The Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law and St. John Fisher College in Pittsford, N.Y., have announced a 3+3 Legal Education Accelerated Program (LEAP), which will allow legal studies majors and pre-law students at Fisher an opportunity to earn both their undergraduate and law degrees in six years, while minimizing the cost of their educations.
Richard Bales, dean of the Pettit College of Law, said, “We are proud to partner with St. John Fisher College on this program because we know that graduates of Fisher will be well-preparehttps://www.onu.edu/node/63733d for the academic rigors of law study. 3+3 programs like this demonstrate a commitment by both Fisher and ONU to ensuring that students can graduate with a high-quality college and legal education with a minimum of debt, thus allowing them after graduation to follow their passion instead of being tethered to their debt load.”
The announcement comes at a prime time as Fisher has seen interest in its legal studies program grow. According to Jim Bowers, chair of Fisher’s Department of Political Science and Legal Studies, the number of legal studies majors has shown tremendous growth and potential since being introduced five years ago, surpassing original projections.
“We are delighted to partner with Ohio Northern University on this program. Partnering with such a highly regarded law program will open so many doors for our students who are interested in studying the practice of law and, most importantly, help them do it in a more cost-effective and efficient way. We work hard to help our students build their lives, create their careers and serve their communities. This partnership falls in line with that goal while laying a solid foundation for their lives after Fisher,” said Dr. Donald Bain, president of St. John Fisher College.
To qualify for the program, pre-law students must matriculate at Fisher as first-year students, complete the college’s First Year Program and Core Curriculum requirements, consult with a LEAP adviser during their freshman or sophomore years to discuss educational and career goals, complete a minimum of 91 liberal arts credits, earn a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.6 or higher, and receive a Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score at or above the 50th percentile.
Founded in 1885, the Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law is the second oldest of the nine Ohio law schools, enrolling more than 250 students from more than 40 states in its full-time juris doctor and LL.M. programs. The college’s dedicated and esteemed faculty provides personalized instruction to students with passions for legal scholastic excellence. The College of Law is located in Ada, Ohio, with an off-campus legal clinic in Lima, Ohio. Additional information is available at www.law.onu.edu.
