ONU LAW
P E T T I T C O L L E G E O F L AW
CONTENTS WHY ONU LAW? COURSE OFFERINGS FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS SUMMER STARTER PROGRAM ACADEMIC SUCCESS CERTIFICATE TRACKS CLINICS AND EXTERNSHIPS STUDENT LIFE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRADUATE OUTCOMES
MAKING
HOW TO APPLY
OUR CASE
WHAT’S
MOTIVE? There are as many reasons for becoming a difference, regardless of where you want to go lawyer as there are specialties to pursue. with your law degree. Do you want to speak out against oppression? Develop case law that lives on for decades to come? Become the voice of your generation, impacting the social issues that define our day? No matter what your reason is, here you’ll be able to achieve great heights.
Your days here will be filled with incredible opportunities to build experience with working legal professionals. Once you graduate, you’ll find an international network of tight-knit alumni ready to help you advance. From your first day onward, you’ll discover a community that will At ONU Law, we have created a unique program take the passions you have and help you develop where you can develop the skills to make a into the lawyer that you want to be.
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YOUR
Ada is a place that is completely unique. Removed from the clutter and noise of the outside world so you can focus on your studies and develop as a lawyer free of distraction - yet close enough to major cities that you’re never too far from the action.
Best
VALUE lowest private law school tuition in the Great Lakes Region
ONU LAW FACULTY
THE
— Nationally and internationally acclaimed in their areas of scholarship and service
SCHOOL
Pe a
success, but also in your career success. They’ll know your specific career goals, and they’ll provide you with the skills and connections to make a difference in the world. At ONU Law, we promise a legal education of value. Our tuition rates are the lowest in the Great Lakes Region among private law schools, giving you less debt upon graduation. Of course, value doesn’t always have to refer to dollars. Value means strong bar passage and job placement rates. It means a strong academic success program, and most of all, it means graduating with the competitive skills training required of any new attorney.
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ONU Law
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100% GUARANTEED
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At ONU Law, we encourage you to personalize you’ll graduate with a much larger extended your legal education. family and access to a loyal alumni network spanning all 50 U.S. states and abroad. Our tight-knit atmosphere means so much more than faculty members who know your name after We’re a small school, so you’ll find that the first week. It means engaging you in every our style of teaching and learning is quite aspect of your journey to make an impact. It different. Approachability is the hallmark of means providing you with opportunities you ONU Law. Our faculty is deeply committed won’t experience at a larger school. to developing your legal and analytical skills, and they’ll do so by opening their doors and At ONU Law, you’ll build lifelong relationships engaging with you one-on-one. You’ll find all that will define your experience as a law student. your professors to be personable, supportive From your classmates to the faculty and staff, and deeply engaged, not only in your school
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Shayne Wilson, JD ’20
Here are some other ways we take a unique approach to your legal education:
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“I was able to gain experience here that I simply would not have gotten at a larger school. I went from having zero public speaking experience to being named top attorney at a regional trial competition against large schools like Michigan and Ohio State.”
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We define our value by our community. You’ll have great opportunities for clinics and externships. For 135 years, we’ve developed relationships with local courthouses and legal firms, so you’ll have meaningful placements that will enrich your résumé, not just fill it.
Why ONU Law?
135+
MOMENT SPREAD years of learning by doing
MOMENT SPREAD
EXPLORE OUR
SPECIAL
PROCEEDINGS
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PROGRAM MOMENT SPREAD Need copy and photo
ONU Law has a rigorous and innovative academic curriculum, and our small class sizes allow the professors to bring the curriculum alive. Here you’ll learn every necessary skill needed to stand out in 21st century practice.
FIRST-YEAR FALL SCHEDULE TIME
MON.
TUE.
WED.
THU.
FRI.
8 A.M. 9 A.M.
Property 1 8:30 - 9:30
10 A.M. Civil Procedure 1 9:45 - 10:45
Property 1 8:30 - 9:30 Legal Research 9:45 - 10:45
Civil Procedure 1 9:45 - 10:45
Property 1 8:30 - 9:30 Legal Research 9:45 - 10:45
Civil Procedure 1 9:45 - 10:45
11 A.M. NOON
Legal Research 11 - noon
Torts 12:30 - 1:30
Torts 12:30 - 1:30
Torts 12:30 - 1:30
Torts 12:30 - 1:30
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1 P.M.
