Overview

Applicants
585
Acceptance Rate
66%
Median Undergrad GPA
3.15
Accepted Applicants Who Attend
91

Test Scores

LSAT
25th-75th percentile
(enrolled students)
150 - 157

Application Process

Rolling Admissions
Yes

Application Fee
$0

CAS Service Used
Yes

Applicants accepted in terms other than fall
Yes

Transfer Applicants Accepted
Yes

Deferred Admission
Yes

Other Admission Factors

Academic

LSAT Score
Undergraduate GPA

Selectivity Rating

Faculty Information

Student/Faculty
11:1
Total Faculty
47

36
Female
14.8
Underrepresented Minorities


Students Say

Willamette University College of Law is 鈥渁 smaller school in the Pacific Northwest,鈥 鈥渋n the state capital city鈥 of Salem, Oregon. Highlights here include an exemplary legal research and writing program. A JD/MBA program allows students to earn both degrees in four years. There are three journals, six specialized clinics, and a broad externship program. Certificates are available in dispute resolution, business law, international and comparative law (reportedly 鈥渨onderful鈥), law and government, and sustainability law. Study abroad programs in Hamburg, Germany; Quito, Ecuador; and Shanghai, China are another big hit. Students also laud their surroundings. 鈥淭he facilities at Willamette are, by far, among the best,鈥 they say. The 鈥渂eautiful building鈥 is located on the peaceful and collegiate-looking campus of the larger university. Classrooms are recently renovated and modern. 鈥淵ou have access to the library 24/7,鈥 too, which can be an invaluable perk when finals roll around each semester.
Classes are definitely on the smaller side, and they鈥檙e generally 鈥渆ntertaining.鈥 鈥淭he greatest strength of Willamette Law has to be the faculty,鈥 relates a 2L. 鈥淭he faculty is knowledgeable, accessible, and seems to generally enjoy teaching students鈥攁n extremely valuable trifecta.鈥 The 鈥渧ery helpful鈥 top brass gets a lot of love as well. 鈥淭he school鈥檚 administration works as effectively as possible,鈥 says a 3L. 鈥淭hey are very focused on getting us to pass the bar,鈥 agrees a happy 1L, 鈥渁nd very focused on getting us a job post-graduation.鈥
Course scheduling is probably the biggest single source of frustration among students. After the first year, it can be hard to get into the classes you want (and occasionally need). The fairly strict grading curve comes in for some grief as well. 鈥淕rade deflation鈥 is alive and well, and a handful of 1Ls at the bottom of the class at Willamette are inevitably asked to leave each year. On one hand, it鈥檚 an intimidating situation. On the other hand, it 鈥渨ill really help motivate.鈥
When the time comes to get a job as an actual attorney, there鈥檚 good news and bad news for newly minted Willamette alums. On the minus side, the generally mild climate and the culture of Oregon are both professionally appealing for many people. Competition for jobs (especially in Portland) is fierce because the legal market is not huge and a lot of transplant lawyers want to work in the state. On the plus side, the law school here is 鈥渄own the street from鈥 the Capitol building and various courts. Consequently, students have 鈥渇antastic access鈥 to state legislative bodies, state courts, and state agencies. 鈥淕reat networking opportunities鈥 and prospects for practical experience outside of school abound. Students can 鈥渃ooperate with the judicial process鈥 in ways that students at the other two law schools in the state cannot.

Career overview

Pass Rate for First-Time Bar Exam
64%
% of graduates who are employed within ten months of graduation
83%

Career Services

On campus summer employment recruitment for first year JD students
Yes

On campus summer employment recruitment for second year JD students
Yes

# of Employers that Recruit on Campus Each Year
30

Employers who most frequently hire graduates
Oregon Appellate Courts, Marion County District Attorney, Davis Wright Tremaine, Stahancyk, Kent & Hook, Lane County Circuit Court, Oregon Department of Justice, Oregon Legislature

Graduates Employed by Area

42%
Private Practice
14%
Judicial Clerkships
11%
Business/Industry
9%
Government
3%
Public Interes
1%
Academic

Graduates Employed by Region

89%
Pacific
5%
Mountain
2%
South West
1%
International
1%
South
1%
MidWest

Prominent Alumni

Lisa Murkowski
U.S. Senator, State of Alaska

Jay Inslee
Governor, State of Washington

Virginia Linder
Justice, State of Oregon Supreme Court

Mark Prater
Chief Tax Counsel, US Senate Committee on Finance

Paul De Muniz
Retired Chief Justice, Oregon Supreme Court

Dates

Financial Aid Rating
Mar 15
Application Deadlines
Mar 1

Financial Aid Statistics

Average Annual Total Aid Package Awarded
$55,918

% Students Receiving Some Aid
94%

Expenses per Academic Year

Tuition
$38,950
Estimated Off-Campus Room and Board
$15,836
Estimated Cost for Books / Academic Expense
$1,584
Fees
$180

Student Body Profile

Total Enrollment
318
Parent Institution Enrollement
2,673

Average Age at Entry
26

Demographics

18.80%
% Under-represented Minorities

98% are full time
2% are part time
51% female
49% male

Campus Life

Students Say

Students tell us that ethnic diversity is 鈥渋ncreasing鈥 at Willamette. More than 20 percent of the population here represents some minority group. 鈥淣o longer can you count the number of minority students on one hand.鈥 Diversity shows itself in other ways, too. There鈥檚 a decent-sized contingent of older students who are looking to transition into another, more lucrative career, for example. Also, just more than half the students come from a state other than Oregon. Some students are 鈥渧ery competitive鈥 when it comes to grades. At the same time, 鈥淲illamette is a tight-knit community.鈥 鈥淧eople generally hang out with the same group of friends they made in their first year of law school, but everyone still remains friendly to others.鈥
Views about life outside the classroom vary. Some students consider the 鈥渟mall鈥 surrounding burg of Salem 鈥渁n inexpensive and livable town in a pleasant state.鈥 They call the immediate location 鈥済reat for serious students.鈥 They point out that 鈥淪alem is less than an hour鈥檚 drive from Portland and is in the heart of wine country.鈥 They also note that temperatures are mild all year, and the surrounding area is a paradise for lovers of the outdoors. Opportunities for hiking, skiing, and frolicking at the beach are all within relatively easy reach. Closer to home, students also have access to a fabulous campus recreation center.

More Information

% of Classrooms with Internet Access
100%

Admissions Office Contact

Contact
J.R. Tarabocchia
Director of Recruitment

Address
245 Winter Street SE
Salem, OR 97301-3922

Phone
503-370-6282

Email
law-admission@willamette.edu


Articles & Advice