Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

The Michael E. Moritz College of Law (or Ohio State University Moritz College of Law) is a public law school founded in 1891 and located in Drinko Hall on the main campus of the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a charter member of the Association of American Law Schools.

Ohio State University
Moritz College of Law
Parent schoolOhio State University
Established1891 (1891)
School typePublic
Parent endowment$3.634 billion
DeanLincoln L. Davies
LocationColumbus, Ohio, United States
39°59′46″N 83°00′29″W
Enrollment532
Faculty80
USNWR ranking38[1]
Bar pass rate93%
Websitemoritzlaw.osu.edu
ABA profileofficialguide.lsac.org

The Moritz College of Law is ranked the 30th best law school in the United States and 1st in dispute resolution by U.S. News & World Report.[1] In addition, Moritz is ranked the 18th best law school[2] and 5th best public law school in the United States by Business Insider.[3]

According to the Moritz College of Law's official 2016 ABA-required disclosures, 77% of the Class of 2016 obtained full-time, long-term, bar passage-required employment nine months after graduation, excluding solo-practitioners. This ranked Moritz 24th in the United States and 1st in Ohio for job placement of recent law graduates.[4]

History
Page Hall

The board of trustees of the Ohio State University officially sanctioned a law school in June 1885 after approving a resolution introduced by trustee Peter H. Clark, an early African-American civil rights activist.[5] However, it was not until October 1891 that the law school was formally opened to 33 students, including 1 woman, in the basement of the original Franklin County Courthouse.[5] Marshall Jay Williams, a Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court served as the first dean of the law school and lectured for two years before resigning in 1893.[5] In 1896, the University elevated the law school to its present-day College of Law status.

In 1903, the College of Law moved to Page Hall, its first permanent building on the main campus of the University (now home to the John Glenn College of Public Affairs), named in honor of Henry F. Page, a prominent Ohio attorney who had left his estate to the University.[5] Over the next four decades, the College of Law experienced rapid growth under the successive leadership of deans William F. Hunter, Joseph H. Outhwaite, John Jay Adams and Herschel Arant.[5] Today, the College of Law continues its growth in national stature under the successive leadership of deans Gregory H. Williams, Nancy H. Rogers and now Alan C. Michaels.

Drinko Hall

The modern-day building that now houses the Moritz College of Law since 1958, Drinko Hall, is named after internationally known attorney and College of Law benefactor John Deaver Drinko, former Managing Partner of BakerHostetler in Cleveland, Ohio. Drinko received his law degree from the College of Law in 1944 and received a Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1991. In 2001, the College of Law received a $30 million donation from benefactor Michael E. Moritz, former partner of BakerHostetler in Columbus, Ohio. Moritz received his undergraduate degree from the Ohio State University Fisher College of Business in 1941 and law degree from the College of Law in 1944, where he graduated at the top of his class. At the time, it was the largest single gift to the Ohio State University (in 2011, the University received a $100 million gift from Les Wexner). The donation provided full-tuition grants with stipends to 30 law students, 4 endowed faculty chairs, 3 service awards for students, and a fund for use by the dean.[6] The College of Law completed a supplemental campaign to raise an additional $30 million to match Moritz's gift and make further improvements.[7]

Academic reputation

The Moritz College of Law has experienced a significant increase in its academic reputation over the past decade and is now consistently ranked among the top 30 law schools in America. Above the Law ranked the Moritz College of Law as the 26th best law school in America in 2019.[8] Business Insider ranked the Moritz College of Law as the 18th best law school in America[2] and the 5th best public law school in America in 2016.[3] U.S. News & World Report ranked the Moritz College of Law full-time Juris Doctor program the 32nd best law school in America and 1st for dispute resolution in 2015.[9]

Further adding to the growing national stature of the Moritz College of Law is the scholarly writings and activities of the Moritz faculty. According to professor Brian Leiter's "Scholarly Impact Score," the Moritz College of Law faculty ranks 19th amongst the top 40 law faculties in scholarly impact in 2015, as measured by the amount of law journal citations of Moritz faculty articles over the past five years.[10] In particular, professors Michelle Alexander, noted civil rights activist, and Ruth Colker, the Distinguished University Professor and the Heck-Faust Memorial Chair in Constitutional Law, were amongst the most-cited critical theory law faculty between 2010 and 2014.[11]

Journals

The Ohio State Moritz College of Law publishes five legal journals:[12]