Legal Research 11 - noon
2 P.M. 3 P.M.
Contracts 1 2:15 - 3:15
4 P.M
Contracts 1 2:15 - 3:15
Contracts 1 2:15 - 3:15
Property Lab 3:30 - 4:30
5 P.M.
SECOND-YEAR CURRICULUM
THIRD-YEAR CURRICULUM
REQUIRED COURSES
REQUIRED COURSES
Business Organizations 1 Constitutional Law 1 Evidence
Seminar Legal Profession
ONU Law
COURSES OF ACTION
We have spent more than a century building the perfect combination of learning and doing to make you ready for a successful law career. We regularly update a diverse curriculum to prepare you for real-world success and to reflect a law landscape that is constantly in flux – adapting to the latest legislative and technological needs.
CURRICULUM LEGEND *Upper division required courses
• Administrative Law • Advanced Appellate Advocacy (Skills) • Advanced Legal Research and Drafting (Skills) • Alternative Dispute Resolution (Skills) • Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights • Business Organizations 1* • Business Organizations 2 • Capital Punishment Seminar • Church and State Seminar • Civil Procedure • Civil Procedure 1 • Civil Procedure 2 • Civil Rights • Climate Change: Science and Law • Commercial Law: Sales & Secured Transactions • Commercial Transactions • Conflict of Laws • Constitutional Law 1* • Constitutional Law 2 • Contracts 1 • Contracts 2 • Criminal Law • Criminal Practice: Introduction (Skills) • Criminal Procedure • Domestic Relations • Employment Discrimination Law • Employment Discrimination Practicum (Skills) • Environmental Law • Environmental Law Seminar • Estate Planning (Skills) • Estates, Wills, and Trusts • Evidence* • Federal Courts • Icelandic International Law Thesis • Immigration & Nationality Law • Independent Study – Faculty Directed Research in Law • Independent Study – Faculty Directed Tutorials in Law
ONU Law
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CURRICULUM LIST
• Intellectual Property and Unfair Competition Law • International Law • International Tax • Judicial Externship 1 (Skills) SKILLS COURSES • Judicial Externship 2 (Skills) • Judicial Review- Limited Government Seminar Skills courses help you develop beyond the • Jurisprudence Seminar regular curriculum. All students are required • Juvenile Law to take seven credit hours of skills courses • Labor Law prior to graduation. • Law & Literature Seminar • Law Office Economics and Management (Skills) • Advanced Appellate Advocacy • Law Review – 3L Comment • Advanced Legal Research and Drafting • Law Review – 2L Staff Editor Work • Alternative Dispute Resolution • Legal History Seminar (American) • Criminal Practice: Introduction • Legal Problem Solving and Analysis • Employment Discrimination Practicum • Legal Profession* • Estate Planning • Legal Research and Writing 1 • Judicial Externship 1 • Legal Research and Writing 2 • Judicial Externship 2 • Negotiation Workshop (Skills) • Law Office Economics and Management • Oil and Gas Law • Negotiation Workshop • ONU Litigation Clinic (Skills) • ONU Litigation Clinic • ONU Summer Clinic (Skills) • ONU Summer Clinic • ONU Transactional Clinic (Skills) • ONU Transactional Clinic • Practical Analysis, Strategies, and Skills 1 • Practice Externship 1 • Practical Analysis, Strategies, and Skills 2 • Practice Externship 2 • Practice Externship 1 (Skills) • Pretrial Litigation • Practice Externship 2 (Skills) • Specialized Legal Research • Pretrial Litigation (Skills) • Summer Practice Externship 1 • Products Liability • Summer Practice Externship 2 • Property 1 • Trial Advocacy • Property 2 • Trial Advocacy: Advanced • Public Law and the Legal Process • Trial Advocacy for Trial Team • Real Estate Finance and Mortgage Law • Remedies • Securities Regulation • Special Topics • Specialized Legal Research (Skills) • Sports Law Seminar PRO BONO CERTIFICATE – Law can be an • Summer Practice Externship 1 (Skills) especially powerful tool for those who can’t • Summer Practice Externship 2 (Skills) afford it. So if you complete 30 or more hours • Taxation: Federal Income Tax of pro bono work, you will receive a pro bono • Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders notation on your transcript. • Taxation of Partnerships & Partners • The Rule of Law in English History 1 NOTE: A faculty advisor will work with you to • Torts customize a course of study that suits your • Trial Advocacy (Skills) interests/needs. You will meet with your faculty • Trial Advocacy: Advanced (Skills) advisor every semester, year 1 through graduation. • Trial Advocacy for Trial Team (Skills) • University of Iceland Exchange Program • Women & The Law Seminar Course Offerings
DAVID RAACK, PROFESSOR OF LAW David Raack attended law school in Missouri and then practiced law for three years. He did graduate programs in law at Temple University and Columbia University. In addition to contracts law, his primary area of interest is environmental law. Raack is also the faculty advisor to the Moot Court program at the College of Law.
