Order of the Coif

History

The University of Illinois College of Law established what would become the Order of the Coif in 1902. According to the organization's constitution, "The purpose of The Order is to encourage excellence in legal education by fostering a spirit of careful study, recognizing those who as law students attained a high grade of scholarship, and honoring those who as lawyers, judges and teachers attained high distinction for their scholarly or professional accomplishments."

In the late 19th century, several leading American law schools had established honors fraternities to recognize scholarship and distinction within the ranks of Juris Doctors in the United States. One of these, at the University of Illinois, was originally named Theta Kappa Nu. It inspired several additional chapters in Nebraska, Missouri, and Wisconsin. A local legal honor society had formed in 1907 at Northwestern University, adopting the name Order of the Coif, but three years later, in 1910, it would accept a charter from Theta Kappa Nu. Even with this charter, the Northwestern group retained use of the earlier name, which was one of the factors that necessitated a discussion and eventual negotiation of a merger, and not just an absorption.

Also, in 1910, chapters at Iowa and Michigan were formed. Rapid expansion and divergent practices at these early schools led to calls for a national convention. At this meeting, in 1911, it was determined to adopt the original name of the Northwestern group, the Order of the Coif, along with a revised constitution that was fully ratified in 1912. Thus the American Order of the Coif dates to its earliest group, in Illinois, from 1902, and adopted its name from both the Northwestern group and its institutional inspiration, the English Order.

By 1962, the society had 48 chapters and 13,061 living members. As of 2025, it has 87 chapters and 25,000 initiates. It is headquartered in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Symbols

The symbolism of the Order of the Coif is far older, having evolved from the legal traditions of the Middle Ages in England. The Coif itself originated as a tight-fitting headpiece once used by both men and women. A version of this, in the form a close-fitting hood that covered all but the face, was adopted as a symbol for those barristers who had been recognized as serjeants-at-law and thus formed the narrow pool of legal practitioners who could be appointed judges of the Court of Common Pleas or, later, of the King's Bench. With this distinctive apparel, the serjeants-at-law became known as "serjeants of the coif" and their group within society as the original Order of the Coif; this predecessor inspired the name and markings of the American Order, although beyond inspiration, there is no legal connection between the two.

A new member receives a certificate of membership, a badge of membership for wear during academic ceremonies, a Coif key, and in some cases an actual coif or a representation of one. The society's gold key features a relief bust of a sergeant-at-law wearing a wig and coif and the name "Order of the Coif". Its colors are maroon and black.

Membership

The induction process varies by law school, but students are generally notified of their membership after the final class ranks at their schools are announced. The basic requirement for membership is ranking in the top ten percent of a member school's graduating class. If a member law school graduates fewer than thirty students, it may induct its top three students. A school can decide not to allow an otherwise eligible student to receive the honor and may impose additional requirements for membership beyond the organization's national requirement of being in the top ten percent of the class.

Each member school may also induct a faculty member and one honorary member each year. The national organization's executive committee may also elect a limited number of honorary members. Those chosen for honorary membership are usually U.S. Supreme Court justices and other preeminent members of the legal profession.

Chapters

Main article: List of Order of the Coif chapters

As of 2022, 87 of 203 United States law schools accredited by the American Bar Association to award the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree had Order of the Coif chapters.

Notable members

Main article: List of Order of the Coif members

Notes

References

References

1. Gasaway, Laura N.. "History".
2. ''[https://www.orderofthecoif.org/constitution/ Order of the Coif Constitution] § 2.2. April 14, 2003''
3. (1952). "Legal Fraternities". The Michigan Law Review Association.
4. {{Bairds17
5. ''[https://orderofthecoif.org/constitution/ Order of the Coif Constitution] §§ 7.2. April 14, 2003''
6. ''[https://orderofthecoif.org/constitution/ Order of the Coif Constitution] §§ 5.1–5.2. April 14, 2003''
7. ''[https://orderofthecoif.org/constitution/ Order of the Coif Constitution]. §§ 5.3–5.4(a). April 14, 2003.''
8. ''[https://orderofthecoif.org/constitution/ Order of the Coif Constitution]. § 5.4(b). April 14, 2003.''
9. "Honorary Members".
10. (14 December 2022). "Member Schools". Order of the Coif.
11. "Council-Approved Law Schools". American Bar Association.