  • The Ohio State Law Journal was founded in 1935 as the "Law Journal of the Student Bar Association" and was originally a "section" of the Student Bar Association and funded by student contributions. Robert E. Leach '35, former Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, was the first editor of the Law Journal. Today, the journal is edited by students and publishes six issues each year. In April 2012, OSLJ launched Furthermore, an online supplement to the print version. According to Bepress and its ExpressO Top 100 Law Review Rankings, the Ohio State Law Journal is the most popular law review accessed by authors on its online submission delivery service for legal scholars.[13]
  • The Ohio State Technology Law Journal (published semiannually; interdisciplinary journal focused on the intersection of technology and the law; faculty-edited in collaboration with student editors).[14]
  • The Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution (sponsored quarterly journal of the American Bar Association focusing on alternative dispute resolution; student-edited; founded in 1985).[15]
  • The Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law (published semiannually; peer-evaluated, faculty-student cooperative venture).[16]
  • The Ohio State Business Law Journal (published semiannually; student run; focuses on legal issues facing entrepreneurs, small business owners, and venture capitalists).[17]

Moot Court & Lawyering Skills Program
Lou's Cafe at Drinko Hall

The Moot Court & Lawyering Skills Program at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law includes intramural competitions and inter-scholastic teams covering various areas of the law. The Moot Court and Lawyering Skills Governing Board is responsible for organizing and administering four intramural competitions: the Herman Moot Court Competition, Colley Trial Practice Competition, the Representation in Mediation Competition, and the Lawrence Negotiations Competition. The Moot Court Board is a student-run organization that oversees and assists various Moot Court teams that compete nationally against other schools.[18]

Center for Interdisciplinary Law and Policy Studies

The Center for Interdisciplinary Law and Policy Studies offers students the opportunity to work closely with faculty members from both the College of Law and other disciplines on research dealing with critical contemporary policy issues. Three areas are of particular interest:

  • Law and humanities, focusing on legal history and culture.
  • Law, policy, and social sciences, focusing on empirical research, judicial behavior, and policy influences.
  • Law and the information society, focusing on privacy, security, E-government, and E-democracy.

Post-graduation employment

According to the College of Law's official 2016 ABA-required disclosures, 77% of the Class of 2016 obtained full-time, long-term, bar passage-required employment nine months after graduation, excluding solo-practitioners.[4] Moritz College of Law ranked 24th out of 201 ABA-approved law schools in terms of the percentage of 2016 graduates with non-school-funded, full-time, long-term, bar passage required jobs nine months after graduation.[19]

The College of Law's Law School Transparency under-employment score is 8.5%, indicating the percentage of the Class of 2015 unemployed, pursuing an additional degree, or working in a non-professional, short-term, or part-time job nine months after graduation.[20] 97% of the Class of 2015 was employed in some capacity while 1% were pursuing graduate degrees and 2% were unemployed nine months graduation.[4]

Ohio was the main employment destination for 2015 Moritz College of Law graduates, with 77% of employed 2015 graduates working in the state.[4]

Costs

The total cost of attendance (indicating the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses) at the College of Law for the 2014-2015 academic year is estimated at $49,496 for Ohio residents and $64,448 for non-residents.[21] Moritz College of Law's in-state tuition and fees on average increased by 5.73% annually over the past five years while its non-resident tuition and fees on average increased by 3.55% over the past five years.[22]

The Law School Transparency estimated debt-financed cost of attendance for three years is $185,780.[22] The average indebtedness of the 87% of 2013 College of Law graduates who took out loans was $97,624.[23]

Scholarships
Moritz College of Law Dedication Wall

Moritz Scholars

The Moritz Merit Scholarship Fund was established in 2001 by Michael E. Moritz '61. The Scholarship is designed to attract and train a select group of students with outstanding academic and personal histories who are dedicated to improving the lives of their clients, their communities, and the profession of law. Moritz Scholars receive mentorship from nationally recognized individuals chosen for their leadership in a wide variety of areas including academia, business, law, government, and public interest.