LAUREN A. NEWELL, ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS, PROFESSOR OF LAW Lauren Newell practiced corporate law with Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP in New York City prior to joining ONU Law. Newell teaches and writes in the areas of business and securities law, dispute resolution, and marijuana law. She is qualified as a nonpublic arbitrator of securities industry disputes through the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Newell received her BA, summa cum laude, from Georgetown University and her JD, cum laude, from Harvard Law School.
CHARLES ROSE III, DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF LAW, PROFESSOR OF LAW Prior to joining ONU, Charlie Rose served on active duty in the United States Army for 20 years, retiring from the Judge Advocate General’s Corps prior to joining the faculty at Stetson University College of Law. He led their nationally recognized Trial Advocacy Program, maintaining their no. 1 ranking in trial advocacy for 12 consecutive years. Rose is an expert in trial advocacy, evidence, skills teaching pedagogy, criminal procedure and military law. He is a prolific author and lecturer in these fields and has presented to audiences worldwide.
MELISSA KIDDER, DIRECTOR OF LEGAL CLINICS AND EXTERNSHIPS, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF LAW Melissa Kidder, BFA ‘05, JD ‘08, graduated from the Pettit College of Law in 2008. She began her career as a staff attorney at the Ohio Third District Court of Appeals and then came to ONU as assistant director of academic support. Having an opportunity to practice law, she went to work for Eastman & Smith Ltd. as an associate attorney in the estate planning section and initially returned to ONU as director of legal research and writing.
DALLAN F. FLAKE, PROFESSOR OF LAW Dallan Flake writes on topics related to employment discrimination law, focusing primarily on religious accommodations and initiatives to increase ex-offender employment. Before coming to ONU, Flake taught sociology at Brigham Young University. Prior to that, he practiced law in Dallas, Texas, with Ogletree Deakins and Winstead, where he represented employers in all aspects of labor and employment law.
LIANNIE PARAHOO, STAFF ATTORNEY, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF LEGAL CLINICS Liannie Parahoo practiced at a small firm in Barbourville, Ky., in various areas including state and federal criminal defense, personal injury, bankruptcy, appellate work and social security disability prior to joining the ONU Legal Clinic. She was an active member of the Criminal Justice Act panel representing indigent defendants at the federal level. She previously taught as an adjunct professor at Union College (Ky.) and Southeast Community College. Parahoo received her JD, with honors, from Roger Williams School of Law and her BS, magna cum laude, from Union College (Ky.).
JOANNE BRANT, PROFESSOR OF LAW Joanne Brant has an undergraduate degree from Cornell University and her law degree from Case Western Reserve University. She has received multiple awards for teaching, scholarship and advising the ABA National Moot Court team. She has also taught law students at The Ohio State University, the University of Alabama and the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. She has delivered presentations at AALS Annual Meetings, served as chair of the AALS Section of Law and Religion, served on an ABA inspection team and served on the Ohio Attorney General’s Ethics and Professional Responsibility Council.
JEAN-MARIE KAMATALI, PROFESSOR OF LAW, DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AND RULE OF LAW Jean-Marie Kamatali teaches in the areas of human rights, immigration law, transitional justice and law reform. He is former dean of the law school at the University of Rwanda and participated in the legal and institutional rebuilding and reform of post-genocide Rwanda. He has taught at the University of Notre Dame Law School, Kent State University, Indiana University Indianapolis and South Bend, and the University of Leuven in Belgium. He is a regular consultant for the U.S. Government and the United Nations.
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At ONU Law, our professors have graduated from some of the best law schools in the country and are experts in the field. They will mentor you and equip you with the tools and skills needed for success in today’s legal environment.
“I chose ONU Law because they were the only school that could look past my low LSAT score and see a hardworking, dedicated student. I am dyslexic. I worked long and hard for many years to get to a point where I did not need accommodations. My triumph helped me succeed in all scenarios except standardized testing. I needed somebody to listen to that side of my story. ONU Law did. Their Summer Starter Program gave me the tools I needed to be a successful law student.”
No. 8 in the nation for “Most Competitive Students” according to the Princeton Review (2019)
Academically, Summer Starter students are often ranked within the
Savannah Murphy, JD ’21 Graduated valedictorian of her class
TOP 10 in each class.
