Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law was recognized by preLaw magazine as one of the “Best Schools for Public Service,” specifically in the government category. PreLaw identified exceptional law schools for students interested in pursuing careers in public interest and government based on factors including: employment data, curriculum, tuition, debt and loan repayment options.
With ONU Law’s guaranteed opportunities for clinics and externships, combined with affordable tuition and low cost of living, ONU Law graduates are well-prepared to answer the call to service in public interest and government jobs.
ONU Law students are guaranteed a spot in 12 different clinic and externship placements, which include government, judicial, litigation, municipal government, prosecution and public defender externships. In these positions, students are able to explore law in government settings with placement in facilities such as the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office and the Ohio Supreme Court.
ONU Law also offers the lowest private law school tuition in the Great Lakes Region and an extremely affordable cost of living, which means that students graduate in a more financially-stable position to be able to take jobs in the public interest sector.
According to preLaw magazine, a growing number of law students are gravitating toward public interest positions because of the personal rewards. Studies show that lawyers who do such work are among the happiest.
Bailey Higgins, JD ’18, would agree. During her time at ONU Law, alumni also helped her secure externships in government settings – practical experience that prepared her well for life after graduation. She currently serves as an assistant prosecutor in Marion County, Ohio, where she finds great reward in the type of work she does. “The victims need a voice,” she shared, “and I love getting to help them find closure. The job can be stressful, but I think that comes with every job. My colleagues call me a ‘lifer.’ They expect that I will be here for life. I do not know what the future holds, but I certainly am happy where I am.”