Barton Scholars

The Robert K. Barton Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 1968 by golf legend and Ohio State University alumnus Jack Nicklaus. The Scholarship was established in memory of his good friend and Moritz College of Law alumnus Robert K. Barton '62, one of central Ohio's top amateur golfers and law partner of former Ohio Governor and fellow Moritz alumnus John W. Bricker. Barton, his wife Linda, and another couple were killed when their private plane crashed en route to watch Nicklaus play in the 1966 Masters Tournament.[24]

Notable faculty
Deans of Moritz College of Law
NameTenure
Alan C. Michaels2008–Present
Nancy H. Rogers2001 - 2008
Gregory H. Williams1993 - 2001
Francis X. Beytagh1985 - 1991
James E. Meeks1978 - 1985
L. Orin Slagle1974 - 1978
James C. Kirby1970 - 1974
Ivan C. Rutledge1965 - 1970
Frank R. Strong1952 - 1965
Jefferson B. Fordham1947 - 1952
Harry W. Vannemen (Acting)1946 - 1947
Arthur T. Martin1940 - 1946
Herschel Whitfield Arant1928 - 1939
Alonzo H. Tuttle (Acting)1926 - 1928
John Jay Adams1909 - 1926
George W. Rightmore (Acting)1908 - 1909
Joseph H. Outhwaite1905 - 1907
William F. Hunter1893 - 1905
Marshall Jay Williams1891 -1893

The Moritz College of Law has 80 faculty members. Notable current and former faculty members include:

  • Michelle Alexander, human rights advocate and author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
  • Christopher M. Fairman, former C. William O'Neill Professor in Law and Judicial Administration
  • Edward Foley, theorist of the blue shift and former Ohio Solicitor General
  • E. Gordon Gee, President Emeritus
  • Joan Krauskopf, Professor Emeritus of Law of the Moritz College of Law
  • Alan C. Michaels, Dean and Edwin M. Cooperman Chair in Law
  • Mary Ellen O'Connell, former William B. Saxbe Designated Professor of Law in the Moritz College of Law
  • John Quigley, President's Club Professor Emeritus of Law
  • Nancy H. Rogers, Dean, Emeritus Michael E. Moritz Chair in Alternative Dispute Resolution and Ohio Attorney General
  • Peter M. Shane, Jacob E. Davis and Jacob E. Davis II Chair in Law
  • Philip C. Sorensen, Professor Emeritus of Law and 27th Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska
  • Peter Swire, former C. William O'Neil Professor in Law and Judicial Administration

Notable alumni
Robert Duncan
William Saxbe
George Voinovich
Main article: List of Ohio State University Moritz College of Law alumni

The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law has approximately 10,000 alumni across the United States. Selected notable alumni distinguishing themselves include:

References
  1. "U.S. News: Ohio State University (Moritz)". U.S. News. U.S. News. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  2. "The 50 best law schools in America". businessinsider.com. Business Insider. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  3. "The 25 best public law schools in America". businessinsider.com. Business Insider. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  4. "Section of Legal Education - Employment Summary Report". American Bar Association. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  5. Williams, Lawrence (1935). "The Law School" (PDF). Law Journal of the Student Bar Association of the Ohio State University. Retrieved 2016-08-06.
  6. $30M Gift is Largest Single Donation to OSU Archived 2006-09-01 at the Wayback Machine, onCampus. July 19, 2001. Accessed on June 13, 2006.
  7. Law Record, Autumn 2005, Dean's Message Archived 2006-03-06 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed on June 13, 2006.
  8. "Above the Law Top 50 Law School Rankings". Above the Law. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  9. "Ohio State University (Moritz)". US News. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  10. "Top Law Faculties in Scholarly Impact, 2015". Brian Leiter. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  11. "Most-Cited Critical Theory Law Faculty, 2010-2014 (inclusive)". Brian Leiter. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  12. "LAW JOURNALS". The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  13. "OHIO STATE LAW JOURNAL". The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  14. "I/S: A JOURNAL OF LAW AND POLICY FOR THE INFORMATION SOCIETY". The Ohio State University Moritz College Of Law. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  15. "OHIO STATE JOURNAL ON DISPUTE RESOLUTION". The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  16. "OHIO STATE JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL LAW". The Ohio State University Moritz College Of Law. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  17. "OHIO STATE BUSINESS LAW JOURNAL". The Ohio State University Moritz College Of Law. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  18. Student Organizations: Moot Court Archived 2006-09-02 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed on August 25, 2007.
  19. Leichter, Matt. "Class of 2015 Employment Report". The Law School Tuition Bubble. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  20. "Ohio State University Profile". Law School Transparency. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  21. "Tuition & Student Budget". Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  22. "Ohio State University Profile, Costs". Law School Transparency. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  23. "Which law school graduates have the most debt?". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  24. MacDonald, Jim (April 8, 1966). "Death of Nicklaus friend saddens Masters leader". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). p. 16.
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