SUMMER
ONU LAW FACULTY
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STARTER
PROGRAM The Summer Starter Program is a unique opportunity for students whose outstanding undergraduate performance indicates probable academic success in law school despite a lower LSAT score. The eight-week Summer Starter Program consists of two first-year courses (eight credit hours) and provides our students with the one-on-one attention necessary to be successful in law school. From individual weekly meetings with your academic success advisor to weekly group
teaching assistant sessions, you will learn the study skills and test-taking skills needed to set you apart from students entering in a typical fall program. Some students even end up at the top of their class at the conclusion of their first year. This, in addition to hard work, can be credited to the skills and confidence acquired from completing the Summer Starter Program. Once you have completed the program, you are automatically enrolled in the fall entering class. There’s no need to re-apply.
ONU Law
REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION Applicants may apply for free online by submitting the general fall application. No separate application is required. If you qualify for the Summer Starter Program, you will receive an email invitation to interview for the program. You are encouraged to include a statement of interest in the program with your application. To apply, visit law.onu.edu or lsac.org. From there, you’ll have an on-campus interview, because only you and your presence can convince us of your desire to attend law school and become a successful attorney.
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— will meet with you oneon-one each week to review and analyze your test scores
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Nonconditional acceptance to the fall class • Academic success integrated into the curriculum • Individualized instruction from highly experienced professors; class sizes are capped at 25 students to facilitate classroom discussion and engagement as well as to build connections with your peers and faculty • Hone your skills in logical reasoning, digesting advanced legal materials, writing case briefs, studying for exams and engaging effectively in classroom discussion • Early exposure to the law school environment; enter the fall semester one step ahead of your peers! • Fulfill eight course credits that count toward your JD degree
Summer Starter Program
ACADEMIC
HOW DO WE GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR STUDENTS?
SUCCESS
Academic success programming at ONU is different because we provide actual for-credit coursework, not just workshops or voluntary add-ons. These courses have been specifically designed to help our students succeed. We take the time to understand the individual struggles of each student so that we develop strategies to improve their writing quality, analytical skills, and test-taking abilities. We meet each student where they are, in a safe and encouraging environment.
Academic success programs are designed to help you go the extra mile and prepare yourself to make an impact in the world of law.
HOW DO WE SET UP OUR STUDENTS FOR LIFETIMES OF SUCCESS? Personal attention. Every single student enrolled in an Academic Success-oriented course gets a personal meeting with their professor to go over their written product and other relevant items. We push our students to improve on their own yet provide appropriate guidance and oversight to allow them to flourish after law school ends.
ADVANCED LEGAL ANALYSIS During your second year, you may further develop your legal analysis skills and reinforce your understanding of learned rules and principles from your first-year and secondyear doctrinal courses with this one-credit hour course. The goal of this course is to improve your critical thinking skills and test-taking strategies through the use of case files. This course introduces you to the structure of the bar exam and provides you with opportunities to practice multiplechoice questions, essays and performance tests, and receive individualized feedback.
ONU Law
PROPERTY LAB During your first year, you will be supported in your law school studies with a lab aligned with your Property 1 course. This lab includes activities designed to develop your skills in creating expert learner outlines, deconstructing legal rules, understanding rule-based and analogical reasoning on law exams, and preparing for law exams. PRACTICAL ANALYSIS, STRATEGIES, AND SKILLS (PASS) During your third year, you have the opportunity to begin bar prep early. These courses are designed to reinforce students’ knowledge of the law and to develop students’ analytical and writing skills as they prepare to take the bar examination for attorney licensure. Classes include practice multiple-choice questions, essays and performance tests from actual bar exams as well as practical information and skills-based exercises for bar preparation.
ONU LAW BAR REVIEW This six-week supplemental bar study program offers recent graduates an opportunity to enhance exam-taking skills in all areas of the bar exam. Weekly modules include both live and asynchronous programming that provides you with the ability to select portions of the program that are most beneficial to you. Additionally, individual appointments with a professor are available, and weekly group meetings on select topics, such as reducing test anxiety and managing stress, ensure you have a community of support throughout your bar prep study.
HOW DO WE MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR PROGRAM TO FIT STUDENTS’ NEEDS? We start anew each semester with curriculum planning. Each fall and spring, we reassess the bar subjects and materials to use for our Practical Analysis, Strategies, and Skills coursework as well as our pedagogical models and practice exercises for our first-year Legal Methods and January-term courses. We never stop trying to improve, and we consistently adjust so that we can, to the best of our ability, make each student practice-ready when they leave ONU.
