ONU LAW
P E T T I T C O L L E G E O F L AW
CONTENTS
WHY ONU LAW? CERTIFICATE TRACKS CLINICS AND EXTERNSHIPS PROGRAMS COURSE OFFERINGS ACADEMIC SUPPORT GRADUATE OUTCOMES STUDENT LIFE CAREER SERVICES HOW TO APPLY
MAKING OUR CASE
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WHAT’S
MOTIVE? T
here are as many reasons for becoming a lawyer as there are specialties to pursue. 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. At the ONU College of Law, we have created a unique program where you can develop the
skills to make a difference, regardless of where you want to go with your law degree. 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 take the passions you have and help you develop into the lawyer that you want to be.
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YOUR
“ONU provided me many opportunities. The small class sizes gave me the opportunity to receive attention and interest from the professors. The vast alumni network afforded me the opportunity to be a student clerk for both the county prosecutor’s office and a federal judge. The alumni network led directly to my first job out of law school, working for another alumnus in my home state of Wisconsin.” Randall Petrouske, JD ’10 Partner Attorney/Vice President, The Everson Law Firm
THE
VALUE OF A SMALL
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SCHOOL A
t ONU Law, we encourage you to personalize the pursuit of your legal education. We do this with our tight-knit atmosphere, which means so much more than faculty members who know your name after the first week. It means engaging you in every aspect of your journey to make an impact. It means providing you with opportunities you won’t experience at a larger school. At ONU Law, you’ll build lifelong relationships that will define your experience as a law student. From your classmates to the faculty and staff, you’ll graduate with a much larger extended
family and access to a loyal alumni network spanning all 50 U.S. states and abroad. We’re a small school, so you’ll find that our approach to teaching is quite different. Approachability is the hallmark of ONU Law. Our faculty is deeply committed to developing your legal and analytical skills, and they’ll do so by opening their doors and engaging with you one-on-one. You’ll find all your professors to be approachable, supportive and deeply engaged, not only in your school 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.
ONU Law
Here are some other ways we take a unique approach to your legal education:
Ada is a place that is completely unique. Removed
Best
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.
VALUE lowest private law school tuition in the Midwest
ONU LAW FACULTY — Nationally and internationally acclaimed in their areas of scholarship and service
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At ONU Law, you’ll have great opportunities for clinics and externships. For 130 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?
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• C linic
100% GUARANTEED
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At ONU Law, we promise a legal education of value. Our tuition rates are the lowest in the Midwest among private law schools. According to Law School Transparency, ONU Law placed last on the list for “Projected Debt Owed at First Loan Payment” among private law schools, giving you less debt upon graduation. Of course, value doesn’t always have to refer to dollars. At ONU Law, value means strong bar passage and job placement rates. It means a strong academic support program and, most of all, it means graduating with the competitive skills training required of any new attorney.
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ou’re looking for more than just a JD. At ONU Law, we work with you to find your interests and personalize your education. 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 clientfacing time, and academic support 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.
FEEL FREE TO SPECIALIZE CERTIFICATE TRACKS 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.
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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. 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. INTERNATIONAL LAW Whether you’re interested in helping multinational corporations or understanding human rights issues and how non-governmental organizations bring aid to people across the world, this specialty prepares you to settle international legal issues. 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.
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. SMALL FIRM GENERAL PRACTICE The small firm program is a broad overview of practical matters facing the small firm, from office management all the way to navigating criminal courts – perfect if you are looking to develop a wide set of skills and open your own practice. 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 while completing all of its required courses. If you do receive a certificate in one of the nine areas, you’ll receive a stamp on your diploma. 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
PATHWAYS TO EXCELLENCE
O
NU Law understands that you may wish to focus your studies on one of these emerging areas within the legal profession: health care, education, intellectual property or immigration. That’s why we’ve developed Pathways. Pathways are recommended sets of courses, clinics and externships, and relationships with faculty mentors that ONU Law believes will help students craft a path to a career in specific areas of law. New Pathways might be developed by the ONU Law faculty based on student interest or by identifying areas of law that we believe will become important in the future. No matter your interest, you’ll work with a faculty advisor to personalize your course of study. In addition to clinics and externships, the Office of Career Services is available to help you find summer internships within your Pathway’s area of focus.
IMMIGRATION LAW PATHWAY This track prepares you to practice in areas of immigration, refugee and nationality laws of the United States, including laws and procedures related to naturalized citizens, refugees, and immigrants and non-immigrants to the United States.
