If you’re looking at law schools in the Midwest, you’ve definitely bumped into the name Ohio State University law school—though most people around here just call it Moritz. Honestly, it’s got this reputation for being the "safe bet" for top-tier legal education in the region, but that’s a bit of a misnomer. It is incredibly competitive. It isn’t just a place where you go to get a degree and a bar card; it’s basically the gatekeeper for the Ohio legal market and a massive feeder into DC and Chicago.
I’ve seen a lot of people underestimate what it takes to get in and, more importantly, what it takes to survive the 1L year there. It’s intense. But it’s a specific kind of intense that actually makes sense once you see how the faculty operates and how the alumni network—which is huge—actually helps you get a job.
What Moritz College of Law Really Looks Like
The Moritz College of Law, located right on the edge of the massive Columbus campus, feels like its own little island. It’s got this weirdly cozy but high-pressure vibe. You’re in the middle of a city that is basically the political and legal hub of the state. Because Columbus is the state capital, the Ohio State University law school has this massive advantage: you can literally walk from a class on administrative law to an externship at the Ohio Supreme Court or the Statehouse.
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That proximity matters. It’s not just a perk. It’s the foundation of their entire clinical program.
Most law students are terrified of their first year. At Moritz, they try to soften the blow with a pretty robust orientation, but let’s be real. You’re still reading Pennoyer v. Neff at 2:00 AM. The difference here is the faculty. You’ve got people like Ruth Colker, who is a literal titan in disability law, or Douglas Berman, who basically runs the most cited blog on sentencing reform in the country. These aren't just academics; they are the people writing the textbooks you’ll use.
The Numbers Game (And Why They Matter)
Let's talk cold, hard stats because that's what everyone checks first. The median LSAT usually hovers around a 161 to 164, and the GPA is often north of 3.7. If you're sitting there with a 155, you’ve got a steep hill to climb unless your "softs" (resume, life experience, personal statement) are world-class.
They get thousands of applications for a class size that usually stays around 180 to 200 people. Small? Sorta. It’s small enough that the professors know if you’ve skipped class to go get a coffee at the Union, but big enough that you aren't stuck with the same ten people for three years.
The Truth About the "Ohio State" Brand
Some people worry that a degree from a state school—even a top-tier one—limits them to that state. That’s a valid fear. If you want to work in a "Big Law" firm in Manhattan, is Moritz the best choice? Maybe not compared to a T14 like Columbia. But for the rest of the country? The name carries.
The Ohio State University law school alumni network is basically a cult, in a good way. There are over 10,000 Moritz grads scattered across the globe. I’ve heard stories of grads getting interviews in Seattle or Miami just because the hiring partner saw the Block O on the resume. It’s a real thing.
Diversity of Thought vs. The Echo Chamber
One thing Moritz does better than a lot of its peers is balancing different legal philosophies. They have the Program on Data and Governance and the Divided Community Project. The latter is actually really cool—it’s about using dispute resolution to help cities deal with civil unrest and deep-seated social divisions. It’s practical. It’s not just ivory tower theorizing.
They also have a massive focus on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). In fact, their ADR program is consistently ranked in the top ten nationally. If you hate the idea of spending your whole life in a courtroom and would rather be the person negotiating the deal or mediating the fight, this is arguably the best place in the country to be.
The 1L Grind: It’s Not Just a Meme
Your first year at the Ohio State University law school is going to be a blur of highlighters and caffeine. You’ll take the standard hits: Torts, Contracts, Civil Procedure, Property, Constitutional Law, and Criminal Law.
But Moritz does this thing called "Legislation and Regulation" (Leg-Reg) in the first year. A lot of schools wait to teach this, but Ohio State pushes it early. Why? Because we live in a world of agencies. Whether you’re dealing with the EPA or the SEC, you need to know how the "fourth branch" of government works. It sucks to learn while you're also trying to figure out the Rule Against Perpetuities, but it makes you a much better lawyer by the time you hit your summer associate gig.
Money, Debt, and the "Public Interest" Trap
Law school is expensive. There’s no way around it. Even with in-state tuition, you’re looking at a significant investment. Moritz is better than many private schools, but you’re still likely looking at six figures of debt if you don't have a scholarship.
They have a decent Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) for people who go into public interest law (think public defenders or legal aid). But you have to be careful. You can't just assume the school will pay off your loans. You have to jump through hoops, stay in the right kind of job, and manage your paperwork like a hawk.
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Wait, what about scholarships?
Most of the money is "merit-based." That’s code for "we want your LSAT score to boost our rankings." If you have a high score, negotiate. Seriously. Tell them about your offer from Indiana or Iowa. They have a budget for this, and they want the best students.
Living in Columbus: It’s Actually Great?
If you aren't from Ohio, you probably think Columbus is just a sea of corn. It’s not. It’s a massive, sprawling tech and fashion hub (shoutout to L Brands and Nationwide).
For a law student, Columbus is perfect because it's affordable. You can live in the Short North if you want to be fancy and walk to art galleries, or you can live in Clintonville if you want a quiet house with a yard. Most students stick to the area around High Street. You’re never more than fifteen minutes away from the law library.
And yeah, Saturdays in the fall are a write-off. The whole city shuts down for football. Even if you don't care about sports, you’ll find yourself wearing scarlet and gray eventually. It’s inevitable.
Is the Ohio State University Law School Right for You?
This is the part where you have to be honest with yourself.
If you want to be a Supreme Court clerk or work exclusively in international human rights in Geneva, you might want to aim for Harvard or Yale. It’s just the way the prestige game works. But if you want to be a powerhouse litigator, a corporate counsel for a Fortune 500 company, or a high-ranking government official, the Ohio State University law school provides every single tool you need.
It’s a "working" law school. The people there are generally down-to-earth, hard-working, and remarkably collaborative for a profession known for being cutthroat. There’s a "we’re all in this together" mentality that you don't always find at the more elite East Coast schools.
Common Misconceptions
- "It's only for people who want to stay in Ohio." False. While a huge chunk of the class stays in-state, they have strong pipelines to DC, Chicago, and NYC.
- "It's too big." False. The law school is its own community. You’ll know everyone in your graduating class by name.
- "The bar passage rate is all that matters." Moritz usually has a high bar passage rate (often in the high 80s or 90s for first-timers), but that’s because they teach to the bar. That’s a good thing. You want to pass on the first try.
Moving Forward: Your To-Do List
If you’re serious about applying, don't just send in a generic personal statement. They can smell "AI-generated" or "templated" essays a mile away.
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First, go visit. Talk to the admissions office. Sit in on a class. See if you can handle the Socratic method without breaking into a cold sweat.
Second, nail the LSAT. Even a two-point jump can be the difference between paying full price and getting a $20,000-a-year scholarship.
Third, look at the clinics. If you’re interested in criminal justice, look at their Justice for Children Clinic. If you’re into business, check out the Entrepreneurial Business Law Clinic. These are the places where you actually learn how to be a lawyer, not just how to read cases.
Finally, reach out to a current student on LinkedIn. Most of them are surprisingly willing to chat for fifteen minutes about their experience. Ask them about the curve. Ask them about the OCI (On-Campus Interviews) process. That’s where the real tea is.
Applying to the Ohio State University law school is a big move. It’s a three-year grind that will change how your brain works. If you’re ready for that, Columbus is a pretty damn good place to start.