ADVISING SYSTEM At the beginning of your first year, you will be assigned a faculty advisor who meets with you for advice and counseling. They will help chart your trajectory so that you enter the workforce ready to make an impact.
Academic Success
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THE SUCCEED PROGRAM Setting ONU apart from the competition, the Succeed Program consists of structured workshops or study groups for each first-year course and for selected upper-level courses that cover subjects typically tested on bar exams. The course is taught by professors as well as teaching assistants who have excelled in the courses they’re instructing.
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ACADEMIC SUCCESS PROGRAMS
“When a student comes to the faculty with a particular interest in an area of law or a type of practice, that faculty member can point the person in the direction that he or she wants to go.” Dallan Flake Professor of Law
Through specialty programs that let you gain a certificate on your degree and tailor your education based on your interests, clinical tracks that provide real courtroom and client-facing time, and academic success programs that prepare you to pass the bar and enter the workforce, we provide countless opportunities for you to build real-world skills that set you apart from the competition.
PERSONALIZE YOUR
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You’re looking for more than just a JD. At ONU Law, we work with you to find your interests and personalize your education.
FEEL FREE TO SPECIALIZE CERTIFICATE TRACKS
Founded in 1885, we’re Ohio’s second oldest law school.
BANKRUPTCY AND COMMERCIAL LAW You’ll focus and specialize in bankruptcy issues as well as larger challenges affecting commercial entities. You’ll gain an understanding of commercial codes, commercial laws, corporate finance, international commercial arbitration and more.
ONU Law enjoys a reputation for producing well-rounded, practice-ready attorneys. Our students, who tend to be pragmatic, collaborative and focused, value a law school that offers small class sizes, individualized attention and countless opportunities.
CORPORATE LAW This specialty gives you experience in the competitive field of corporate law, specializing in business planning and corporate finance, commercial arbitration, and securities regulation – helping you build a comprehensive understanding of the corporate landscape. CRIMINAL LAW The criminal courts can be a huge component of your trajectory as a lawyer, and this certificate program gives a complete overview of the criminal system, with everything from juvenile law to terrorism and criminal law. PUBLIC LAW AND POLICY In this program, you will learn to make a difference in shaping public law and policy. You will be immersed in constitutional law, including areas such as climate change law, marriage and adoption issues, civil rights, employment and environmental law, and immigration law.
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CIVIL LITIGATION While learning about the world of civil disputes and non-criminal cases, you’ll build skills in alternative dispute resolution, settling law conflict issues, navigating federal court systems and more.
REAL PROPERTY LAW Whether you’re interested in aiding in commercial developments and acquisitions or something more personal like estate planning and constructing trusts, this program will help you understand issues surrounding real estate transactions and land planning in all manners. TAXATION The tax specialty will give you skills in everything from personal taxes and estate planning to international taxation and corporate structures.
To receive a certificate, you must maintain a GPA of 3.00 in the certificate courses. If you meet this requirement in one of the seven areas, you’ll receive a certificate at graduation.
“ONU has gone above and beyond to provide me with the tools to succeed. I have done two externships with Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS), and these led me to an excellent summer internship as well as a full-time job after graduation. I will be working in the Risk Management Department at BVHS, the same department as my externships. The working relationship that BVHS and ONU maintain has made my dreams possible. Not everyone can graduate from law school and say they found a job in their dream department right away, but thanks to the advice of ONU’s faculty and the opportunities this school has provided me with, I can say that!” Alexandra Woods, JD ’18 Real Estate and Compliance Specialist, Blanchard Valley Health System
Please note that it is not necessary for you to specialize in a specific area of law while you are in law school.
ONU Law
Certificate Tracks
AVAILABILITY means 100% placement - plain and simple. If you want to enroll in the program, we have a placement available for you. You don’t have to complete a lengthy application or go on a waiting list. You simply meet directly with the clinic director to come up with a plan of action that works best for you, given your career aspirations and our available placements. FLEXIBILITY means we work with you directly to empower you to shape your own tailored experiences. We think we’ve constructed a program that checks a lot of boxes, but we are always open to new ideas, new constructions and new ways of doing things.
LEARN BY
DOING At ONU, we believe that learning outside and shape your direction as a lawyer. While we the classroom is just as important as learning have these programs too, what sets ONU apart inside it. is the fact that you don’t have to compete with as many other schools and scores of students as Our unique location, coupled with small class sizes, provides you with continuous opportunities you would in a larger metropolitan area, and you find a program that puts you on a unique path to combine study with real-world practice. to success. This creates a uniquely supportive All law schools have programs like Moot Court – student body and gives students access to which hones oral advocacy skills that help you in the opportunities that make them strong job law as much as in life – and certificate tracks that candidates in the future. allow you to declare a specialty, gain certification
ONU Law
Guaranteed clinic and externship placement thanks to small class sizes and a wide network of community partners means that if you want to take a clinic, you’ve got a spot. No waitlists.