EDUCATION LAW PATHWAY This program prepares you to handle the most frequently litigated issues involving K-12 institutions, colleges and universities, including disability law, constitutional issues, civil rights and Title IX issues.
“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!”
Certificate Tracks
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HEALTH LAW PATHWAY This pathway will prepare you to advise hospitals, physicians, insurers, pharmaceutical companies, and other health care providers on matters including risk management, licensing, reimbursement, malpractice litigation, and general corporate management issues.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PATHWAY This pathway will prepare you to counsel clients regarding trademark, copyright, patent, trade secrets and right of publicity in diverse fields such as scientific research and development, sports, and music.
PreLaw
Magazine
named ONU Law a Best Law School for Practical Training.
LEARN BY
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DOING A
t ONU, we believe that learning outside the classroom is just as important as learning inside it. Our unique location, coupled with small class sizes, provides you with continuous opportunities to combine study with real-world practice.
apart is the close relationships you will develop with your professors and advisors, who become your advocates from day one and mentors long after you graduate. Add to that a rural location, which means you don’t have to compete with as many other schools and scores of students as you would in a larger metropolitan area, and All law schools have programs like Moot Court – you find a program that puts you on a unique which hone oral advocacy skills that help you in path to success. law as much as in life – and certificate tracks that allow you to declare a specialty, gain certification We have provided students with an and shape your direction as a lawyer. And while unparalleled legal education for more than we have these programs too, what sets ONU 130 years. And we’re just getting started. ONU Law
AVAILABILITY means 100 percent placement – plain and simple. If you want to enroll in a program, we take every step possible to find you a spot. 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 with your career aspirations. And thanks to our community connections, you’ll enjoy placement at a facility that does work that you’re interested in – not in an intern pool where you’re just another unknown. FLEXIBILITY means we work with you directly to shape an experience that perfectly suits your needs. 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. STUDENT-CENTRIC guidance means that you’ll develop a close working relationship with a seasoned attorney throughout your program. These faculty relationships help you make the most of your time in the program by 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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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.
IN PURSUIT OF
PURPOSE CLINICS AND EXTERNSHIPS
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BANKRUPTCY EXTERNSHIP 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. CORPORATE TRANSACTIONAL CLINIC Gain experience providing legal assistance to nonprofit organizations such as the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church (comprising roughly 1,300 churches) as well as other local nonprofit organizations. You will be able to assist in a variety of issues, including real estate transfers, incorporations and risk management.
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.
ENVIRONMENTAL EXTERNSHIP We have developed this program through a relationship with the Ohio Environmental Council, a nonprofit advocacy group located in Columbus, Ohio. You will engage in research, draft pleadings and participate in other activities pertaining to environmental law. This program regularly results in placements with the Ohio Environmental Council. GOVERNMENTAL EXTERNSHIP You will be able to explore law in government settings with placement in facilities such as the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office and the Ohio Pharmacy Board. You will be supervised by attorneys within the organizations to conduct research, draft memos and engage in other legal activities.
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JUDICIAL EXTERNSHIP I/II Here, you’ll get involved in a variety of placements with judges in areas such as municipal court, juvenile court, probate court, common pleas court, Ohio Supreme Court, federal district court or federal bankruptcy court. You will perform court-related duties assigned by a judge, including research, writing and more.
LITIGATION EXTERNSHIP This clinic prepares you to represent clients in civil litigation matters such as family law, landlord/ tenant disputes and other general civil litigation matters at a local legal aid organization, supervised by practicing attorneys. MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT EXTERNSHIP This will prepare you to work with municipal government solicitors or city law directors on civil litigation and criminal litigation issues arising within local governments. NONPROFIT LITIGATION EXTERNSHIP Through this program, you will work with practicing attorneys and administrators to actively assist nonprofit organizations on a variety of legal issues.
PROSECUTION EXTERNSHIP This program places you in a prosecutor’s office under the supervision of a licensed practicing attorney representing the state in criminal misdemeanors. PUBLIC DEFENDER EXTERNSHIP The role of public defender is vastly important in the legal field. Through this clinic, you will gain experience in a local public defender’s office representing defendants who cannot provide their own counsel.
