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Online Master of Laws in Energy & Natural Resources Law

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

START HERE

Share a few details and we'll connect you with an enrollment coach to discuss your goals and next steps.

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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:

24

Time Commitment:

10 to 20 Hours Weekly

start dates

Fall, Spring, & Summer

cost

Oklahoma Residents: $643.30 per credit hour, plus additional fees of $201.30* per credit hour and $2,617.50 per semester.

Non-Residents: $1,167.50 per credit hour, plus additional fees of $201.30* per credit hour and $2,617.50 per semester.

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

START HERE

Share a few details and we'll connect you with an enrollment coach to discuss your goals and next steps.

By submitting my information, I consent to being contacted by The University of Oklahoma and/or OU Education Services via SMS/text message, phone, email, and other electronic means, including through the use of an automatic telephone dialing system, AI-powered technologies, and artificial or pre-recorded voice, for purposes related to OU’s program portfolio; my contact information will not be shared with third-party affiliates. Message and data rates may apply. Opt-out of communications any time by replying STOP to SMS, asking to be removed during a call, or clicking the unsubscribe link in emails. For support, refer to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service for more details.

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Thanks for your interest in OU Online! At this time, we don't offer any online programs that align with your current experience or education level. Please revisit us in the future to find a program that best fits your goals or explore our on campus programs at ou.edu

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Note: Applicants residing in states not participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), or in states where the program does not meet licensure requirements (e.g., California, Nevada, Oregon, Virginia, Idaho, etc.), are not eligible for enrollment.

Note: Applicants residing in states not participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), or in states where the program does not meet licensure requirements (e.g., California, Nevada, Oregon, Virginia, Idaho, etc.), are not eligible for enrollment.

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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.

If you do not hold a law degree but are seeking to gain a strong understanding of energy and natural resources law, you may be interested in the Online Master of Legal Studies in Energy & Natural Resources Law program.

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.

The Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (the “Council”) does not accredit or approve non-J.D. degrees or certificates. In its review of non-J.D. degree program applications, the Council determines whether the proposed degree program will interfere with the ability of the law school to operate in compliance with the Standards and to carry out its program of legal education. Acquiescence in a degree other than the J.D. degree is not an approval of the degree itself, and, therefore, the law school may not announce that the degree is approved by the Council. The accreditation of non-J.D. degree programs are subject to the oversight of the law school’s or its university’s national accreditor.

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

Our Faculty

Robert M. Linz

Interim Director, Law Library Robert Linz is the Interim Director of OU’s law library. In this role, he teaches legal research and assists with library administration. Prior to joining OU, Linz worked as a law librarian at the University of Colorado Law School where he managed the public services department, taught legal research, and helped develop and maintain the law library website and oversaw various digitization projects. He authored a text on researching Colorado law, Colorado Legal Research, published by Carolina Academic Press. He also published articles on research methods, Colorado state bibliographies, and various library resources and technologies. He enjoys photography and taking care of his family.

Joseph A. Schremmer

Joseph A. Schremmer

Eugene Kuntz Chair of Law in Oil, Gas, & Natural Resources Joe Schremmer holds the Eugene Kuntz Chair of Law in Oil, Gas, & Natural Resources at the University of Oklahoma College of Law. He teaches courses in oil and gas, energy, natural resources, and first-year property and contract law. His scholarship focuses on property rights in natural resources, particularly subsurface natural resources, with recent work examining correlative rights, waste, subsurface trespass, pore space, and split estates. Since 2024, he has served as the sole update and revision author of Kuntz, A Treatise on the Law of Oil and Gas and co-authors The Law of Oil and Gas: Cases and Materials. He also serves as faculty director of the College of Law’s Oil and Gas, Natural Resources, and Energy Law Center and Energy and Natural Resources Graduate Program. Before joining OU in 2023, Schremmer was the Judge Leon Karelitz Oil and Gas Law Professor at the University of New Mexico School of Law. He previously practiced oil and gas law in Wichita, Kansas, handling title examination, transactional matters, regulatory proceedings, and civil litigation. He served as editor-in-chief of the Kansas Law Review and received the Samuel Mellinger Award as the top overall graduate in scholarship, leadership, and service.

