Online Master of Laws in Energy & Natural Resources Law

Handle complex deals and negotiations in the energy and natural resources industries

YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE

Complete the form below to learn more about our online programs and how to get started.

By submitting this form, I consent to the University of Oklahoma (OU) and its agents contacting me about educational opportunities via automated calls, text messages, and/or email at the number and email provided. Message and data rates may apply. Consent is not required to attend the OU or to receive information by other means. For details on how OU collects and protects your information, review the Privacy Policy.

At a Glance

Earn your LLM in Energy and Natural Resources Law in as little as 12 months as a full-time student or 15 months while working full-time. Develop expertise across the entire energy life cycle, including drafting oil and gas contracts, negotiating mineral rights, and navigating complex regulatory frameworks.

OU Law offers a premier learning environment, uniquely positioned in the heart of the energy industry. Our renowned faculty bring real-world experience in oil, gas, and energy law, providing practical insights that go beyond the classroom. With small class sizes and a collaborative online format, you’ll join a close-knit community that supports your success.

100% Online

Time to Complete:

12+ Months

Credit Hours:

Time Commitment:

10 to 20 Hours Weekly

start dates

Fall, Spring

cost

Oklahoma residents pay $612.65 per credit hour, plus $201.30 in additional fees per credit hour and a $2,617.50* per-semester fee.

Non-residents pay $1,111.90 per credit hour, plus $201.30 in additional fees per credit hour and a $2,617.50* per-semester fee.

*The LLM semester fee is reduced by $2,500 after the 4th semester.

YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE

Complete the form below to learn more about our online programs and how to get started.

By submitting this form, l consent to the University of Oklahoma (OU) and its agents contacting me about educational opportunities via automated calls, text messages, and/or email at the number and email provided. Message and data rates may apply. Consent is not required to attend the OU or to receive information by other means. For details on how OU collects and protects your information, review the Privacy Policy.

About the Online LLM in Energy & Natural Resources Law

The OU College of Law’s online LLM in Energy and Natural Resources Law is a 24-credit-hour program designed for practicing attorneys and recent law graduates who want to deepen their expertise in energy and natural resources law. This advanced degree equips you with the legal knowledge to navigate the complexities of the energy or oil and gas industries from every angle.

Whether you are expanding your current practice or preparing for future roles in energy and natural resources law, this program delivers a comprehensive curriculum that covers upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors. You’ll gain practical skills in contract law, mineral rights, and regulatory compliance—essential tools for managing high-stakes negotiations and transactions.

Courses are taught by experienced legal scholars and industry practitioners, delivered in flexible seven-week modules with two modules per semester. With a short break between modules, the program fits seamlessly into your professional schedule. You’ll build a competitive edge in the energy sector, whether you’re drafting oil and gas contracts, handling real estate transactions, or collaborating with legal teams on complex deals.

LLM in Energy and Natural Resources Law: Fuel Your Future

Earning your online LLM in Energy and Natural Resources Law from the University of Oklahoma College of Law positions you for high-impact roles across the energy sector and oil and gas industry. This specialized degree opens doors to in-demand careers in oil and gas, renewable energy, environmental law, regulatory compliance, and beyond. Accelerate your career in these areas:

Public Interest Litigation
Lobbying and Legislation
In-House Legal Counsel
Policy Advisor
Law School Instructor

International Environmental Law
Law Firms
Chief Legal Officer
International Relations/Diplomacy

Program Outcomes: Skills That Set You Apart in Energy and Natural Resources Law

OU College of Law’s online LLM in Energy and Natural Resources Law delivers a comprehensive understanding of the legal challenges and opportunities shaping the global energy industry. You will be prepared to:

Lead in energy and natural resources law and policy, driving sustainable development across all forms of energy and natural resources with a focus on environmental responsibility
Navigate complex deals and negotiations with a strong legal foundation tailored to the energy sector
Apply legal expertise across the entire energy lifecycle, including upstream, midstream, and downstream operations
Master contract law in energy and natural resources, including oil and gas agreements, real estate transactions, mineral rights negotiations, and more

Course Details

The Master of Laws in Energy and Natural Resources Law delivers a deep dive into the legal frameworks that power the energy industry. This program emphasizes contract and real property law, legal drafting, oil and gas law, regulatory practice, and energy development on public lands. You’ll gain the specialized legal knowledge needed to navigate complex transactions and regulatory landscapes across the energy sector—and much more.

