University of Oregon School of Law

Oregon Law

The University of Oregon School of Law has seen an increase in its rankings, increasing to #67 from last year’s #72. This is the highest ranking the school has had in at least two decades. Oregon law remains the top-ranked school in the state.

The University of Oregon School of Law is a respected institution in the Northwestern United States. It is known for its environmental activism and is especially well-equipped to train students for careers in public-interest law. However, Oregon is not a nationally prestigious school, so finding jobs after graduation may be difficult outside the region.

History

Oregon Law was founded in 1884 to provide legal education to those who could not receive it through working in lawyers' offices. Judge Matthew Deady, the president of the UO Board of Regents at the time, believed that the School of Law would be a great asset to the state. Check Oregon's History Timeline.

Diversity

At Oregon Law, they believe that diversity is a crucial and valuable component of their community's intellectual, educational, and social mission. Diversity helps us to achieve excellence as a competitive, world-class law school. Their immediate aim is to foster a more inclusive learning and working environment for students, faculty, staff, and community partners. Their broader aim is to learn, teach, and practice the principles of equity and justice in all they do.

Admissions

When you apply to the University of Oregon School of Law, you are applying to join a community of advocates, entrepreneurs, negotiators, visionaries and leaders who have been driving change in their communities for more than 130 years.

Statistics

Admissions Stats
Class of:	2020-2021	2021-2022
25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT	153 - 157 - 160	156 - 159 - 161
25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA	3.2 - 3.48 - 3.7	3.33 - 3.54 - 3.7
Acceptance rate	60.4%	48.8%
Applications received	1099	1543
Acceptances	664	753
Matriculants	195	177

The University of Oregon has a 1L class size of 174, and a yield of 22.18%. 167 out of 753 applicants who were offered admission accepted, meaning that 22.18% of the people who were offered admission ended up attending the school. The 1L class at the University of Oregon has a median LSAT of 159. The 25th percentile LSAT is 156 and the 75th percentile LSAT is 161. The median GPA is 3.54. The 25th percentile GPA is 3.33 and the 75th percentile GPA is 3.7.

General Process

Applicants must have earned a bachelor's degree from a U.S. or Canadian college or university accredited by a regional body. They must also possess an LSAT score within the last five years and submit a complete application. The application is processed through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and their Credential Assembly Service (CAS).

Application Requirements

To apply to Oregon Law, you must submit your application through the Law School Admission Council. There is no application fee. In your essay, you must explain why you would like to pursue your legal education at Oregon Law. You must also submit a résumé detailing your background, skills, accomplishments, personal statement, and letters of recommendation. Your academic transcripts and LSAT score(s) must also be submitted. The LSAT is required for all applicants, and your best score within five years will be accepted.

Double Duck Scholars Program

The Double Duck Scholars Program is a program that allows applicants who meet certain criteria to apply to the JD Program without taking the LSAT. In order to be eligible for consideration, the applicant must have a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon, have maintained a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50, and have scored at or above the 85th percentile on the SAT or ACT prior to entering the University of Oregon as an undergraduate student. Any Double Duck Scholars Program applicants with a valid LSAT score on file with the LSAC will be ineligible for admission through this program and may have their application and/or offer of admission withdrawn.

Transfer and Visitor Application Requirements

Oregon Law accepts transfer and visitor applications from students who have completed their first year at another American Bar Association-accredited school. To be considered for transfer admission, the following documents must be submitted through LSAC: -Transfer/Visitor Application for Admission-“Why Oregon?” Essay-Résumé-Credential Assembly Service Report (CAS)Additionally, the following required documents may be submitted directly to Oregon Law or through the LSAC CAS service: -Letter of Good Standing -Official Law School Transcript -Notation of Class Rank -Letter of Recommendation. To read a fantastic article about transferring, click here.

International Student Application Requirements

An international student is not a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien. To apply to law school, all international students must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) unless they have a bachelor's degree from a college or university in the United States and are English-speaking students from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom. A TOEFL score of at least 600 on the paper or 100 on the internet-based test is ordinarily required. The test must have been taken within two years (24 months) of the application term. If you are admitted to the law school, a financial institution must certify that you possess the necessary resources to cover educational and living expenses while in the United States.

