Ohio Northern University - Claude W. Pettit College of Law

Nestled in the remote and “extremely small” town of Ada, the Claude W. Pettit College of Law at Ohio Northern University routinely boasts a high bar-passage rate—73 percent of students passed in February 2015. Plus, its “career and internship placement [are] excellent,” and in 2013 it lead the state in graduates who went on to land JD-required jobs. ONU is also known for its “congenial atmosphere between students and teachers” and its “small class sizes [that] enable you to interact more and [give] the professors the opportunity to [get to know] you on a first-name basis”—in fact, the school boasts a cozy student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1.
Another plus is ONU’s commitment to affordability. As part of The ONU Law Promise, the law school reduced its tuition for the 2014–15 academic year (by a not-too-shabby 25 percent, at that) and a whopping 98 percent of students receive some form of financial aid, making this school a bona fide budget-friendly option.
As for classes, one student listed the “academics themselves” as a strong suit, and tons more expressed wholehearted enthusiasm for ONU’s “great teachers” who are “extremely knowledgeable and willing to help students learn as much as they can” and who “genuinely care about the students.” Plus, the professors’ commitment goes beyond the lecture hall: They “devote more time to getting you networked with the appropriate legal communities” and “are easily accessible . . . outside of class.” One student even called the faculty “a hidden gem in rural Ohio.” However, some students did wish that the school’s 120-plus classes offered “larger variety” and lamented that the “administration can be a bit disorganized at times.”
ONU offers a fair amount of opportunities for experiential learning, with an “incredible . . . law review,” a moot court that allows students to develop mock trial experience, 10-plus subject-specific clinics (such as bankruptcy, public defense, and family law) that offer guaranteed placement, and externships that pair students with judges, whom they aid with research, writing, or other court-related duties. These and 20-plus additional organizations regularly “[bring] in speakers to network and build connections” and invite “alumni [to] come to the school every year to speak to the current students,” who may even “offer jobs to many students here after graduation.” One student reported that “most [of] my peers are very happy with the pipeline [that] ONU has built for us into the legal community of our choosing.” Another chimed in to say that the revamped career services department does a “fantastic job,” with “more people [having] jobs and internships than ever before.”
While ONU’s classes, professors, and hands-on learning opportunities definitely pass muster, students are quick to point out a slight lag in updates to the facilities: The classrooms are “bland and outdated” and communal spaces are described as “lacking,” “but [overall] they meet every need we have.” Conversely, “our library and research facilities are extensive and easy to access and understand” and students receive “thorough teaching” on how to make good use of these resources.

Law students looking to bunker down and study free of distraction, look no farther than ONU—for better or for worse. “The small town of Ada offers the atmosphere to focus on your schoolwork,” a student confirmed. And while some students find Ada “a depressing, miserable place to live and study” and deem it “way too boring,” others say that it has “the most charming small town atmosphere you could dream of,” love the community’s “nice slow pace,” and point out the “small family-owned restaurants that offer great food, several bars where law students often meet, a small movie theater and bowling alley, and great pizza places.”
The town’s tiny size also creates a real sense of community, as there is “not a lot to do, activities-wise, but [the students] really get to know each other” and the town “fosters a more team-like environment.” Plus, “the school and the professors … make the atmosphere welcoming as they sponsor and host several social activities for the students.” All this coziness can lead to a bit of “drama,” “competition,” and even “cut-throat” vibes, according to some students. But others report that “the environment is much more healthy than that of other law schools” and that “dirty tricks are not tolerated.”
With state capital Columbus just an hour-and-a-half’s drive away and a few other mid-size towns even closer, it’s certainly possible to seek out entertainment and professional opportunities outside Ada’s gates. The key? Know what you’re getting into and if it’s right for you. “Some people find that they wanted a large city where you can do anything or get anything any time. That is not Ada.”