The Ohio Northern University – Claude W. Pettit College of Law is the latest law school to receive approval from the American Bar Association (ABA) to begin offering a fully online, part-time J.D. program.
“ONU Law is one of only six law schools in the country to offer students a program of this kind,” said Charles H. Rose III, dean of the law school. “We are now well positioned to transform the delivery of legal education.”
Online classes will be delivered via synchronous and asynchronous methods over the course of 11 semesters (four years). The required courses will be the same as those taken by resident full-time students and will be taught by the same faculty.
“This new program will allow us to bring the personalized, practical legal education that Ohio Northern University is known for to an entirely new cohort of students across the country,” said Allison Mittendorf, professor and program director at ONU Law.
The online cohort will be limited in size — initially with 25 — and increased to 50 in subsequent program years.
Courses will focus on foundational legal knowledge such as civil procedure, criminal law and contracts, ensuring that students are prepared to take the bar in any state they choose.
Online students will also have access to all the same opportunities and resources as full-time students, including academic and career counseling, bar prep and externships.
Online students may also join ONU Law’s 20-plus student organizations such as Law Review, Moot Court and Trial Team.
“We’re confident our innovative new online program will allow us to maintain that personalized, small school feel that enables our students to thrive,” Mittendorf said.
All law students benefit from merit scholarship funding while earning their degrees at ONU; the same will apply for those enrolled in the online program.
For additional information about online J.D. programs, check out the article, “The 23 Best Online J.D. Programs,” in the Spring 2024 digital issue of preLaw.
