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School of Law

Academics

In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M. Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 6 graduate level credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.A.P. (Juris Doctor/Master of Applied Politics), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.P.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration), J.D./M.S.M.H.R. (Juris Doctor/Master of Science in Management of Human Resources), and J.D./M.Tax. (Juris Doctor/Master of Taxation).

The School of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, international law, labor law, litigation, tax law, and public interest. In addition, the Trial Litigation and the Civil Litigation clinics allow third-year students to be certified legal interns to represent clients in court; in the Clinical Seminar, students with strong academic records may clerk for judges. There is also a clinic in Appellate Review. Clinic students may be placed in-house or externally for credit after their first year. Students with an intern certificate may represent clients in civil and misdemeanor cases in court. The New Business Legal Clinic (NBLC) allows students to provide legal support to emerging businesses in the greater Akron area. Seminars include Feminist and Race Theory, International Investment, and Business Planning. Internships for academic credit (clinical seminars) are coordinated and monitored by the clinic staff. Public interest fellowship are coordinated by the Law Center Planning Office. Traditional employment opportunities are also coordinated through the Career Planning Office. All students must write a significant research paper in order to graduate. Individual studies and research may be taken under the guidance of a faculty member. Upper-division students may apply to become a research assistant for a law faculty member. Research may be in conjunction with a course. Field work is offered through the School of Law Legal Clinic for credit or the Career Planning and Placement Office or on a voluntary basis. Special lecture series are held during the fall and spring semesters in a wide variety of areas, with emphasis on intellectual property and constitutional law. Study abroad is only available through another ABA-accredited law school’s study-abroad program. With permission of the associate dean, students may assume visiting status at another ABA-accredited law school and transfer credits back to Akron. The Academic Success Program provides individual and group workshop programming, including tutoring. Student mentors also assist individuals or groups in specific courses and in building skills for success in law school and practice. No formal remedial programs are required. The Black Law Student Association (BLSA) sponsors outlining and exam-taking seminars, adopt-a-school, scholarships, an annual dinner/dance, regional job fairs, Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition, and travel to regional and national BLSA events. The Asian Latino Law Students Association (ALLSA) coordinates various service projects for the community involving law student volunteers. The Gay Straight Law Students Alliance coordinates co-curricular programming and community service projects. The school participates in a minority clerkship program with the bar association, leading law firms, and judges. The most widely taken electives are Administration of Criminal Justice; Wills, Trusts and Estates; and Corporations.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 88 total credits, of which 44 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, Introduction: Law and Legal Systems, Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing I and II, Legal Research, Property I and II, and Torts I and II. Required upper-level courses consist of a general writing requirement, Advanced Legal Research, Constitutional Law I and II, Evidence, Legal Drafting, and Professional Responsibility. Introduction to Law and Legal Systems is a 1-week course held during the first week of classes.

In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0, have completed the upper-division writing requirement, and complete 8 credits: Legal Drafting, Advances Legal Research, and a skills component.

Admissions

Figures in the capsule for tuition and fees are from an earlier year. Check with the school for the most current information. In the fall 2007 first-year class, 1919 applied, 732 were accepted, and 175 enrolled. Two transfers enrolled. The median LSAT percentile of the most recent first-year class was 78; the median GPA was 3.51 on a scale of 4.0. The lowest LSAT percentile accepted was 18; the highest was 98.

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 LSAT results, GPA, and general background. No specific undergraduate courses are required. Candidates are not interviewed.

The application deadline for fall entry is March 1. Applicants should submit an application form, LSAT results, transcripts, TOEFL and TSE for applicants whose first language is not English, and 2 to 3 letters of recommendation (strongly suggested, but not required). There is no application fee. Notification of the admissions decision is 4 to 6 weeks after the application is complete. The latest acceptable LSAT test date for fall entry is June. The law school uses the LSDAS.

Financial Aid

About 86% of current law students receive some form of aid. The maximum annual amount of aid from all sources combined, including scholarships, loans, and work contracts, is $35,520. Awards are based on need and merit. Required financial statements are the FAFSA and the Institutional Aid Application. The aid application deadline for fall entry is May 1. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application as early as February for scholarships; soon thereafter for loans.

Students

About 44% of the student body are women; 13%, minorities; 6%, African American; 4%, Asian American; 2%, Hispanic; and 1%, Native American. The majority of students come from Ohio (76%). The average age of entering students is 25; age range is 21 to 58. About 52% of students enter directly from undergraduate school and 6% have a graduate degree. About 9% drop out after the first year for academic or personal reasons; 91% remain to receive a law degree.

Students edit the Akron Law Review, Akron Tax Journal, Akron Intellectual Property Journal,and the student newspaper, Akron Sidebar. The moot court team attends the ABA/LSD-National Appellate Advocacy competition, National Moot Court competition, New York Bar National Moot Court Competition, and Jessup International Law Competition. A trial team attends competitions sponsored by Association of Trial Lawyers of America, National Institute for Trial Advocacy, the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, PA, and other associations. Law student organizations, local chapters of national associations, and campus organizations include the Intellectual Property and Technology Law Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Sports and Entertainment Law Society, International Law Society, Student Bar Association, Law Association for Women’s Rights, Phi Alpha Delta, Phi Delta Phi, and Black Law Students Association.

The law school operates on a traditional semester basis. Courses for full-time students are offered both day and evening and must be completed within 5 years. For part-time students, courses are offered evenings only (evening students may take day electives) and must be completed within 6 years. New full- and part-time students are admitted in the fall. There is a 5- and 10-week summer session. Transferable summer courses are offered.

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