Why University of Oklahoma?
The University of Oklahoma College of Law offers a cutting-edge legal education with a strong emphasis on service, particularly excelling in Indigenous Peoples Law and Oil & Gas, Natural Resources, and Energy Law, and is recognized for its innovative Digital Initiative.
University of Oklahoma is a moderately selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 42.5%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.73 GPA and 159 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.42–3.88 GPA and 155–160 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 172 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington, DC — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, University of Oklahoma admitted 5 transfer students into the 2L class. 2 1Ls transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #62
- Median GPA
- 3.73
- 25th–75th: 3.42–3.88
- Median LSAT
- 159
- 25th–75th: 155–160
- Acceptance rate
- 42.5%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 172
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 5
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students University of Oklahoma admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
- Median
- —
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
2 1Ls transferred out of University of Oklahoma in the same cycle — context for how portable University of Oklahoma's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.
Top employment markets
- 1Oklahoma
- 2Texas
- 3Washington, DC
Where the most recent graduating class concentrated employment, per the school's ABA 509 employment summary. Use this as a signal of where the alumni network and OCI recruiting pipeline are strongest.
Signature clinics
Clinical programs that define University of Oklahoma's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why University of Oklahoma" essay where they align with your interests.
- Civil ClinicStudents represent low-income clients in a variety of civil cases, including family law, public benefits, and general civil matters.
- Criminal Defense ClinicStudents serve indigent defendants charged with municipal, misdemeanor, and felony cases in local counties.
- Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect ClinicAn interdisciplinary advocacy clinic where law students collaborate with graduate and professional students from across the University of Oklahoma.
- International Human Rights ClinicAn interdisciplinary advocacy clinic that provides students with opportunities for international immersion.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Oklahoma Law Review— Flagship publication covering timely discussions of state and federal legal issues.
- American Indian Law Review— A scholarly forum for legal issues relevant to Native Americans and indigenous peoples worldwide.
- Oil and Gas, Natural Resources, and Energy Journal (ONE J)— A peer-reviewed publication focusing on domestic and international legal scholarship in oil, gas, energy, and natural resources law.
- Oklahoma Journal of Law and Technology (OKJOLT)— Oklahoma's first online-only legal publication, devoted to the convergence of technology and the law (published 2003-2015).
Faculty highlights
Well-known faculty grouped by primary specialty. If a professor's scholarship aligns with your interests, name them in your essay and reference a specific paper or course.
Dean and Director of the Law Center
- Anna E. Carpenter· also Fenelon Boesche Chair in Law
International Law
- Evelyn Aswad
- Peter Krug· also Comparative Law, European Union Law
Criminal Law
- Tracy Pearl· also Criminal Procedure, Professional Responsibility
Bankruptcy Law and Procedure
- Kara Bruce
Family Law
- Jessica Tueller· also Contracts, Gender, Sexuality, and the Law, International Law
Energy and Natural Resources Law
- Owen Anderson
Legal Research and Writing
- Michael Winchell· also Environmental Law, Government Contracts
What makes University of Oklahoma distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Digital Initiative: The first law school in the nation to launch a college-wide initiative focused on equipping students for success in the digital age, providing iPads to all students.
- ·John B. Turner LL.M. Program: Offers specialized online Master of Laws degrees in areas such as Indigenous Peoples' Law, Energy and Natural Resources Law, International Business Law, Healthcare Law, and U.S. Legal Studies.
- ·Eugene Kuntz Conference on Natural Resources Law and Policy: Hosts the largest conference of its kind in the country, demonstrating leadership in the ONE (Oil and Gas, Natural Resources, and Energy) field.
- ·Dual-degree options: Students can combine their Juris Doctor with other specialized degrees, including an MBA, Master of Public Health, or Master of Healthcare Administration.
- ·Andrew M. Coats Hall: Features a modern campus with a new law library, high-tech computer labs, private study rooms, and the 250-seat Dick Bell Courtroom, which hosts state and federal court hearings.
Using this for your "Why University of Oklahoma" essay
Strong "Why X Law School" essays are concrete and specific to the school — not interchangeable templates. Use these facts to anchor your essay, then layer on what you've found from the school's own faculty pages, clinical program descriptions, and journal listings.
Important note: admissions committees actively reject AI-written personal statements and "Why X" essays. Use this page as research material to write your own essay — never as a template to copy. Authentic, specific, personally-grounded reasoning is the only thing that wins these essays.
Frequently asked about University of Oklahoma
What is the median GPA and LSAT at University of Oklahoma?▾
University of Oklahoma's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.73 and a median LSAT of 159. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.42–3.88 GPA and 155–160 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is University of Oklahoma's acceptance rate?▾
University of Oklahoma's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 42.5%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does University of Oklahoma offer?▾
University of Oklahoma's notable clinical programs include: Civil Clinic, Criminal Defense Clinic, Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Clinic, International Human Rights Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does University of Oklahoma publish?▾
University of Oklahoma's notable student-edited journals include: Oklahoma Law Review, American Indian Law Review, Oil and Gas, Natural Resources, and Energy Journal (ONE J), Oklahoma Journal of Law and Technology (OKJOLT).
Where do University of Oklahoma graduates work?▾
University of Oklahoma graduates concentrate employment in Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, DC, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does University of Oklahoma admit?▾
University of Oklahoma admitted 5 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.
Schools similar to University of Oklahoma
Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.
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Try Case Cub free →Sources (7) — verify any fact above
- https://www.law.ou.edu/clinics
- https://www.law.ou.edu/jd/concentrations
- https://www.law.ou.edu/academics/journals
- https://www.law.ou.edu/faculty-staff-directory
- https://www.law.ou.edu/about/distinction
- https://www.law.ou.edu/jd/program
- https://www.law.ou.edu/llm
Generated from public sources via search-grounded AI on 4/27/2026. If any fact looks wrong, click through to verify and let us know.