Juris Doctor

Program Overview

The University of Tulsa's Juris Doctor (J.D.) program, offered through its College of Law, is an academically rigorous and professionally impactful degree designed to shape future legal leaders. With over a century of legal excellence, the program prides itself on a low student-faculty ratio (9:1) and a supportive, collegial atmosphere that fosters close mentorship from an outstanding faculty of scholars and practitioners. The J.D. program prepares students not only for the bar examination, boasting strong bar passage rates (93% two-year ABA bar pass rate), but also for immediate practice through extensive experiential learning opportunities, including legal clinics and externships with over 200 partner organizations across 26 states. The curriculum balances theoretical foundations with real-world experience, offering diverse curricular offerings and flexible programs tailored to individual interests, including specialized areas like sustainable energy and natural resources law, and Native American law.

ABA Accredited: Yes, the University of Tulsa College of Law is fully accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. This accreditation is crucial as it signifies that the program meets rigorous national standards for legal education, making graduates eligible to sit for the bar examination in any U.S. jurisdiction and practice law. The University of Tulsa College of Law has held this accreditation since 1953.

Curriculum: The J.D. curriculum at the University of Tulsa is comprehensive and broad-based, providing students with a strong foundation in core legal subjects while allowing for specialization. Typical first-year courses include Civil Procedure, Contracts, Criminal Law, Property, Torts, and Constitutional Law, along with foundational legal research and writing. Beyond the required curriculum, students can pursue interests across a broad array of subject areas or focus on specific concentrations such as Sustainable Energy and Natural Resources Law, Native American Law, Health Law, and Immigration Law. The program also heavily emphasizes practical skills development through clinics (e.g., Public Defender Clinic, Terry West Civil Legal Clinic, Buck Colbert Franklin Legal Clinic) and externship programs, which allow students to gain live client experience under the supervision of licensed attorneys or judges.

Research Focus: The University of Tulsa College of Law fosters a research-oriented environment through its academic rigor and opportunities for scholarly engagement. While the J.D. program is a professional degree, students have abundant opportunities to develop their legal reasoning and writing skills by contributing to highly respected student-driven legal journals, such as the Tulsa Law Review and the Energy Law Journal. Faculty members are engaged in diverse areas of legal scholarship, and their research informs the curriculum, particularly in specialized fields where the College of Law has built a strong reputation, including energy and Native American law. This emphasis on scholarly inquiry prepares students to analyze complex legal issues, conduct thorough research, and contribute to legal discourse.

Industry Engagement: The University of Tulsa College of Law is highly dedicated to preparing its graduates for successful careers in the legal profession, boasting a strong employment outcome (93.4% placement rate). This is significantly driven by its robust industry engagement. The Professional Development Office (PDO) provides individualized career counseling, helping students identify their unique skills and interests. The extensive experiential learning program, featuring legal clinics and externship opportunities with over 200 partner organizations in 26 states, provides students with invaluable practical experience and networking opportunities. Graduates from the University of Tulsa College of Law go on to rewarding careers in various legal sectors, including law firms (62.6%), government (14.1%), public interest (13.1%), and business/industry (7.1%), demonstrating the program's strong connections and effectiveness in placing its alumni.

Global Perspective: The University of Tulsa College of Law integrates a global perspective by addressing legal issues that transcend national borders, particularly through its specialized programs and a broader institutional commitment to global engagement. The curriculum includes courses like International Law and International Environmental Law, and the Energy Law Journal often delves into global energy policy. The university's "World Perspectives" framework encourages discussions and debates on global issues, including economics, policy, human rights, and social justice, which are relevant to legal studies. While not explicitly highlighting extensive study abroad programs for the J.D., the College of Law prepares students to navigate the complexities of an interconnected world and contribute to a global legal community, emphasizing ethical professionalism and an understanding of diverse legal systems and cultures.