The Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law conducts a holistic review of applications in accordance with ONU Law’s Nondiscrimination Policy to admit students capable of successfully undertaking the rigorous program of study. The ONU Law Admissions Committee considers myriad variables, including, but not limited to, cumulative undergraduate grade point average, highest Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) score, rigor of undergraduate coursework, prior work and educational experience, commitment to service, life experience, leadership ability or potential, demonstrated ability to overcome personal or structural barriers, evidence of discipline and responsibility, motivation to succeed at law school, and circumstances that put the applicant’s academic and personal achievements into context. 

Students admitted to the college have demonstrated their potential to become competent, ethical, and professional legal practitioners. The ONU Law admission process is also committed to focusing on diversity and inclusion of all populations. The Office of Law Admissions recruits and admits qualified students with diverse characteristics from diverse backgrounds who have integrity and who are committed to the highest ethical standards as citizens and future lawyers.

ONU Law has a rolling admissions cycle, accepting applications and rendering decisions from September to August. The college does accept scores from the June LSAT. Students interested in admission are encouraged to apply early in the cycle to avail themselves of the greatest consideration for admission as well as scholarship and grant awards. All applications are automatically considered for merit-based aid scholarships and institutional grants. Students not immediately admitted may be placed on a waiting list.

ONU Law will not admit or readmit a student who has been disqualified previously for academic reasons without an affirmative showing that the prior disqualification does not indicate a lack of capacity to complete its program of legal education and be admitted to the bar.

Applicants admitted to ONU Law are required to disclose any information that would change their responses to any questions on the application, including and especially disclosure questions regarding arrests and criminal history, disciplinary action, pending criminal charges, and professional misconduct. Once students matriculate to ONU Law, this obligation to disclose continues through graduation.

ONU Law places high importance on the integrity, maturity, and candor of applicants. Applicants are required to update the Office of Law Admissions in a timely manner of any circumstance that may alter their response to any question on the application. ONU Law reserves the right to revoke an offer of admission if the Admissions Committee determines that an applicant has engaged in behavior that brings into question the applicant’s honesty, maturity, moral character, or fitness to practice law. ONU Law may revoke an offer of admission if the Admissions Committee determines that the applicant has provided false, incomplete, incorrect, or misleading information during the admissions process, or if new information is not provided in a timely manner. Applicants determined by the Admissions Committee to have provided incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information in their applications may be reported to the Law School Admission Council’s Committee on Misconduct or Irregularities in the Admission Process.

Qualifications for Admission to the Bar

In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.