M.L.S. in Energy and Natural Resources Law

OU Law is at the forefront in its offering of legal courses focused on energy and natural resources. With more than 100 years of energy education experience and many energy and natural resources companies headquartered in Oklahoma, the M.L.S. in Energy and Natural Resources Law is specifically designed for non-lawyers whose careers demand an understanding of energy-related legal issues. 

The M.L.S. in Energy and Natural Resources Law program is an online, 32-credit hour graduate degree that can be completed in 15 months. The degree program offers a competitive advantage to anyone in the energy industry who negotiates oil and gas contracts, deals with mineral rights or real estate transactions, or works closely with energy attorneys.

  • Energy and Natural Resources Expertise: Practical legal knowledge for non-lawyers in the energy industry. Each class has been vetted with the energy industry to ensure its applicability for land, legal, and operations.
  • Flexible Delivery on Your Schedule: Study when and where you want with our online format. Plus, you can complete the program in 15 months while you continue working, allowing you to share real-world examples with your classmates and apply your education quickly.
  • Incredible Student Experience: Small class sizes ensure each student gets personal attention. In addition, the cohort-based model forges strong connections with your classmates and allows you to learn from their experiences.
  • Faculty Experts: Students in the program are taught by OU Law faculty and adjunct faculty carefully selected for their experience and expertise in oil, gas, and energy law. Many of the faculty are currently practicing attorneys that focus on oil and gas law.
  • Strong Networks Impact Your Life and Career: The University of Oklahoma has more than 100 years of experience in providing energy education. OU Law has strong expertise in energy law and can also rely on top energy programs in the Price College of Business and the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy. Each college has a strong graduate network within energy companies that our alumni can access.

Accelerate your career advancement with a graduate degree from OU Law in Energy and Natural Resources Law. Contact us for more information or to request a call from an OU Law representative. 

OU Law Focus on Energy and Natural Resources

Given the rich history of more than 100 years of energy education at the University of Oklahoma, it stands to reason that energy expertise permeates every college on campus. That is certainly the case with the OU College of Law, which makes it an ideal environment for the study of Energy and Natural Resources Law. Oklahoma’s location and expertise in Oil and Gas, plus having leaders in directional drilling right down the road, makes it a perfect place to study energy law. 

Through the work and the expertise of its faculty, OU Law has long led the country in legal education related to Energy and Natural Resources Law. This focus has led to programs for lawyers with including the Juris Doctor certificate in Oil and Gas Law and the Master of Laws degree in Energy and Natural Resources Law. These programs have produced prominent attorneys in law firms and energy companies that practice throughout Oklahoma, Texas and the entire nation. 

OU Law offers students the opportunity to specialize in oil and gas law through a variety of programs including the Juris Doctorate certificate for law students; Master of Legal Studies degree for lawyers and non-lawyers alike; and Master of Laws degree for law school graduates.

Program Structure

The OU College of Law Master of Legal Studies in Energy and Natural Resources Law is a 32 credit hour program that can be completed in 15 months. Students in the program will take the following courses:

Module 1 - Online

 Credits

LAW 5112 - Foundations of Contract Law for the Energy Industry (Portfolio Drafting Assignment)

2

LAW 5232 - Introduction to Property Law and Natural Resources

2

Module 2 - Online

 

LAW 6501 - Intro to Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences

1

LAW 6522 - Legal Drafting

2

Module 3 - Online

 

LAW 6512 - Oil and Gas Law

2

LAW 6572 - Real Estate Transactions

2

Module 4 - Online

 

LAW 6563 - Mineral Title Examination (Portfolio Drafting Assignment)

3

LAW 6592 - Oil and Gas Environmental Law

2

Module 5 - Online

 

LAW 6553 - Oil and Gas Contracts (Portfolio Drafting Assignment)

3

LAW 6531 - Legal Research for the Energy Industry

1

Module 6 - Online

 

LAW 6581 - Water Law for the Energy Industry

1

LAW 6513 - Oil and Gas Regulatory Practices

3

Module 7 - Online

 

LAW 6532 - Federal, State and Indian Lands

2

LAW 6511 - Midstream Oil and Gas Law (Portfolio Drafting Assignment)

1

LAW 6521 - Federal Lands Offshore

1

Module 8 - Norman, OK – OU College of Law – Five Days

 

LAW 6352 - Negotiations and Communications

2

LAW 6502 - Project Economics and Finance

2

Total

32 credits

 

Apply now! The M.L.S. in Oil, Gas, and Energy Law explores legal and contractual issues facing energy companies and those working in oil and gas. OU Law's graduate curriculum uniquely prepares students for working with energy attorneys, oil and gas companies, and legal issues related to land work. Contact us for more information or to receive a call from an OU Law representative.

Faculty

The curriculum for the M.L.S. in Energy and Natural Resources Law was created by the leadership of the Energy Law section at the University of Oklahoma.  Working with industry practitioners ensured that the required skills and legal background necessary for success in related fields in the energy industry was included in the program.  Students will learn both from OU Faculty and industry practitioners affiliated with OU Law.

Kenton Brice

Kenton Brice

Director of Technology Innovation
B.B.A, Northeastern State University, 2003
J.D., University of Oklahoma, 2009
M.S.-L.S., University of North Texas, 2016

Courses:

Legal Research for the Energy Industry

Email: kbrice@ou.edu

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Dean A. Couch

Dean A. Couch

Adjunct Professor
B.A., University of Central Oklahoma, 1976
J.D., University of Oklahoma, 1982

Courses:

Water Law for the Energy Industry

Email: dcouch@gablelaw.com

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Monika Ehrman

Monika Ehrman

Professor of Law
B.Sc., University of Alberta, 2000
J.D., Southern Methodist University, 2005
LL.M., Yale Law School, 2014

Courses:

Negotiations and Communications

Email: mehrman@ou.edu

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J. Brent Hagy

J. Brent Hagy

Professor of Practice
B.A., Economics, Texas Tech University, 1994
M.A., Communication Studies, Texas Tech University, 1996
J.D., Texas Tech University, 1999

Courses:

Midstream Oil and Gas Law

Email: j.brent.hagy@gmail.com

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Brian McCall

Brian McCall

Orpha and Maurice Merrill Professor in Law
B.A., Yale University, Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 1991
M.A. Kings College University of London, Fulbright Scholar, 1992
J.D. University of Pennsylvania, Summa Cum Laude, Order of the Coif, 1997

Courses:

Foundations of Contract Law for the Energy Industry

Email: brian.mccall@ou.edu

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Gail Mullins

Gail Mullins

Co-Academic Dean for Academics
Assistant Dean of Experiential Learning
Director of Legal Writing
Assistant Professor of Law
B.S. Medical Technology, Oklahoma State University, 1972
Internship Medical Technology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, 1972
J.D., with Highest Honors, University of Oklahoma, 1993

Courses:

Legal Drafting

Email: gmullins@ou.edu

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Stephanie R. Timmermeyer

Stephanie R. Timmermeyer

Adjunct Professor
B.S., West Virginia University, 1990
M.S., Marshall University, 1997
J.D., West Virginia University, 2001

Courses:

Federal, State and Indian Lands

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Paul Trimble

Paul Trimble

Adjunct Professor
B.B.A., University of Oklahoma, 1984
J.D., University of Oklahoma, 1989

Courses:

  • Oil and Gas Regulation

Email: ptrimble@spencerfane.com

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