STUDENT-CENTRIC guidance means that you’ll develop a close working relationship with a seasoned attorney and faculty advisor throughout your program. These relationships help you make the most of your time in the program through active guidance and by challenging you to defend your choices and understand how they fit into the greater legal context.
“ONU Law allowed me to connect with the community in a very unique way. As a transactional legal intern for the ONU Legal Clinic, I helped people establish nonprofit organizations and assisted in getting their nonprofits tax-exempt ready. I worked one-on-one, under the supervision of professors, with actual clients, and I was able to actually see the differences my efforts made in their lives.” Brittany Jones, JD ’18 2018 recipient of the Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Student Award for Ohio Northern University
Clinics and Externships
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We have provided students with an unparalleled legal education for more than 135 years. And we’re just getting started.
IN PURSUIT OF
PURPOSE BANKRUPTCY PLACEMENT You may be placed with bankruptcy attorneys in the Lima and Toledo areas, as well as a judicial externship with a federal bankruptcy judge. These specialties allow you to actively research, draft pleadings and make court appearances, giving you real-world experience. ENVIRONMENTAL PLACEMENT Engage in research, draft pleadings and participate in other activities pertaining to environmental law through our program with the Ohio Environmental Council, a non-profit advocacy group located in Columbus, Ohio.
Through clinical and externship programs, you can apply for an Ohio Legal Intern Certificate – which allows you to try cases in a courtroom under the supervision of an attorney.
JUDICIAL PLACEMENT I/II Here, you’ll have the opportunity to be placed with a variety of judges in areas such as municipal court, juvenile court, probate court, common pleas court, the Ohio Supreme Court, the Ohio Appellate District Court, federal district court or federal bankruptcy court. You’ll observe court proceedings and perform court-related duties assigned by a judge, including research, writing and more.
ONU LITIGATION CLINIC The ONU Legal Clinic functions as a traditional “legal-aid” clinic providing services to members of the surrounding communities. Here you will face a variety of issues including family law, social security disability and general civil litigation. The yearly caseload for this program is between 200 and 250 cases, and you will be supervised by a licensed staff attorney. ONU TRANSACTIONAL CLINIC Gain experience providing legal assistance to non-profit organizations such as the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church (comprising roughly 1,300 churches) as well as other local non-profit organizations. You will be able to assist in a variety of issues, including real estate transfers, incorporations and risk management. You will also assist qualified low-income individuals with drafting basic estate planning documents and represent individuals in probate administration matters. PROSECUTION PLACEMENT This program places you in a prosecutor’s office under the supervision of a licensed practicing attorney representing the state in criminal prosecutions. PUBLIC DEFENDER PLACEMENT Through this externship, you will gain experience in a local public defender’s office representing defendants who cannot provide their own counsel.
OHIO PLACEMENTS • Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center • Prosecutor’s offices in Putnam, Hancock, Hardin, Marion and Allen counties; also with Findlay and Lima cities Prosecutor’s offices • Hancock Public Defender’s office • Notable judicial placements with the Ohio Supreme Court, and the Ohio Third and Sixth District Courts of Appeals • Chapter 9 Bankruptcy Trustees • LAWO NATIONAL PLACEMENTS • Autism Society of America • Merieux Foundation • Jacksonville Florida Office of General Counsel • U.S. Veteran’s Affairs In-house Counsel office • Federal Public Defender’s office for the Western District of Michigan
“When I was a student in law school at Ohio Northern, I participated in the externship program my third year at the Lima Municipal Court. It was very beneficial for me to gain real-world experience. As a prosecutor for the city of Lima for the past 10 years, we have had countless students serve in our office as interns. I have seen interns gain courtroom, trial and even jury-trial experience with our office. I have also seen interns make connections that led to employment after law school. I highly recommend this program.” Rick Eddy, JD ’98 Chief Prosecutor City of Lima Law Department
Clinics and Externships
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CLINICS AND EXTERNSHIPS
GOVERNMENTAL PLACEMENT You will explore law in government settings with placement in facilities such as the Ohio Attorney General’s Office or the Ohio Pharmacy Board, and will work with municipal government solicitors or city law directors on civil litigation and criminal matters arising within local governments.