“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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LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW EXTERNSHIP In this program, you’ll be supervised by a licensed attorney at either a union or a law firm that specializes in labor and employment law. Here, you’ll draft memoranda and briefs, participate in arbitration proceedings and gain experience in a variety of other legal concerns relating to the field.
ONU LEGAL CLINIC The ONU Legal Clinic functions as a traditional “legalaid” 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.
130+
MOMENT SPREAD years of learning by doing
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PROGRAM MOMENT SPREAD Need copy and photo
MOMENT SPREAD
EXPLORE OUR
SPECIAL W
ith specialized law degrees, worldwide externship opportunities, and unique ways to get ready for law school, ONU Law provides a surprising depth of choices.
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PROCEEDINGS
ONE PROGRAM. TWO DEGREES. JUST THREE YEARS.
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THE JD/MSA PROGRAM IN TAX LAW AT ONU
I
f you’re an aspiring attorney interested in tax law, one degree might not be enough for you. That’s why ONU Law offers a concurrent Juris Doctor/Master of Science in Accounting program. Stay on track, and you could have both degrees in just three years. You’ll begin your ONU Law journey with our standard first-year curriculum. During your second and third years, you’ll study federal income taxation and take three specialized courses and electives. You’ll also gain valuable field experience through a for-credit, tax-focused externship. When all is said and done, you’ll have two degrees – and enough credits to sit for the CPA exam.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION To enter this program, you’ll need an undergraduate degree in accounting or a related field with equivalent coursework. You’ll also need to meet all of the requirements of our JD program. For more information about ONU Law’s Concurrent JD/MSA Program, visit law.onu.edu
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Two degrees in three years • Placement in a tax-focused externship • Earn enough credits to sit for the CPA exam • Broaden your credentials in two disciplines • Excellent preparation in tax compliance, tax planning, tax research and tax litigation • Small classes taught by experienced tax professionals
ONU Law
SUMMER STARTER PROGRAM T
he 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.
“I was a great student, I knew I could pass the bar and I knew I could work hard, but I needed a school to believe in me. ONU believed in me. They were so great about seeing my potential even when I didn’t see it myself.” Laia Mortimer, JD ’16 Associate Attorney, Hearn Law Offices
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 a letter and 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 www.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.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Automatic fall entry (non-conditional) • Faculty accessibility and small class sizes (20 students) • Weekly exams to acclimate you prior to fall entry • Weekly evaluations with an academic support director • Weekly teaching assistant sessions for additional review • Knowledge of outlining and note-taking • Familiarity with the Socratic method
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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 support advisor to weekly group teaching assistant sessions, you will learn the study skills and testtaking skills needed to set you apart from students entering in a typical fall program. Many of our Summer Starter students end up in the top of the 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.
Academically, Summer Starter students are often ranked within the T OP 1 0 in each class.
COURSES OF ACTION CURRICULUM LIST
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e 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 18»
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 Legal Research Alternative Dispute Resolution American Legal System Arbitration Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights Business Organizations I/II* Business Planning Church and State Seminar Civil Procedure I/II Commercial Code: Negotiable Instruments and Check Collection Commercial Code: Secured Transactions Commercial Law: Payments Commercial Law: Sales and Secured Transactions Commercial Transactions Comparative Administrative Law Comparative Constitutional Law Competitiveness and Corruption Complex Litigation Conflict of Laws Constitutional Interpretation Seminar Constitutional Law I/II* Constitutional Law: Mass Media Seminar Corporate Finance Criminal Law Criminal Procedure Domestic Relations Elder Law Employment Discrimination Law Entertainment Law Environment Law Environmental Law Seminar Estate Planning Estates, Wills and Trusts Evidence* Federal Courts Health Law
ONU Law
Skills courses help you develop beyond the regular curriculum. All students are required to take seven credit hours of skills courses prior to graduation. • Alternative Dispute Resolution • Bankruptcy Externship • Business Planning • Complex Litigation • Corporate Finance • Corporate Transactional Clinic • Environmental Externship • Estate Planning • Governmental Externship • Judicial Externship • Labor and Employment Law Externship • Law Office Economics and Management • Litigation Externship • Moot Court I/II • Municipal Government Externship • Nonprofit Litigation Externship • ONU Legal Clinic • Pre-trial Litigation • Prosecution Externship • Public Defender Externship • Trial Advocacy/Advanced Trial Advocacy
PRO BONO CERTIFICATE – Law can be an especially powerful tool for those who can’t afford it. So if you complete 30 or more hours of pro bono work, you will receive a pro bono notation on your transcript.
