Learn the professional and practical skills you’ll need to practice law every day! We require each student, after completing their first year, to successfully complete at least 10 hours of instruction in designated skills courses. All clinic courses are skills courses. Additional skills courses involve multiple opportunities for assessment in drafting or simulation exercises involving the type of problems frequently encountered in the practice of law.
Develop your legal skills beyond the regular curriculum with numerous skills courses offerings. You must take at least 10 credit hours of skills courses to graduate.
This course is designed for students who have already completed one semester or a summer session or an externship course and are continuing in the same field placement for an additional semester or will be working in a new field placement. In addition to the other course requirements, students must attend five tutorial classes over the course of the seminar and are expected to work a minimum of 10 hours each week for a total of 112 hours over the course of the 13 week semester. Students will receive 3 credits of experiential/ skills for this course.
Receive advanced training in legal research skills, including the integration of electronic and print research materials and in-depth training on Lexis and Westlaw.
Learn dispute resolution law, theory, and policy, and practice the basic skills involved in negotiation and mediation.
Under the supervision of a bankruptcy panel trustee or bankruptcy practitioner, you’ll conduct research, draft pleadings and make court appearances in Federal Bankruptcy Court.
Represent non-profit organizations and local churches in corporate matters.
Under the supervision of licensed attorneys, placement with a non-profit environmental group in Ohio; engaging in research, drafting of pleadings and other activities pertaining to environmental law.
Under the supervision of attorneys from different governmental agencies, research, draft memos and engage in other activities handled by the agency.
Under the supervision of selected state and federal judges, perform research, writing and other court-related duties that the judge assigns.
Under the supervision of a licensed attorney, placement with a union or law firm engaged in labor and employment law that involves drafting of memoranda, briefs, participation in arbitration proceedings and other activities related to the field. Prerequisite or co-requisite: Law 1376 - Labor Law; some placements may also require successful completion of 58 hours of law college credit and an intern certificate from the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Through case studies and a problem-based approach, learn various techniques and approaches to successfully manage a law office, looking at personnel issues, ethical consideration, malpractice and liability insurance, equipment, libraries, clients, public relations and more.
Represent clients in civil litigation matters such as family law, landlord/tenant and other general civil litigation matters at a local legal aid organization under the supervision of a practicing attorney.
Through negotiation exercises and simulations, you’ll learn to become aware of, analyze, and improve your negotiation behavior.
Provide assistance to non-profit agencies on legal issues under the supervision of a practicing attorney.
Work at the ONU Legal Clinic in Lima, Ohio, under the supervision of a licensed staff attorney, representing clients in civil litigation matters.
This course will focus on providing opportunities for students to have criminal and civil law experiences that are reasonably similar to the experience of a lawyer advising or representing a client, and to engage in lawyering tasks. Lawyering skills to be practiced in a simulated setting include interviewing, counseling, negotiation, fact development and analysis, motions practice, document drafting, conflict resolution, organization and management of legal work, collaboration, cross-culture experiences, and self-evaluation.
Be placed in a prosecutor’s office where you’ll aid a licensed practicing attorney in representing the state in criminal misdemeanors.
Be placed in a public defender’s office where you’ll aid a licensed practicing attorney in representing criminal defendants.
Develop courtroom skills including trial preparation, presentation of motions, introduction of evidence, direct and cross examination of witnesses, opening statements, closing arguments, and trial strategy.