New Programs Create Greater Opportunities

Students at OU Law have more choices than ever before, including what kind of degree they will earn.

Juris doctor students now have the option of pursuing a specialized certificate contained within their three-year degree. Other students are now able to earn an entirely new degree at OU Law, the Master of Legal Studies, which requires a shorter time commitment.

Specialized Certificates for J.D.
The specialized certificates are in Energy Law, Natural Resources Law, American Indian Law or Business Entrepreneurship. The new certificate programs are designed to enhance the J.D. degree and can be completed within the same three-year time period.

Master of Legal Studies
The Master of Legal Studies programs will help many students who have completed undergraduate degrees, but don’t plan to become lawyers. Following the advice of numerous companies, law firms and government agencies, OU Law introduced MLS degrees in Indigenous Peoples Law and Energy and Natural Resources Law. The MLS programs benefit individuals working with tribes, energy companies and other organizations that require a working knowledge of their legal issues, but not a license to practice law.

The Master of Legal Studies degree in Indigenous People Law will be earned through online courses and can be completed in two years of part-time study. The MLS in Energy and Natural Resources Law is achieved on campus and can be completed in one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study.

“We are developing new and dynamic classes and programs to ensure our students receive a world-class legal education, and will continue to be forward thinking to anticipate the needs of the evolving job markets,” Dean Joe Harroz said. “As the state’s flagship law school, it is our mission to provide an unsurpassed legal education at an affordable price to ensure our students can pursue the career of their dreams.”

With the J.D. certificates, masters’ degrees and LL.M. program, OU Law is proving its commitment to provide its graduates with significant, strategic advantages in the marketplace.