Michael E. Moritz College of Law

Ohio State University-Main Campus, Michael E. Moritz College of Law History

Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law was established in 1891 and is a public institution. The 3200-acre campus is in an urban area 2 miles north of downtown Columbus. The primary mission of the law school is to produce lawyers from a base of scholarship, education, and service; the approach is broad-based and academically oriented. Students have access to federal, state, county, city, and local agencies, courts, correctional facilities, law firms, and legal aid organizations in the Columbus area. Facilities of special interest to law students the state legislature and state supreme court. Housing for students is available in 3 campus dormitories reserved for graduate and professional students; there are plenty of off-campus housing facilities sufficient for all students. There is also an apartment complex adjacent to the law school. All law school facilities are accessible to the physically disabled.

Ohio State University-Main Campus, Michael E. Moritz College of Law Academics

In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the M.S.L. Master of Studies in Law. Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 5 credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.H.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Health and Hospital Administration), and J.D./M.P.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration).

The Michael E. Moritz College of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, family law, international law, juvenile law, labor law, litigation, media law, securities law, tax law, torts and insurance, alternative dispute resolution, and international law and civil rights. In addition, second- and third-year students may take clinics. Second-year students take simulation clinics such as pretrial litigation, negotiation, and client counseling. They may also participate in the legislation, special education, and mediation clinics. Third-year students may act as legal interns representing clients under faculty supervision in the Civil Law, Juvenile Law, and Prosecutorial and Defense Practica. At least one seminar must be taken by second- or third-year students; seminars range from creative and constitutional aspects of law to those devoted to a student’s research of a specific legal area. Internships are available with certain federal and state judges and through the D.C. Summer Program. Research programs include opportunities for independent study. There are field work opportunities to work for the public and private sector; opportunities to do volunteer work, such as the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Special lectures are supported by the Ohio State Law Forum, which invites distinguished academicians, jurists, and practitioners; speakers are also invited by faculty and student groups. Study abroad is possible through the Oxford Summer Program and is open to students from the college and all other accredited law schools. Students can earn 3 or 6 hours of credit during the summer. Study abroad at Oxford is also possible through the Spring Semester Program. A legal methods program, designed to help certain first-year students who may need more time and attention adapting to law school, is available. The Black Law Students Association, Caribbean Law Students Associations, Hispanic Law Students Association, Asian Law Students Association, Middle Eastern Law Students Association sponsor various events and programs. There are approximately 50 special interest student organization that include the sports and entertaiment law society, pro bono research group, public interest law forum, women’s law caucus, health law society, and J. Rueben Clark Society. The most widely taken electives are those that are directly bar-related (Evidence, Corporations), international law offerings, and alternative dispute resolution offerings.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 88 total credits, of which 37 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, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Research, Legislation, Property, Torts, and Writing and Analysis. Required upper-level courses consist of 2 courses with a writing component, Appellate Practice, and Professional Responsibility. The required orientation program for first-year students is 2 days and covers case briefing, professional responsibility, and college policies and offices. There are also 2 days of students sponsored social activities.

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

Ohio State University-Main Campus, Michael E. Moritz College of Law Unique Programs

Library

The law library contains 560,969 hard-copy volumes and 228,646 microform volume equivalents, and subscribes to 7876 serial publications. Such on-line databases and networks as DIALOG, LEXIS, WESTLAW, LCS and OCLC are available to law students for research. Special library collections include a government depository, a large foreign law collection, and materials on dispute resolution. Recently, the library added 64,000 square feet to the existing library space, including 12 study rooms, and added 300 carrels and 40 word processors. The ratio of library volumes to faculty is 11,219 to 1 and to students is 772 to 1. The ratio of seats in the library to students is 1 to 1.

Special Consideration

The law school recruits minority and disadvantaged students through participation in CLEO and as a part of the overall recruitment program. Requirements are not different for out-of-state students. Transfer students must have one year of credit and have attended an ABA-approved law school.

Ohio State University-Main Campus, Michael E. Moritz College of Law Admissions

In the fall 2007 first-year class, 2282 applied, 629 were accepted, and 217 enrolled. Figures in the above capsule and in this profile are approximate. Ten transfers enrolled in a recent year. The median LSAT percentile of the most recent first-year class was 80; the median GPA was 3.5 on a scale of 4.0. The highest LSAT percentile was 99.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT. The most important admission factors include academic achievement, undergraduate curriculum, and life experience. No specific undergraduate courses are required. Candidates are not interviewed.

Applicants should submit an application form, LSAT results, transcripts, 2 letters of recommendation, and the Academic Records Office Evaluation from undergraduate school. Notification of the admissions decision is on a rolling basis. Check with the school for current application deadlines. The law school uses the LSDAS.

Ohio State University-Main Campus, Michael E. Moritz College of Law Financial Aid

In a recent year, about 85% 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, was $16,929; maximum, $26,259. Awards are based on need and merit. Required financial statement is the FAFSA. There are special funds for minority or disadvantaged students including CLEO participation. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application shortly after acceptance.

Ohio State University-Main Campus, Michael E. Moritz College of Law Students

About 48% of the student body are women; 22%, minorities; 8%, African American; 10%, Asian American; and 4%, Hispanic. The majority of students come from Ohio (74%). The average age of entering students is 22; age range is 21 to 47. About 12% of students have a graduate degree. About 1% drop out after the first year for academic or personal reasons; 99% remain to receive a law degree.

Students edit the Ohio State Law Journal, Journal on Dispute Resolution, Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law, I/S: A Journal of Law and Policy for the Information Society, Entrepenurial Business Law Journal, and the student newspaper Hearsay. Other student organizations have newsletters, which they publish periodically. Appellate Practice is the first moot court experience required of all students. The college has 12 separate moot court teams. There are also several National Trial Competition teams and 2 negotiation teams. There are also intraschool Moot Court, Negotiation, and Trial Competitions. Law student organizations and campus organizations include Law School Democrats, Law School Republicans, Military Law Association, Student Bar Association, Pro Bono Research Group, and International Law Society. There are local chapters of legal fraternities, as well as a student section of the American Bar Association.

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