Foundations of Contract Law for the Energy Industry

Credit Hours: 2

Explores the formation, drafting, interpretation and enforceability of contractual promises. Subjects include contract formation, performance, termination of contracts, material breach, remedies for breach of contract, mistake and excuse for nonperformance, statute of frauds, interpretation of contract language, conditions, assignment and delegation, and third-party beneficiaries.

Introduction to Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences

Credit Hours: 1

Presents an overview of the production life cycle from discovery to development and production of oil and gas. The course examines the different roles of the key players in each stage of this process.

Oil and Gas Law

Credit Hours: 2

Nature of property interests in oil and gas; conveyancing of interests in oil and gas; legal interests created by oil and gas leases; validity of leases; habendum, drilling, and rental clauses; assignment of interests of lessor and lessee; rents and royalties; and conservation of oil and gas.

Mineral Title Examination

Credit Hours: 3

This course may no longer be offered. If you believe there is an error or require more information, please contact the course department.

Oil and Gas Contracts

Credit Hours: 3

Examination of specific provisions in contracts prevalent in the oil and gas industry for exploration, production, and development of oil and gas properties and for investment; the nature of the relationships created by such contracts; the rights and duties of the parties; income tax consequences of particular contracts.

Water Law for the Energy Industry

Credit Hours: 1

The system of water rights as related for energy extraction and development, including riparian, appropriation, and prescriptive rights; stream, surface, and ground water; transfer and termination of rights; injuries caused by water; development of water supplies; federal-state, interstate, and intrastate conflicts; water pollution control; federal and Indian rights; and federal water resource problems.

Oil and Gas Development of Public Lands

Credit Hours: 3

Examines the oil and gas leasing and development of onshore federal, state, and Indian lands. Explores the leasing of railroad rights of way and lands belonging to local governments.

Negotiations, Communication, and Ethics

Credit Hours: 2

Teaches effective negotiation and communication skills through a series of mock negotiation exercises. In addition, this course will discuss ethical dilemmas raised in the oil and gas industry.

Introduction to Property Law and Natural Resources

Credit Hours: 2

Introduces basic property concepts relevant for the oil and gas and energy industries, including adverse possession; estates in land; mineral title, surface title, co-ownership, non-possessory interests (including easements, real covenants and equitable servitudes).

Legal Drafting

Credit Hours: 2

How does one discover a client's objectives and then translate them into legal text (contracts, etc.) that has the best chance of accomplishing what the client wants? This skills course considers many different forms of legal drafting, focusing primarily on legal work intended for oil and gas contracts and surface-related agreement drafting.

Real Estate Transactions

Credit Hours: 2

A study of the terms and legal issues involved in drafting, executing, enforcing, and recording real estate contracts, including obtaining and evaluating title evidence, different types of deeds, and basic financing.

Oil and Gas Environmental Law

Credit Hours: 2

Examines federal and state environmental laws that affect oil and gas lease transactions, drilling and completion operations, and production activities.

Legal Research for the Energy Industry

Credit Hours: 1

Students will be instructed on how to conduct energy-related research using a variety of sources, but especially using online resources

Oil and Gas Regulatory Practice

Credit Hours: 3

Offers a practical skills approach to oil and gas practice. This course will examine the regulation of oil and gas exploration, development, and production, including conservation law designed to prevent waste and protect correlative rights. The class will address securing a drilling permit, settling surface damage, well spacing and density.

Midstream Oil and Gas Law

Credit Hours: 1

Provides an overview and an examination of the legal issues facing the midstream oil and gas industry. Midstream industry provides the infrastructure necessary to gather, process, transport, store and market crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids, and refined products.