J. David Hampton

J. David Hampton

Adjunct Professor J. David Hampton is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Law and Price College of Business. He joined the College of Law faculty in 2008 and the Price College of Business faculty in 2015. He teaches courses in mineral title examination, real property, oil and gas contracts and law, property and natural resources, and real estate transactions. After earning his JD from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, Hampton founded Hampton and Milligan, a law firm in downtown Oklahoma City specializing in oil and gas title examination and law, wills and trusts, estate administration, environmental law, and real estate title examination. He also lectures for the American Association of Petroleum Landmen, the Oklahoma City Association of Petroleum Landmen, and energy companies and other organizations. In 2014, the Oklahoma City Association of Petroleum Landmen honored him with the William M. Majors, Jr., CPL Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry.

Kevin Gottshall

Kevin Gottshall

Adjunct Professor Kevin Gottshall joined the University of Oklahoma as an adjunct professor in 2016. He has more than 25 years of experience as a transactional attorney in the oil and gas industry, managing transactions related to the exploration, development, and production of hydrocarbons across the U.S. onshore, Gulf of Mexico, and international markets. He began his legal career as a clerk for the Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court before joining Kerr-McGee Corporation, where he held increasingly senior legal, land, and negotiation roles, including Senior Counsel and Director of International Negotiations. He later served as General Manager of Land and Negotiations for Murphy Exploration and Production Company, managing attorneys and landmen responsible for domestic and international land and negotiation functions.

Paul Trimble

Adjunct Professor Paul Trimble is an oil and gas attorney with more than 25 years of experience handling complex transactions and litigation involving the energy industry. He has served as in-house counsel for an energy company and as a private practice attorney, representing clients in federal and state courts and before the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Trimble is an adjunct professor at the University of Oklahoma, where he has taught in the Price College of Business and Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering. In 2008, he received the inaugural Dr. William H. Keown Distinguished Lectureship Award. He currently teaches Oil and Gas Law as an adjunct professor at Oklahoma City University School of Law. Trimble has also been recognized by Chambers USA and Best Lawyers in America.

Gail Mullins

Professor of Practice Gail Mullins has a background in medical technology and law, bringing experience in healthcare and legal education to her work at OU Law. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology from Oklahoma State University, completed a clinical internship at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, and earned her JD with highest honors from the University of Oklahoma. Before joining the OU Law faculty, Mullins practiced law in Oklahoma and served as a lobbyist to the Oklahoma state legislature. She has taught legal research and writing, appellate advocacy, bioethics, and legal drafting and currently teaches Bioethics and the Law and other courses at OU Law. She is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, American Bar Association, and Legal Writing Institute.

Brian McCall

Professor of Law Brian McCall is the Orpha and Maurice Merrill Chair in Law at the University of Oklahoma College of Law. His teaching and scholarship focus on corporate and commercial law, finance, secured transactions, and legal philosophy. Before joining OU Law in 2006, McCall practiced at the international law firm Dechert LLP, focusing on cross-border mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance transactions. He practiced in the firm’s London office from 1999 to 2006 and became a partner in 2004, advising clients including Citigroup, JPMorgan, the London Stock Exchange, Comcast, Tate & Lyle, and Rabobank. McCall has written extensively on corporate governance, commercial law, legal philosophy, and credit regulation and has spoken at conferences on consumer finance, corporate governance, international securities offerings, and private equity law. He earned his BA from Yale University, MA from King’s College London as a Fulbright Scholar, and JD, summa cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania.

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

Program Outcomes: What You'll Learn

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.

Expand each section below to view more about the courses included in this program, including detailed course descriptions.

For complete curriculum information, including required courses and degree requirements, visit the program’s official Courseleaf page: View the full curriculum.

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: $643.30 per credit hour, plus additional fees of $201.30* per credit hour and $2,617.50 per semester.

Non-Residents: $1,167.50 per credit hour, plus additional fees of $201.30* per credit hour and $2,617.50 per semester.

*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.

A nonrefundable deposit of $350 is required upon admission to secure your place in the program. This deposit guarantees your spot in your first semester of courses and will be applied toward your first semester’s tuition.

* Please be aware that tuition and fees may change, as determined by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

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 LLM 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-.

Admissions Requirements

Complete an online application
Submit a current resume
Provide official transcripts from all institutions attended*
Provide a personal Statement

*Sealed official transcripts from all previous institutions should be sent directly to the University of Oklahoma.

Sending digitally is preferred to lawtranscripts@ou.edu.

If you are sending physical copies, please send to:

The University of Oklahoma College of Law
ATTN: MLS/LLM Programs
300 Timberdell Road
Norman, OK 73019

Application Timeline

The admissions committee follows a rolling admissions process*, with applications accepted up to two weeks before classes begin. Some programs may require earlier submission, so applying early is encouraged. The committee aims to respond to all applicants within two weeks of receiving a completed application.

*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.