the most recent first-year class was 39; the median GPA was 3.15 on a scale of 4.0. The lowest LSAT percentile accepted was 6; the highest was 97.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT. Minimum acceptable GPA is 2.0 on a scale of 4.0. The most important admission factors include undergraduate curriculum, GPA, and LSAT results. No specific undergraduate courses are required. Candidates are not interviewed.

The application deadline for fall entry is August 1. Applicants should submit an application form, LSAT results, transcripts, a nonrefundable application fee of $50, 2 letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a resume. Notification of the admissions decision is as soon as a decision has been made. The latest acceptable LSAT test date for fall entry is June. The law school uses the LSDAS.

Oklahoma City University, School of Law Financial Aid

About 97% of current law students receive some form of aid. The average annual amount of aid from all sources combined, including scholarships, loans, and work contracts, is $24,780; maximum, $45,609. Awards are based on need and merit. Some scholarships are awarded solely on merit; some on merit and need. Financial aid is awarded on the basis of need. Scholarships lower the loan eligibility for all students. Required financial statement is the FAFSA. The aid application deadline for fall entry is March 1. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application approximately 1 to 2 weeks after their financial file is completed.

Oklahoma City University, School of Law Students

About 41% of the student body are women; 16%, minorities; 3%, African American; 3%, Asian American; 6%, Native American; and 8%, Mexican American and unknown. The majority of students come from Oklahoma (52%). The average age of entering students is 27; age range is 22 to 59. About 23% of students enter directly from undergraduate school and 8% have a graduate degree. About 6% drop out after the first year for academic or personal reasons; 94% remain to receive a law degree.