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The University of Cincinnati College of Law

By Hadi Sedigh, published March 2008, last updated October 2009

Cincinnati LawThe University of Cincinnati College of Law aims to be the “premier small, urban, public law school in America”, a mission that makes for an excellent and affordable legal education for the school’s students. The small size of the school’s student body, which is capped at 385 students, makes for an intimate atmosphere at the law school and ensures that students enjoy close access to the school’s faculty. Meanwhile, the school’s urban setting in Cincinnati provides students with excellent resources and externship opportunities in the city’s courts and law firms. Finally, the school’s public standing allows Ohio residents to attend at bargain rates and Ohio’s residency policy allows financially independent non-resident students to establish residency after their first year, making the University of Cincinnati College of Law a great and financially wise option for applicants interested in working in and around Ohio.

Admissions and Tuition:

Given that the U. of Cincinnati Law School aims to keep its entering classes to 135 seats and below, admissions at the school are bound to be highly competitive.  For Fall 2009, the school received approximately 1,300 applications, admitted about a third of its applicant pool, of which 138 accepted admissions offers and matriculated to form the Class of 2012. The LSAT scores of this entering class at the 25th and 75th percentiles were 156 and 161, respectively, while the undergraduate GPAs at the same percentiles were 3.29 and 3.79, respectively. Generally speaking, applicants with numbers that fall within these ranges should be competitive in future application cycles at U. of Cincinnati Law School, and applicants with numbers near or above the 75th percentiles of the school will likely be considered for hefty scholarships. For applicants with numbers near or below the school’s 25th percentiles, on the other hand, a well put-together application that highlights the applicant’s strong suits and diversity is imperative. Like most other reputable law schools, U. of Cincinnati Law School aims to put together a student body diverse in ethnicity, background, and experience, and applicants who are able to demonstrate their ability to bring this sort of diversity to the student body of the school are likely to increase their chances of admission,

As mentioned in the introduction, attending the U. of Cincinnati Law School is a wise financial decision for residents of the state of Ohio. For the 2009-2010 academic year, in-state tuition at the school was $19,942, while the rate for non-residents was $34,776. Fortunately for non-residents, who usually comprise about one-third of entering classes at U. of Cincinnati Law, achieving residency after the 1L year seems to be a relatively simple process for financially independent students.

Academics and Curriculum:

The University of Cincinnati College of LawThe small size of the student body at University of Cincinnati Law School provides many benefits to law students when it comes to academics. The school boasts an impressive 9.7 to 1 faculty to student ratio that allows students close contact with their professors, and at the same time places first-year students into small 23-student sections that allow them to befriend and study with the same group of students throughout their first year. In this first and most rigorous year, students enroll in standard required courses such as Torts, Property, and Legal Writing, and are thereafter free to choose from among more than 100 course titles in completing their 90 credit-hour requirement at U. of Cincinnati Law School. Joint-degree programs are also available at the school in Women’s Studies, Business, Community Planning, Political Science, and Social Work. Students hoping to gain practical legal experience can partake in the appellate law clinic with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals or the domestic relations clinic at the Cincinnati Legal Aid offices. Other academic opportunities are available as well, including several law journals in which students can participate, as well as a reputable Moot Court Program that participates in several national competitions.

Quality of Life:

Students at the University of Cincinnati Law School enjoy access to many of the amenities that make for a high quality of life during law school. Cincinnati is a large Midwestern town filled with nightspots and restaurants, and it seems safe to say that law students will always have plenty of options when looking for places to unwind at night while in Cincinnati. The school’s small student body also contributes to the high quality of life of U. of Cincinnati Law students, who form a much more familial community than students at most other, larger law schools.  Housing is plentiful around the campus as well, and many students are typically able to find suitable housing within walking distance of the law school. Because of this, and the general proximity of many stores and services to the law school, possession of a car is not necessary for law students at U. of Cincinnati, many of whom are able walk or take public transportation wherever they need to go. Safety, parking, and traffic are generally not problematic for students, eliminating much of the stress that law students in larger cities deal with on a daily basis.

Employment Prospects and Bar Passage:

The University of Cincinnati College of LawEmployment prospects for University of Cincinnati Law School students are strongest in the state of Ohio and its neighboring states. Each year, law firms from throughout this area visit the school to interview students, about 70% of whom stay in and around Ohio to begin their practice of the law.  Areas outside of the Midwest are somewhat accessible to students as well, although those hoping to find employment in such areas are likely to experience a more arduous job search. That said, the career services office and alumni network of U. of Cincinnati Law are both dedicated to helping all students find employment, and especially for top students, no area of the country is out of reach.  In all, about 97% of graduates are employed within 9 months of graduation, approximately half of whom typically enter the private sector to begin their practice of the law. For the graduates of the Class of 2008 who entered the private sector, the average first year salary was $94,750.

In terms of bar passage, University of Cincinnati Law School students taking the exam for the first time in the state of Ohio typically succeed at a higher rate than the state’s overall average success rate. For the Class of 2007's administrations of the exam in Ohio, 86% of U. of Cincinnati Law students passed, slightly exceeding the state passage rate.

Synopsis:

For Ohio residents and applicants hoping to find employment in and around the state after graduation, the University of Cincinnati College of Law is an affordable place to earn a fine legal education.  

Contact Information:

PO Box 210040
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0040
513.556.6805
admissions@law.uc.edu

http://www.law.uc.edu/

Quick Reference:

U.S. News ranking: 52nd
Application deadline: 3/1
Application fee: $35
Entering class size: 138 (2009)
Median LSAT: 160 (2009)
Median undergraduate GPA: 3.60 (2009)
Yearly tuition: Residents: $19,942, Non-Residents: $34,776 (2009-2010)
Average private practice first-year salary: $94,750 (Class of 2008)



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