Law School Profile

The University of Oklahoma College of Law

By Teresa Cajot The University of Oklahoma College of Law (OU Law) in Norman, Oklahoma, is an ABA-certified law school that lies about one mile south of the University of Oklahoma campus. In addition to being the largest law school in Oklahoma, it is also the only public law school in the state.

The College of Law, which was founded in 1909, initially consisted of only Dean Julien C. Monnet, two faculty members, and 47 students. It was not until 1914 that the law school moved to Monnet Hall, which served as its first permanent home. The College of Law remained in that location for almost 62 years but was forced to relocate due to growth. In 1976, it moved to its current location, adding 80,000 square feet to the facility in 1999. Today, the College of Law is considered to be a part of The University of Oklahoma Law Center, which features the Donald E. Pray Library, the OU Legal Clinic, the Department of Legal Assistant Education, the Oklahoma Law Review, and the American Indian Law Review. There are an estimated 500 students enrolled in the JD program and a total of 34 full-time faculty members. OU Law offers the Juris Doctor and joint degree options, as well as a LLM program. The College of Law addresses Native American issues throughout its courses but also offers Native American Law as a major area of emphasis. The University of Oklahoma Law Center also offers assistant legal education, which serves to train students for employment in a number of law-related careers including work with lawyers in both public and private practice, in the judiciary, in corporations, and within the government. Additional academic opportunities include the Oxford Program, which allows students the opportunity to study under

American and English legal scholars. The 12 credit program offers American students the unique ability to study and observe English legal institutions. OU College of Law also provides students with the chance to work directly with clients through the University of Oklahoma Legal Clinic. The clinic serves underprivileged individuals in both Cleveland and McClain Counties. The school also sponsors advocacy clinics including the International Human Rights Clinic and the Interdisciplinary Training Program for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. Students for Access to Justice (SATJ) is a student-organization that promotes public service by providing students with access to volunteer placement opportunities such as summer law clerk positions with local public interest groups and government agencies. The school publishes three law journals, which include the student published Oklahoma Law Review, the Oklahoma Journal of Law and Technology, and the American Indian Law Review. Through its Office of Professional and Career Development, OU Law offers students, alumni, and employers a range of career planning resources including counseling, resume reviews, interview preparation, on-campus interviews, and more.

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