Order of the Coif
| Order of the Coif | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1902 University of Illinois College of Law |
| Type | Honor |
| 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. The name is a reference to the ancient English order of trial lawyers, 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.