Project Economics and Finance

Credit Hours: 2

Introduces the economics and finance of capital-intensive projects, especially those involving power generation, public infrastructure, and extractive industries. Students will receive a broad overview of the project finance market, showing a typical project finance deal and the main players involved. The costs, benefits, and risks associated with project finance are also described.

Why Choose OU for Energy and Natural Resources Law

The OU College of Law stands out as a top destination for earning your Master of Laws in Energy and Natural Resources Law. Backed by the University of Oklahoma’s commitment to innovation and academic excellence, OU Law combines deep expertise in energy law with a legacy of value. The college’s Juris Doctor program consistently ranks among the nation’s best for value, making it a smart investment for advancing your legal career.

Faculty Expertise

Faculty members are carefully selected for their expertise in all aspects of energy and natural resources law. They draw from their in-depth experience and research to address the latest legal and political changes across all energy industries.

Robust Student Support

OU Online and the OU College of Law accommodate the needs of working professionals, allowing you to expand your energy law expertise while maintaining full-time employment. The program offers robust student support services, including academic support, online tutoring, mental health counseling, and an online career development center.

Global Alumni Network

As a Sooner, you’ll be part of a powerful community of leaders working in all aspects of the energy industry, helping you expand your legal career. With over 250,000 alumni worldwide, joining the OU Online community means gaining access to a global network of legal and business professionals.

Flexible Format

The Master of Laws in Energy and Natural Resources Law is delivered 100 percent online in a flexible format designed for working professionals around the world. Study from anywhere while building specialized legal expertise that advances your career in the energy industry. Earn your degree in as little as 12 months as a full-time student or 15 months while continuing to work full-time.

Tailored Experience

Courses are fully asynchronous to give you maximum flexibility, while still offering a highly interactive and engaging learning experience. You’ll move through the program with a small, focused cohort of professionals who share your passion for energy and natural resources law. Through dynamic discussion boards, optional live lectures, personalized one-on-one support, and collaborative online activities, you’ll stay connected and supported—while learning at your own pace, on your own schedule.

Cost & Financial Aid

Earning your degree in Energy and Natural Resources Law is a strategic investment in your future—and OU Online is committed to making that investment as accessible and transparent as possible.

Oklahoma residents pay $612.65 per credit hour, plus $201.30 in additional fees per credit hour and a $2,617.50* per-semester fee.

Non-residents pay $1,111.90 per credit hour, plus $201.30 in additional fees per credit hour and a $2,617.50* per-semester fee.

*The LLM semester fee is reduced by $2,500 after the 4th semester.

Financial aid, scholarships, and employer tuition assistance may be available to help reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Our dedicated financial services team is here to support you every step of the way—so you can stay focused on your education and career goals.

For questions about financial aid for your online program, contact the Online Aid office at onlineaid@ou.edu or call 405-325-2929.

Take the Next Step

Each application to the LLM in Energy and Natural Resources Law is reviewed with care to build a cohort of driven professionals who will thrive in the program and enrich the learning experience. The admissions process is holistic, considering more than just GPAs, test scores, and academic metrics. We value diverse experiences, professional accomplishments, and a demonstrated passion for energy and natural resources law. Minimum qualifications for admission to the LL.M. program include the following:

A Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited U.S. law school or a first professional degree in law from a country outside the United States.
A B- or higher cumulative GPA or equivalent for courses counted toward the law degree or standing at median class rank or higher.
The committee may consider exceptional circumstances in admitting a student cumulative whose GPA relating to the law degree is below a B-.

Application Timeline

The admissions committee follows a rolling admissions process*, reviewing applications as they are received. While admissions may remain open until two weeks before classes begin, some programs may set earlier deadlines. Once your application is complete, the committee aims to provide a decision within two weeks—so you can plan your next steps with confidence. *This program typically has an earlier application deadline than the standard 14 days prior to the intended start. Please check directly with the program to ensure your application is received in time.

Step 1

Contact an Enrollment Coach to discuss your qualifications and interest in the program.

Step 2

Complete the online application.

Step 3

Provide supplemental materials, including a resume, personal statement, and undergraduate transcripts.