The University of Toledo College of Law
The information on this page was provided by the law school.
Official Guide to ABA-Approved JD Programs
Toledo Law is a vibrant community of outstanding faculty, students, and alumni who are making a difference across the country and around the world. From their first day on campus, students are part of a close-knit community committed to their success. We offer a rich and engaging classroom experience guided by faculty members who are not just leaders in their fields, but committed and caring teachers. 100% of our students participate in a clinic, externship, or simulation course. Additional practical skills coursework and volunteer opportunities are available to help students develop and sharpen the skills needed to succeed as new attorneys.
Toledo Law has a long tradition of excellence. Our graduates have been making an impact in law and society since 1906. We are accredited by the ABA and were awarded a chapter of the Order of the Coif in 1984.
The University of Toledo is a public, comprehensive research university with more than 14,000 students. The Law Center is nestled in a corner of the main campus on the western edge of Toledo, Ohio, in one of the city’s most beautiful suburban residential neighborhoods. The city of Toledo is known for its world-class amenities while still maintaining the low cost of living and friendliness of a small town.
Total enrollment at Toledo Law is just over 350 students. Our current class profiles show in detail what our student body consists of from academic backgrounds, geographic locations, and more. Over the last several years, our students have come from over 130 undergraduate institutions.
Students come to Toledo Law with a variety of experiences. Some enter directly from college, while others have been in the workforce for years. This diversity exposes all students to an interesting, stimulating, and creative atmosphere where insights and ideas flourish. Our diversity is also reflected in student groups and activities that represent a broad spectrum of perspectives.
Faculty
Smaller class sizes and an open-door policy offer Toledo Law students the opportunity to know their professors as teachers, mentors, and friends. Our students get the personal attention they deserve in a community notable for the dynamic rapport among students, faculty, and staff.
In addition to exceptional classroom teaching, our faculty are outstanding scholars and many have earned national acclaim. They include graduates of top law schools, Fulbright scholars, members of the prestigious American Law Institute, and accomplished lawyers with years of private practice and public interest experience.
The JD Program
Toledo Law requires the successful completion of 89 semester hours for graduation. The curriculum consists of required courses during the first year of the full-time program and the first two years of the part-time program. An extensive upper-level curriculum covers traditional subjects, as well as experiential opportunities like clinics and externships, which incorporate professional legal skills and values.
Through our Academic Success and Bar Passage programs, Toledo Law provides a number of resources to cultivate student success in the classroom and on the bar exam. Faculty advisors work closely with students on course planning and academic goal setting. Special seminars and training in advanced legal analysis help students sharpen academic skills. Bar exam preparation and post-graduation mentoring offer students additional support during bar exam study.
Special Programs
- Certificates of Concentration—Toledo Law offers two certificates of concentration that permit a student to focus in a particular field of interest: Criminal Law and Labor and Employment Law. Although not required for graduation, the certificates of concentration are excellent preparation for the practice of law in these specialty areas.
- Joint Degrees—In conjunction with other colleges and departments at The University of Toledo, Toledo Law offers five joint-degree programs, leading to both a Juris Doctor degree and one of the following graduate degrees: Master of Business Administration, Master of Public Health, Master of Public Administration, Master of Science in Engineering, and Doctor of Medicine. They also offer a joint program with the Graduate Certificate in Disability Studies.
- Legal Clinics and Externships—Our clinical and externship offerings are an important component of the educational experience for our students. With each student required to complete four credits of clinical or externship work, Toledo Law’s wide variety of programs provide students the opportunity to gain practical skills while representing real clients or working in the larger legal community. Clinical and externship opportunities include the Civil Advocacy Clinic, Corporate Counsel Externship, Immigrant Justice Clinic, Mediation Externship, Public Service Externship, and Tax Controversy Clinic.
- Speaker Series, Symposia, and National Conferences—Toledo Law offers a top-notch speaker series and multiple symposia and conferences. Notable annual events include the Great Lakes Water Conference, Law Review Symposium, the Cannon Lecture Series, and the Stranahan Lecture Series.
Student Life
Student Life
The University of Toledo Law Review is published four times a year by student members who are selected on the basis of academic performance and a writing competition. Training and practice in brief writing and oral argument beyond the required Lawyering Skills courses are obtained through the Moot Court Program. There are also competitive opportunities through several national and regional moot court competitions as well as Toledo Law’s annual intraschool Charles W. Fornoff Appellate Advocacy Competition.
Our many active student organizations include:
- American Bar Association – Law Student Division
- Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Chapter
- American Constitution Society
- Black Law Student Association
- Business Law Society
- Christian Legal Society
- Criminal Justice Society
- Delta Theta Phi
- Disability & Education Law Association
- Environmental Law Society
- Family & Juvenile Law Society
- The Federalist Society
- Intellectual Property Law Society
- International Law Society
- Jewish Law Student Association
- Labor and Employment Law Association
- Latino/a Law Student Association
- Law Review
- Middle Eastern and North African Law Student Association
- Mindful Advocates Association
- Mock Trial Team
- Moot Court
- National Lawyer’s Guild
- Night Student Association
- OUTLaw (LGBTQ+)
- Phi Alpha Delta
- Public Interest Law Association
- Sports Law Association
- Student Bar Association
- Women’s Law Student Association
In and Around Toledo
Toledo is one of the five largest metropolitan areas in Ohio and is within 60 miles of Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan. Toledo offers the cultural amenities of a big city with an affordable cost of living and close-knit feel of a small town. There is plenty to do with a symphony, ballet, world-class art museum, hands-on science museum, professional sports teams, extensive metro parks system, and one of the top zoos in the nation.
Toledo also provides prime access to legal opportunities. The city of Toledo is home to local, state, and federal courts as well as law firms, legal service organizations, large corporations, and nonprofits. Additionally, the Toledo Bar Association offers membership to law students and is a great resource for networking in the local legal community.
Career Placement and Bar Passage
Tuition and Aid
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition |
$25,284.00
|
| Expected Cost of Attendance |
$44,464.00
|
Toledo Law provides a nationally ranked legal education at an affordable cost. Toledo Law awards scholarships in excess of $1 million each year and all admitted students are considered for scholarship awards without a separate application. In 2023, over 70% of our entering class received a merit scholarship. Additionally, all scholarship recipients keep their awards as long as they maintain good academic standing (2.0 GPA). Federal student loans, including Stafford and Graduate PLUS Loans, and Federal Work-Study opportunities are also available.
Out-Of-State Student Surcharge
Students who apply as residents of Monroe County, Michigan, pay in-state tuition plus a $1 out-of-state surcharge per semester. All other out-of-state students pay in-state tuition plus a $100 surcharge per semester. This scholarship is awarded at the time of application and automatically renews each semester of law school enrollment.
Admission Decisions: Beyond the Numbers
Applicants can apply to start law school in August. Completed applications must be received by August 1 (fall start). Applications are reviewed by our Admissions Committee and accepted on a rolling basis.
The Admissions Committee considers undergraduate grades and transcripts, LSAT, JD Next, or GRE scores, recommendations, professional experience, postgraduate educational experience, extracurricular activities, community service and involvement, and a personal statement.
Applicants must have received a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university before the first day of law classes, or be admitted under an established 3+3 program. We do not require any particular prelaw curriculum, but recommend that students take courses to enhance analytical and writing skills.
Admitted Applicant Profile
