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J.D. ADMISSIONS
Interested in applying to OU Law’s Juris Doctor program?
Start here by requesting a $50 application fee waiver.
General J.D. Application Instructions
Admission to OU Law’s J.D. program is highly selective. We consider many factors in our decision-making process, including your LSAT scores, personal statement, and letters of recommendation.
To be considered for admission to the OU Law Juris Doctor program, applicants must:
- Complete a bachelor’s degree prior to the first day of law school.
- Take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (OU Law GRE Code: 4930).
- Register with the Law School Admission Council Credential Assembly Service (CAS).
- Submit an application through LSAC’s website. Applications are submitted through LSAC by both LSAT and GRE test-takers.
- Submit all undergraduate and graduate transcripts directly to LSAC. Please have a separate transcript sent to LSAC directly from each institution you attended. Transcripts are submitted through LSAC by both LSAT and GRE test-takers.
Application packages must include:
- Application form, available here. (opens in a new window)
- A $50 non-refundable application and processing fee payment
- Personal statement not to exceed three double-spaced pages
- A resume
- Two letters of recommendation* (optional)
- Transcripts
*The most useful recommendation letters are those individuals who have had substantial opportunities to observe the applicant’s motivation, character, academic ability, and other qualitative variables. Applicants who have been away from college for a considerable time may wish to furnish recommendations from employers or others with whom they have had recent contact.
Contact maddiefarris@ou.edu or call 405-325-7653 with any questions or find out more here.
Schedule a tour of OU Law by clicking this link.
Click here to speak with a current student.
Speak with the OU Law Admissions team here.
Get a head start at OU Law with our 1LS—or, First-Year Law Summer Start—Program.
Click here to request a $50 application fee waiver.
About the 1LS Program
The 1LS program, which runs from early June to mid- August, was designed to give a select group of admitted students a first-look at law school—and the chance to work ahead. Completing a few credits early allows you to lighten your course and final exam loads for the first year.
1LS students typically take a legal foundations course and one other class over the summer (for a total of five credit hours), and then join the rest of their first-year cohort in the fall semester.
Applying to the 1LS Program
There is no separate application form for the 1LS program. Interested applicants must apply for both 1LS and fall admission on the OU Law application.
We encourage applying early for summer start. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served to all admits, and they fill quickly.
1LS Summer Tuition and Fees
Need-based financial aid, all in the form of loans for graduate study, is available. The specific amount a student is entitled to is in accordance with the student’s financial need analysis. The 1LS program financial aid year is part of the previous academic fiscal year. Please make sure you have a FAFSA on file for the academic year preceding your 1LS start.
For more information, go to the OU Financial Aid Services website (opens in a new window).
RESIDENTS: 1LS Program Tuition and Fees (5 Credit Hours) |
||
Tuition/Hour |
Multiply by number of hours registered |
$550.00 |
Fee/Summer Semester |
Flat Fee (charged once per semester) |
$101.50 |
Fee/Hour |
Multiply by number of hours registered |
$186.00 |
TOTAL |
Summer 2022 1LS |
$3,781.50 |
NON-RESIDENTS: 1LS Program Tuition and Fees (5 Credit Hours) |
||
Tuition/Hour |
Multiply by number of hours registered |
$998.00 |
Fee/Summer Semester |
Flat Fee (charged once per semester) |
$101.50 |
Fee/Hour |
Multiply by number of hours registered |
$186.00 |
TOTAL |
Summer 2022 1LS |
$6,021.50 |
Begin work on your juris doctor during your final undergraduate year at University of Oklahoma or Oklahoma State University.
OU Law’s Early Entry Program allows select OU and OSU undergraduate students to begin law school, even before graduating with their undergraduate degree.
Upon the successful completion of the first year at OU Law, the student will also qualify for the bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree at their respective university.
To be considered for first-year or early admission to the OU Law Juris Doctor program, applicants must meet the following educational criteria:
Have completed 98 hours of undergraduate credit prior to the first day of law school including:
- at least 30 semester credit hours in residence at the student’s undergraduate institution
- at least 15 semester credit hours of upper-division major credit courses at the student’s undergraduate institution
- at least 15 of the last 30 semester credit hours before entering the College of Law in residence at the student’s undergraduate institution
- Completing all other degree requirements for the undergraduate degree except elective hours
You can apply to transfer to OU Law after completing one year at an ABA-accredited law school.
Transfer Eligibility & Requirements:
To be eligible to transfer to OU Law with advanced standing, you must:
- complete at least one full year of study in an ABA-accredited law school; OU Law will only accept course credits in which a student earned a C or better
- successfully complete at least 60 hours at OU Law
Admissions Checklist:
To apply for transfer admission with advanced standing, the applicant must submit an application form through the LSAC website. Application materials include:
- $50 nonrefundable application and processing fee
- Personal statement indicating your reasons for wanting to transfer to OU Law
- Resume
- Two letters of recommendation (optional)
- LSAC Credential Assembly Service Report
- Transcript and class rank from current law school (You may submit your application with fall grades and rank only, but a final decision will not be rendered until spring grades and rank are reported)
- A letter from the dean or registrar indicating you are in good academic standing and eligible to transfer
Applicants who have been dismissed from another law school for scholastic deficiency will not be considered for admission.