NON-PROFIT & PUBLIC INTEREST PLACEMENT You will work with practicing attorneys and administrators to actively assist legal aid and other non-profit organizations on a variety of legal issues. You will be supervised by attorneys within the organizations to conduct research, draft memos and engage in other law-related activities.
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STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS STUDENT BAR ASSOCIATION LAW REVIEW MOOT COURT AGRICULTURE LAW SOCIETY BLACK LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY
FEEL FREE TO
ICELANDIC LEGAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM INTERNATIONAL LAW SOCIETY LEGAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN PHI ALPHA DELTA INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY PUBLIC INTEREST LAW ASSOCIATION STUDENT ANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND LAW SCHOOL VETERANS ASSOCIATION AND MORE!
From a sky full of stars to an atmosphere that is both supportive and competitive, life at ONU Law is one surprise after another. We are more than students and teachers jockeying for a foothold on the legal playing field. We are a tight-knit community, dedicated as much to one another’s success as to our own. Because we know that together we will go further than we will individually. Here, we’ve constructed a cross-examination of sorts. Questions that people ask us about Ada and life at ONU Law. If you don’t see your question answered here, feel free to reach out and ask us anything.
ONU Law
HOW IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FACULTY AND STUDENTS? There may come a day, some years after you graduate, when you realize the true strength of ONU Law. You’ll realize that, from your first day here, our faculty really gets to know you. That they care about your success as much as their own. This is an attitude that stems from the dean all the way down to the professors and staff, and it’s something that you will learn to value as much as we do.
WHAT SETS ONU LAW APART? The biggest factors that set ONU Law apart are the size and the location. At most law schools, the competition for everything from a professor’s attention to internships is intense. Here, you will be part of a community of learners that will support you while also challenging you to be the best version of yourself. And since we’re near major cities, as well as a host of other areas with the need for quality legal advice, externships are readily available.
WHAT DO ONU LAW STUDENTS DO FOR FUN? It’s Saturday night. You’ve had an intense week of classes, and it’s time to unwind. Maybe you’ll head over to a friend’s house for dinner and then go check out a movie. Maybe you’ll pile into a car and head to Columbus to check out a new club. Whatever you’re doing, you know you won’t be bored. We pride ourselves on a family atmosphere, and it’s something that runs through classes and off time alike.
WHAT’S THE LIVING SITUATION? Some students choose to live on campus, and some live off campus. Either way, the cost of living in Ada is extremely low. The average price for a student in a two-bedroom apartment is around $550 a month. So when your friends in other law programs are dreading the debt they’re accruing, you can be assured that you’re graduating with a degree that provides an excellent return on investment – from the tuition to the cost of living.
WHAT ARE THE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVOLVEMENT? The beauty of ONU Law is that there are as many additional opportunities for involvement as there are interests. Maybe you want to study abroad – we have programs in Europe and Asia. Maybe you’re interested in working for a baseball team one day, so you want to join the Sports Law Society. If what you’re interested in doesn’t have an organization yet, you can start your own. We are a malleable campus, ready to help you pursue your interests. WHAT IS ADA LIKE? Ada is a small family-friendly town, yet with all the conveniences of grocery, restaurants and shops, and memories that last a lifetime. Removed from the clutter and noise of the outside world so you can focus on your studies and develop as a lawyer free of distraction – yet close enough to major cities that you’re never far from the action.
Student Life
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CROSS EXAMINE
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW SOCIETY
“Ohio Northern’s nationwide network of graduates has been a great resource. Alumni actively seek ONU Law grads for case referrals in different geographic locations or practice areas. We also look to promote our own, hiring ONU students and graduates whenever possible - precisely how I landed my current job in my home state of Wisconsin after being away for 10 years.”
SUCCESS BY
ASSOCIATION M ore than two-thirds of our students come from outside of Ohio. And from here, they go on to all 50 states and around the world. We may be a small school – but we have a big network of loyal alumni who stay engaged long after they graduate. They turn into career resources for our current students, becoming advisors, donors, speakers and recruiters. If you come here, you’ll understand what it means to be part of a tight-knit family that takes care of its own.
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Brian Anderson, JD ’10 Trial Attorney, The Everson Law Firm
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT • Career Search Strategy Development • Professional Résumé, Cover Letter, Reference Sheet Creation • Workshops and speakers on career-related topics • Networking opportunities with alumni and other legal practitioners • Professional development programming, including interviewing skills, etiquette dinners, use of LinkedIn and more • Announcements of employment opportunities from around the country • Connect students with employers • Career Closet providing professional attire for students for interviewing or interning
Launch your legal education at ONU Law
Information on employment outcomes for the Class of 2020 may not reflect a particular law school’s typical results in this area. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, bar admission exams were canceled or delayed in many jurisdictions, thus making it more challenging for graduates to secure employment by the annual Graduate Employment Status Date of March 15. Please note that all information referenced is the last 3 years of employment outcome data.