They accept applications throughout the year, and we admit students on a rolling basis as long as there is space in the incoming class. However, applications received in late spring or summer may have a disadvantage in the admissions process. Admission decisions are typically made between January and May, and applicants are notified of the decision by email. If you are offered admission, you are required to make a $600 seat deposit to reserve your place in the class. Deposit deadlines are included in the letter of admission, and failure to meet a seat deposit deadline could result in losing your seat.

Cost of Attendance

The tuition and fees tables' figures are only estimates and are meant to help with planning purposes. Please refer to the Office of the Registrar's costs table for more specific calculations.

2022–23 Law Student Cost of Attendance
	Residents	Nonresidents
Tuition and Fees	$44,082	$54,864
On or Off-Campus Housing	$13,446	$13,446
Books and Supplies	$1,227	$1,227
Personal Expenses	$2,325	$2,325
Transportation	$393	$1,383
Estimated Total	$61,473	$73,245

Financial Aid

Suppose you are planning on applying to attend the University of Oregon. In that case, it is highly recommended that you fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible. This will allow you to apply for federal financial aid, including loans and work-study opportunities. The deadline to submit a FAFSA for the University of Oregon is March 1st each year. The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships at the University of Oregon is responsible for disbursing all federal financial aid, including loans (including GradPLUS loans) and work-study allocations.

JD Scholarship

JD program applicants are automatically considered for a merit-based scholarship. If you are awarded a merit scholarship, you will be notified of the amount and conditions of the scholarship in your acceptance letter. Scholarships are also available for rising 2Ls and 3Ls, and students are notified each spring about the opportunities available for the coming year. In recent years, nearly 50 donor-funded scholarships per year have been awarded!

Fellowships

The Oregon Law 1L Fellowship Program is a unique opportunity for a small group of entering first-year law students. The program provides a chance for students to work with a professor or program director to assist with project development, coordinating lectures and events, and performing research. As a 1L Fellow, you gain in-depth exposure in your fellowship area and have a role in impacting real-world problems. You also gain mentorship as you work closely with professors or program directors. 1L Fellowships take place during both semesters of a fellow’s 1L year and come with a modest tuition stipend. Fellowship opportunities in the 2L and 3L years are also available.

Employment Prospects & Bar Passage

Oregon Law

JD graduates from the University of Oregon make an average of $60,000 (median) when they graduate and enter the workforce. If they go into the private sector, they can expect to make around $53,500. A little more than a third of law graduates from the University of Oregon go on to work for law firms, while about a fifth clerk for a judge. Seventeen percent of graduates choose to go into public interest. Almost all University of Oregon graduates pass the bar on their first try.

What kind of jobs do Oregon grads get? As is almost always the case, most students end up in the private sector. In Oregon, the official percentage is around 57%. The other 43% of students were almost equally divided between clerkships, government, and business. Also notable is Oregon's 6% of graduates who work in the public interest. Relatively speaking, this is a higher number. The average starting salary for those who found private-sector work was $68,000. For public service, the number drops to $46,244.

Academics and Curriculum

Oregon is ranked in the top 10 for three different specialty law rankings according to USNews. This attests to the school's well-roundedness and its strong programs in legal writing, dispute resolution, and environmental law. The environmental law program is particularly notable, as Oregon is ranked 9th in the nation for this specialization. This is thanks in part to the school's strong public interest focus, which also manifests in a liberal bias among professors. However, students have opportunities to focus on tracks unrelated to public interest law, and the school offers joint degree programs for those who want to go above and beyond.

The academic community at Oregon Law provides you with the skills and knowledge you need to advocate for justice, your clients, or your cause. You'll learn from experienced legal professionals, engage in research that addresses real-world challenges, and interact with top lawyers, judges, and policy-makers.

