| Order of the Coif | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 1902 University of Illinois College of Law |
| Type | Honor society |
| Affiliation | Independent |
| Former Affiliation | ACHS |
| Status | Active |
| Emphasis | law graduates |
| Scope | National |
| Colors | Maroon and Black |
| Symbol | Serjeant-at-law with Wig and Coif |
| Chapters | 87 |
| Members | 25,000 lifetime |
| Headquarters | West Virginia University College of Law 101 Law School Drive Morgantown, West Virginia 26506 United States |
| Website | orderofthecoif |
The Order of the Coif (/ˈkɔɪf/) is an American honor society for law school graduates. The Order was founded in 1902 at the University of Illinois College of Law.[1][2] The name is a reference to the ancient English order of advocates, the serjeants-at-law, whose courtroom attire included a coif—a white lawn or silk skullcap, which came to be represented by a round piece of white lace worn on top of the advocate's wig. A student who earns a Juris Doctor degree and graduates in the top ten percent of their class is eligible for membership if the student's law school has a chapter of the Order.[3]
- ^ Gasaway, Laura N. "History". www.orderofthecoif.org. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
- ^ Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VI-127-128. ISBN 978-0963715906.
- ^ Order of the Coif Constitution 2003 [cited herein as Constitution]. Retrieved January 2, 2010.