If you need an application fee waiver to assist in applying for transfer to OU Law, please contact Director Maddie Farris at maddiefarris@ou.edu.
Application Deadline & Notification Timeline:
Students applying to transfer for the fall semester may submit their transfer application from March 15 to July 31st. Spring transfer applicants may process their application from Sept. 1 to Dec. 1 and are notified in December.
Visiting Student Admission Requirements
The law school grants a limited number of requests for admission to visiting students during the fall, spring, and summer terms. To be considered for admission as a visiting student, an applicant must:
- have completed the first-year curriculum at an ABA-accredited law school;
- be a student in good academic standing at current law school
Students who meet these requirements will be admitted as long as space is available at the law school. Visiting student applicants must submit the following:
- Completed visitor application
- Dean's letter of good standing and permission to visit; along with statement that the home school will accept the credits earned at OU Law towards their degree requirements.*
Application Deadlines
Applications for fall admission must be submitted by July 15 and all supporting documentation must be received by August 10.
Applications for spring admission must be submitted by December 15 and all supporting documentation must be received by January 5.
Applications for summer admission must be submitted by May 1 and all supporting documentation must be received by May 15.
Additional Information
As a visiting student, you must abide by all of the rules and regulations of The University of Oklahoma College of Law.
*Current OU Law students have first priority at registration. Visiting students should submit primary and alternate course selections to their home school when seeking approval of potential credits.
Send applications by email to the Registar at rlucas@ou.edu or in the mail to:
Office of the Registrar
University of Oklahoma College of Law
300 W. Timberdell Rd.
Norman, OK 73019
You can find the current academic calendar here.
OU Law is committed to creating a strong, inclusive community. The Admissions Team is here to help you on your journey to law school. Please reach out to us if you have any questions.
Click here to schedule a tour of OU Law.
Maddie Farris
Director of Admissions
B.A., Magna Cum Laude, University of Oklahoma, 2015
J.D., University of Oklahoma College of Law, 2019
BioMaddie Farris joined the University of Oklahoma College of Law as the Associate Director of Admissions in 2019 & has been the Director of Admissions since 2022. Born and raised in Norman, Maddie earned her bachelor’s degree from OU with a degree in sociology-criminology in 2015 and earned her J.D. from OU in 2019.
While in law school, Maddie was involved in many clubs and organizations, including serving on the Board of Advocates as the 1L Moot Court Director, as the Student Bar Association’s Vice President of Special Events, and as a mentor for 1Ls during her second and third year. Upon graduation, she was awarded the Joseph F. Rarick “Just Desserts” Award, voted on by her peers, for being the student who contributed the most to making the OU College of Law a more beneficial place. She is currently a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association.
What is your favorite thing about OU Law?
My favorite thing about OU Law is how it really is one big family. While it might sound cliche, OU Law truly is unlike any other law school out there. Professors know not only your name but who you are as a person which gives them the ability to invest their time into you in an individualized way. There are also many different ways to get involved and meet people on and off campus. For example, there are about 40 different student organizations. They will put on a mulititude of events including tailgates (Boomer Sooner!) before football games, student appreciation weeks, HalLAWeen parties, Law Prom, and intramurals. Law school is already stressful enough so it's amazing to see how much time and effort goes into making sure that everyone becomes part of the OU Law community!
Email: maddiefarris@ou.edu
Alyssa Buettner
Asssociate Director of Admissions
Education:
BA, University of Oklahoma, 2017
JD, University of Oklahoma, 2020
Bio
Alyssa Erwin Buettner joined the OU College of Law as the Associate Director of Admissions in October of 2022. Prior to joining OU Law, Alyssa practiced as an associate attorney with a private Oklahoma law firm, working primarily in civil litigation. Alyssa graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Sociology-Criminology in 2017 and earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2020. While in law school, Alyssa was involved in clubs and organizations - including OUtlaws and the Hispanic Law Student Association (HSLA).
Email: alyssab@ou.edu
Addison Witzel
Associate Director of Admissions
Education:
BBA, Oklahoma City University, 2014
MA, Boston College, 2016
Bio
Currently serving as the Associate Director of Admissions, Addison Witzel is an experienced higher education practitioner with over eight years working with students from from across a range of backgrounds in a variety of student affairs areas. She is passionate about student success and creating inclusive communities to promote belonging.
Addison earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing from Oklahoma City University and a Master of Arts degree in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs from Boston College. During her graduate studies, Addison completed graduate assistantships at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Boston College. Most recently, she served as Assistant Director of Student Conduct in the Division of Student Affairs at OU. Addison is a native Oklahoman, and actively involved in the Norman and OKC communities.
Email: awitzel@ou.edu
FINANCING YOUR J.D.
First Year
You’ll gain a solid legal foundation during your first year as a JD student at OU Law. Our comprehensive curriculum will introduce you to civil procedure, criminal law, legal research and writing, contracts, and more. Learn more about courses.
Second and Third Year
In your second and third year, you’ll dive deeper into your legal studies, including taking courses in your desired area of specialty, developing professional skills, and participating in experiential learning opportunities. Learn more about concentrations.
Dual Degrees Option
Combine your Juris Doctor with another specialized degree such as an MBA, Master of Public Health, Master of Healthcare Administration, or other area of study. You can even customize your joint-degree to fit your unique interests. Explore dual degree options.