Order of the Coif

Order of the Coif
Founded1902; 122 years ago (1902)
University of Illinois College of Law
TypeHonor society
AffiliationIndependent
Former AffiliationACHS
StatusActive
Emphasislaw graduates
ScopeNational
Colors  Maroon and   Black
SymbolSerjeant-at-law with Wig and Coif
Chapters87
Members25,000 lifetime
HeadquartersWest Virginia University College of Law
101 Law School Drive

Morgantown, West Virginia 26506
United States
Websiteorderofthecoif.org

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]

  1. ^ Gasaway, Laura N. "History". www.orderofthecoif.org. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Order of the Coif Constitution 2003 [cited herein as Constitution]. Retrieved January 2, 2010.