About the Moritz College of Law

Michael E. Moritz College of Law
Named in 2001 for Moritz, a 1961 graduate, in recognition of his support of the school. (Naming News Release)

John Deaver Drinko Hall
Current home of the Moritz College of Law, originally built in 1958, expanded in 1993 following the Centennial Campaign, which raised more than $15 million for renovation and expansion; named for John Deaver Drinko, a Cleveland lawyer and businessman and a 1944 graduate of the college.

Dean
Alan C. Michaels, A.B., Harvard College, Social Studies, J.D., Columbia University School of Law, a full-time faculty member at the College of Law since 1995. Became dean on Friday, Nov. 7, 2008.

Membership
Charter member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) in 1901

First Classes
Held in 1891 in the Franklin County Courthouse with 33 students, including one woman.

First Dean
Ohio Supreme Court Justice Marshall J. Williams

First Location on Campus
Orton Hall, 1894

Elevated to College Status
1896

First Permanent Home on Campus
Page Hall in 1903, built as a result of a gift from Henry Folsom Page

A Curriculum with Breadth and Depth
The Michael E. Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University offers more than 145 courses, covering nearly every area of the law, including an array of clinical and skills courses.

A Rich Tradition. A Promising Future.
The Moritz College of Law has served the citizens of Ohio and the nation since its establishment in 1891. Since its founding, the college has played a leading role in the legal profession through countless contributions made by graduates and faculty. The administration of Moritz Law is committed to advancing the quality and reputation of the college through ongoing improvements to the academic program and student services. In keeping with this commitment, Moritz Law launched a new LL.M. program for foreign lawyers in Fall 2007, further internationalizing an already diverse J.D. program.

Accomplished Alumni
Ohio State's 9,000+ law alumni are central to the college's national reputation. Graduates of the college include justices of the Supreme Court of Ohio, federal appeals and district court judges, current and former U.S. Senators and Representatives, managing partners in law firms of all sizes, chief executive officers of Fortune 500 corporations, professors at law schools across the country, and attorneys with nonprofit organizations and public interest law firms.

Accreditation and Membership
The college is accredited by the American Bar Association and the Association of American Law School and is a member of the Order of the Coif.

Diverse Student Body
There are, on average, 225 students in the entering class each fall. These students are drawn from throughout the United States and from around the world. More than half of the typical entering class has been in the work force for one year or more. Approximately 40-45 percent of each entering class are female and 18-24 percent are minority. Moritz Law diversity is further enhanced with the entry of its first LL.M. class of international lawyers in Fall 2007.

Expansive Law Library
With a collection of 750,000 volumes and access to a myriad of online resources, the law library is the 14th largest among law school libraries in the nation.

Faculty Expertise
Members of the faculty are recognized for the quality of their teaching and highly regarded for their expertise and scholarship. The faculty is composed of 53 full-time members and 30-35 adjunct faculty. Thirty-eight percent of the faculty are female and 20 percent are minority.

Faculty-Student Ratio of 1:13
The Moritz College of Law has a 1:13 faculty-student ratio, which helps to ensure that students have significant interaction with the faculty. The size of first-year classes varies from 18 to 80 students in a section.

Location. Location. Location.
The state capital and 16th largest city in the United States, Columbus is home to federal, state, and municipal courts, five Fortune 500 companies, and more than 700 law firms.

Outstanding Placement Success
Graduates of the college are consistently successful in finding employment, as demonstrated by the 98.5 percent placement rate for the Class of 2007.

Rich in Resources
The Ohio State University is the largest public research institution in the nation. The comprehensive scope of the university gives students access to a wealth of cultural, educational, and recreational resources.

Tuition
Tuition at the Moritz College of Law is very competitive among nationally ranked law schools. Entering students from other states may be re-classified as residents after residing in the state for 12 months.