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A REASONABLE
DOUBT ONU Law may be small, but we’re full of big opportunities. Opportunities to discover the type of lawyer you want to be. Opportunities to assemble a family of like-minded individuals who’ll support you for the rest of your life. You’ll be able to work closely throughout law school with academic advisors and professors. You’ll tailor a learning experience to meet your interests. And you’ll have the freedom to focus on what matters most during law school.
A SYSTEM FOR SUCCESS We pack a mighty punch when it comes to bar passage and job placement. ONU Law grads often rank in the top three in the state for firsttime bar passage rates, and job placement is consistently strong, regularly above both state and nationwide averages. Our Office of Career and Professional Development is structured to give practical instruction and personalized guidance. No matter your professional goals, ONU Law will help you develop a career-search strategy that best fits your interests.
So bring your promise and dedication – we’ll have everything else you need for a lifetime of success.
ONU Law
Jane Ward Director of Law Career and Professional Development
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES
5% 43%
4% 4% 4%
67%
9% 23% 15%
Law Firms
Government Business & Industry
7% 11%
Clerkships
5%
3%
Public Interest
Other
Professional Development
Employed - Bar Passage Required Employed - JD Advantage Employed - Professional Position Employed - Other Unemployed - Seeking Unemployed - Not seeking Unknown
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“The Office of Career and Professional Development is dedicated to giving students individualized counseling and guidance in preparing application materials, researching opportunities and interviewing. We are with you every step of the way, beginning in your first year and continuing long after you graduate.”
NY
DC
OH
GRADUATE
26
SD 4
WY 4
NV 17 CO 64
AZ 67
IL
75 KS 9
OK
NM 8
7
WV 115
KY 76
7
al
n
i
CA
TX
FL
ANDREW DRILLING, JD ’14
MICHAEL GIONTA, JD ’17
SUSAN WETZEL, JD ’97
JOHN PAUL BRATCHER, JD ’12
“The educational foundation I gained at ONU prepared me to successfully litigate cases against attorneys from various backgrounds, including attorneys with more years of experience that I had at the time.”
“The ONU Law faculty is always willing to work with you as a student. They were always there when I needed them. Moreover, they helped introduce me to other alumni in the various fields I wanted to go into.”
“ONU Law not only provided me with a strong foundation in the law, but also taught me how to provide practical advice to clients, which has been essential to my career as an employee benefits partner in an AM Law 100 firm.”
“ONU Law provided me with a quality, proper legal education and legitimate opportunity to succeed in the practice of law, not just in Ohio or the Midwest, but anywhere.”
l iv i ng al u ni
FL 309
AK 7 NY
21
SC 66
LA 4
HI 10
75
DC
m
GA 73
RI CT 10 NJ 62 171 DE 10 MD
• Reside
AL 15
VA 172 NC 99
TN 51
AR MS 3
TX 102
IN 205
MO 29
PA 620
OH 1,837
MA 37
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CA 100
NY 291
MI 111
IA 15
NE 4
UT 16
WI 42
t
ID 15
VTNH 11 3
MN 20
To
10
ME 15
ND 1
OR
“After graduation, I moved to Virginia and have been working in the financial services industry ever since – first for two top tier law firms and now in house at one of America’s largest banks.”
5,396 ALUMNI
50
road •
WA MT 6
SUZANNE GARWOOD, JD ’97
STEPHANIE SWIGER, JD ’11
“I think the thing that makes the ONU College of Law special is that students receive a personalized legal education.”
ab
EDMUND BESONG, JD ’16, MPPA ’16 “I believe the College of Law prepares its students to be able to take the bar in state or out of state.”
ONU Law Alumni Per State
n states a
d
OUTCOMES
As a law student at Ohio Northern University, you can go anywhere.
WHERE WILL
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APPLY TODAY For more information, including a complete list of the steps to apply, visit: law.onu.edu/admissions
Want to learn more?
SCHEDULE A VISIT TODAY!
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YOU
Office of Law Admissions Ohio Northern University 525 S. Main St. Ada, Ohio 45810 419-772-2211 / 877-452-9668 lawadmissions@onu.edu law.onu.edu/admissions-aid