NOTE: A faculty advisor will work with you to customize a course of study that suits your interests/needs.
Course Offerings
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Immigration and Nationality Law Independent Study Intellectual Property and Unfair Competition Intellectual Property Seminar International and Comparative Law: Non-Governmental Organizations • International Comparative Law • International and Comparative Law of NGOs • International Criminal Law • International Law • International NGO Law • International Protection of Human Rights • International Tax • Judicial Decision Making • Jurisprudence Seminar • Juvenile Law • Labor Law • Land Use Planning Seminar • Law and Literature Seminar • Law Office Economics and Management • Law Review • Legal History Seminar (American) • Legal Issues in Transitional Democracies • Legal Profession* • Moot Court I/II • Negotiation Workshops • Negotiation: Dealing in Emotions Seminar • Oil and Gas Law • Patent Law and Practice • Pre-trial Litigation • Products Liability • Property I/II • Public Law and Legal Practice • Real Estate: Residential Conveyances • Real Estate Finance and Mortgage Law • Remedies • Rule of Law Seminar • Scientific Evidence and Opinion • Securities Regulation • Selected Topics in Democratic Governance and Rule of Law • Taxation: Federal Income Tax • Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders • Taxation of Partnerships and Partners • Terrorism and Criminal Law • Torts • Transition to Ohio Practice • Transition to Practice: Multi-Jurisdictions • Women and the Law Seminar
SKILLS COURSES
• • • • •
ACADEMIC
SUPPORT Academic support programs are designed to help you go the extra mile and prepare yourself to make an impact in the world of law.
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ACADEMIC SUPPORT PROGRAMS LEGAL METHODS During your first year, you’ll be supported in your law school studies with a class designed to develop your skills in case briefing, legal writing, methodical analysis, bar exam requirements and more. 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. ADVISING SYSTEM At the beginning of your first year, you will be assigned a faculty advisor who meets with you at least once a semester for advice and counseling. They will help chart your trajectory and shape your education so that you enter the workforce ready to make an impact.
ONU Law
ONU BAR REVIEW This program offers third-year students an opportunity to work with faculty covering difficult material on the bar review, whether you want to take the bar in Ohio or elsewhere in the country. Since the bar is constantly evolving, the course is constantly evolving. Every class features practice essay exams and multiplechoice questions from actual bar exams, which provides extensive bar exam preparation. TRANSITION TO PRACTICE These courses are offered for both Ohio practice and jurisdictions outside of Ohio. These courses provide practical information for the practice of law and skills-based exercises for bar preparation.
HOW DO WE GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR STUDENTS? Academic Support programming at ONU is different because we provide actual for-credit course work, not just workshops or voluntary add-ons. These courses have been specifically designed to help our students succeed in each of their three years of law school. We are insistent upon knowing the individual struggles of each of our students so that we can dig deep into assessing how to precisely fine-tune their written legal analysis and writing. We meet each student where they currently are, in a safe and encouraging environment.
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HOW DO WE MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR PROGRAM TO FIT STUDENTS’ NEEDS? We start anew each semester with curriculum planning. More specifically, each fall and spring, we reassess the bar subjects and materials to use for our Transition to Practice course work as well as our pedagogical models and practice exercises for our first-year Legal Methods and January-term courses. In short, 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.
Brianna Woods, JD ’18
Academic Support
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“ONU’s Academic Support program helped me during my first year of law school and during the fall semester of my third year. I was a summer starter, and without the academic support during the summer and into the fall of my first year, I am convinced I would not have had the grades I did first semester. They really addressed IRAC and CREAC analysis for tests I had throughout my law school education. The personal meeting times to review essays and multiple choice were crucial for my success throughout the duration of my law school career. Going into the fall semester of my third year in law school, I re-engaged with the Academic Support team in connection with my seminar course, where I felt I was in over my head. I had a personal meeting with Academic Support, and they took the time to review and critique my writing. I truly appreciated the continued help to nurture my writing skills. I obtained the grade I wanted for the course, and that was all because Academic Support lent a well-needed hand!”
HOW DO WE SET UP OUR STUDENTS FOR LIFETIMES OF SUCCESS? Our program is largely successful because of the personal attention we give our students. Every single student enrolled in an Academic Support-oriented course gets a personal meeting with their professor to go over their written product and to discuss anything else that might be relevant. We push our students to improve on their own yet provide appropriate guidance and oversight to allow them to flourish after law school ends.
