Prelaw Program
The Program
Ohio Northern University has developed a unique prelaw program, which offers an excellent opportunity for superior students preparing for a career in law. Students in the prelaw program may select any major and will complete all necessary requirements as do other students. The program is open to students enrolled in any academic department in the Colleges of Arts & Sciences, Business Administration, Engineering and Pharmacy. At the present time, Ohio Northern knows of no other comparable program in the United States that prepares students for law school and then guarantees them preferential treatment for admission to its law school.
Prelaw Curriculum
According to The Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools, students should acquire a well-balanced education, maintain a rigorous course load and consult often with their prelaw advisors to attain the goals of the prelaw program. Law schools seek entering students who can think, read and write well and who have some understanding of what shapes human experience. Admission to law schools depends, in large part, upon the academic records of the students, scores achieved on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), and the recommendations students receive from their academic advisors and other faculty members.
Special Arrangements
The Prelaw Advisory Committee coordinates advising for all prelaw students at Ohio Northern to assure proper advising and progress in an appropriate program of study. The committee maintains comprehensive information about every accredited law school in the United States, including information on facilities, programs, activities, student body, expenses, financial aid, placement and admissions requirements. The committee also advises students on how to prepare for the LSAT, complete law-school applications and select appropriate law schools. An LSAT preparatory workshop is offered early in the fall quarter to seniors. Upon request, the committee will prepare letters of recommendation for any prelaw student.
Admission Into Law Schools
Ohio Northern prelaw students are given preferential admission who (1) complete their undergraduate degree with at least a 3.4/4.0 overall grade point average; (2) who score at least in the 75th percentile on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT); (3) pass the character and fitness review by the Admissions Committee of the College of Law; and (4) pursuant the ABA Admissions Standard 501, are deemed by the law school Admissions Committee to appear capable of satisfactorily completing its program and being admitted to the bar. To take advantage of an automatic admission, a student must enroll in the College of Law in the fall semester immediately following the date that the student receives an undergraduate degree from Ohio Northern. Recent graduates of Ohio Northern have gained admission to such law schools as:
- American University
- Case Western Reserve University
- University of Cincinnati
- Duke University
- Georgetown University
- John Marshall at Cleveland State University
- University of Michigan
- University of North Carolina
- Northwestern University
- University of Notre Dame
- The Ohio State University
- University of Toledo
- Vanderbilt University
- University of Virginia
Placement and Employment
Employment opportunities for lawyers depend upon the state in which the bar exam is passed and the law specialty selected for professional practice. These may vary widely from one area to another.