“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.” Brian Anderson, JD ’10
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Trial Attorney, The Everson Law Firm
SUCCE BY
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CIATION 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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SS
GRADUATE
OUTCOMES
ONU Law Alumni Per State
WA
24
MT 5
ND 2
OR
12
ID 12
SD 5
WY 4
NV 21
NE 6
UT 17
CO 61
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CA 97
AZ 59
KS 9
OK
NM 7
5
TX 99 HI 9 AK 6 IA
CA
TX
JEFF HIAT, JD ’11 “One of the most helpful components I recall is how ONU Law, through my professors/advisor, really focused on ensuring that I took classes that would show up on my statespecific bar exam.”
MICHAEL GIONTA, JD ’17 “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.”
SUSAN WETZEL, JD ’97 “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.”
NY
DC
OH
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.”
SUZANNE GARWOOD, JD ’97 “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.”
STEPHANIE SWIGER, JD ’11 “I think the thing that makes the ONU College of Law special is that students receive a personalized legal education.”
ME 15
NY 306
MI 118
IN 208
MO 26
WV 110
KY 75
AL 15
GA 72
SC 60
AD
LA 4 FL 310
FL
JOHN PAUL BRATCHER, JD ’12 “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.”
SI
DE I N 5
5,396
TOTAL LIVING
ALUMNI
STAT E S
MS 3
20
0
5
71
DC
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NC 92
TN 49
AR
VA 174
RE
IL
80
PA 644
OH 1,891
RI CT 8 NJ 62 169 DE 9 MD
O
IA 14
MA 36
D ABR
WI 36
VT NH 2 13
AN
MN 20
“Get involved. This is, I think, the most important thing in law school. Students have to put in the time, be on campus and, most importantly, have fun with it. You can be a top student in your class, but getting involved can show potential employers another great side to you as well.” Kelly Claxton, JD ’18 Legal Analyst, Guberman Garson Segal LLP
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CROSS EXAMI S
omething magical happens when the sun sets in Ada. First, the sky comes to life with vibrant colors painting the horizon. Afterward, you’re treated to a celestial light show like no other. As we like to say around here, it’s a lot easier to reach for the stars when you can see them. 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
DETROIT LAKE ERIE ERIE
FORT WAYNE
“I was drawn to ONU’s sense of community and individualized learning. I met some of my best friends at ONU and regularly keep in touch with faculty.”
TOLEDO FINDLAY BLUFFTON LIMA
ADA
CLEVELAND
PITTSBURGH
AKRON
COLUMBUS INDIANAPOLIS
CINCINNATI
Emily Tapocsi, JD ’07 Assistant Section Chief, Court of Claims Defense Section Ohio Attorney General’s Office LOUISVILLE LEXINGTON
WHAT IS ADA LIKE?
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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 far from the action.
WHAT’S THE LIVING SITUATION?
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, internships and externships are readily available. 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 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 familial atmosphere, and it’s something that runs through classes and off time alike.
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.
Student Life
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WHAT SETS ONU LAW APART?
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 ensured that you’re graduating with a degree that provides an excellent return on investment – from the tuition to the cost of living.
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he ONU College of 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. So bring your promise and dedication – we’ll have everything else you need for a lifetime of success.
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 first-time bar passage rates and job placement is consistently strong, regularly above both state and nationwide averages. Our Academic Support and Career Services programs are 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.
ONU Law
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“The Office of Career Services is dedicated to giving students individualized counseling and guidance in preparing application materials, researching opportunities and interviewing. We also host outside speakers on a wide range of topics, encompassing employment in law firms of all sizes, the government sector, the corporate arena and the public interest field. We are with you every step of the way, beginning in your first year and continuing long after you graduate. In the Office of Career Services, we consider you to be so much more than a student. We understand that you have your own unique professional goals, and we are here to help you meet them.“ JANE WARD, Director of Law Career Services
Career Services
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As a law student at Ohio Northern University, you can go anywhere.
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APPLY TODAY For more information, including a complete list of the steps to apply, visit: law.onu.edu/admissions
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Office of Law Admissions Ohio Northern University 525 S. Main Street Ada, Ohio 45810 419-772-2211 / 877-452-9668 lawadmissions@onu.edu law.onu.edu/admissions