Oregon Law Clinics

At Oregon Law, they believe that it's essential for students to have exposure to the practice of law in a variety of different contexts. This helps them develop the skills they need to be successful lawyers, no matter what area of law they choose to specialize in. Their clinics provide students with invaluable experience, which can help them hone their skills and grow as practitioners.

Business Law Clinic

The Business Law Clinic allows students to gain experience in transactional law. During a semester, each clinic student assists in representing two businesses. Clinic students are responsible for all aspects of the representation, from meeting with the client to presenting the legal work performed. Types of legal work performed at the clinic include:

• Business entity formation.
• Review and drafting of contracts.
• Advice on laws affecting businesses.

Environmental Law Clinic and Advanced Environmental Law Clinic

The Environmental Law Clinic is a program at the Western Environmental Law Center, a nonprofit public-interest law firm. Students working with the clinic represent nonprofit conservation organizations in state and federal courts. They work on active and developing litigation in all of WELC's practice groups—Public Lands, Western Wildlife, Fossil Fuels/Clean Energy, and Western Communities. The program provides students with intellectually challenging and creative work.

Nonprofit Clinic

The Nonprofit Clinic provides law students and students from other related disciplines the opportunity to work with nonprofit organizations in Oregon. The Clinic's goal is to help these organizations by conducting an organizational assessment, drafting a report, and presenting these findings to the organization's Executive Director and Board of Directors. This dialogue can then help guide the organization in making necessary changes.

Quality of Life

Oregon Law

The University of Oregon offers an excellent quality of life, ranking 8th on the Princeton Review's list. This is due to the small student body, which encourages cooperation over competition, and the many activities available in the Eugene area. Eugene is known for its distance running and biking trails, as well as its beautiful scenery and temperate weather.

Oregon State University is known for its liberal student body. Depending on your perspective, this can be seen as both a good and a bad thing. On the one hand, this can lead to a more open and tolerant atmosphere on campus. On the other hand, this can also lead to disagreements and conflict among students with different ideologies. Regardless of which side you fall on, it is essential to remember that exposure to different viewpoints is valuable.

Locations

Oregon Law prepares students for successful careers. Their excellent classroom teaching and many practical experience opportunities help students gain the skills they need to make a difference in today's complex society. Their upbeat, collaborative environment provides an excellent learning experience for students.

• Eugene Campus
  

Oregon Law is located on the east side of the University of Oregon's campus. It houses the JD, LLM, CRES, and undergraduate legal studies programs. The School of Law is the only law school in Oregon located on a major public university's campus - giving students the distinct advantage of being part of a minor, connected community within a large research university.

• Portland Third-Year Program
  

The Portland Third-Year Program is an excellent opportunity for students to get hands-on experience and access to networking opportunities. The program is located in downtown Portland in the historic White Stag Block. Students can build a portfolio of real-world experience while they are here. There are also more than 45,000 UO alums located in Portland that students can connect with.

Synopsis

If you are interested in Environmental Law or know that Oregon is where you want to build your career, then the University of Oregon should be at the top of your list. Furthermore, the school's high quality of life should be enough to earn a close look from anyone looking to enjoy their law school experience. Prospective students should be aware, however, that some students struggle to find work with an Oregon Law degree, and there is healthy competition from Lewis and Clark (especially in the Portland area).

Oregon is ranked in the top 10 for three different specialty law rankings according to USNews. This attests to the school's well-roundedness and strong programs in legal writing, dispute resolution, and environmental law. The environmental law program is particularly notable, as Oregon is ranked 9th in the nation for this specialization. This is thanks partly to the school's strong public interest focus, which also manifests in a liberal bias among professors. However, students have opportunities to focus on tracks unrelated to public interest law, and the school offers joint degree programs for those who want to go above and beyond.

Contact Informaton

MAILING ADDRESS
Office of Admissions
1221 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1221

PHYSICAL ADDRESS
1515 Agate Street
Suite 206
Eugene, OR 97403-1221

Telephone: +1-541-346-3846
Email: lawadmissions@uoregon.edu
https://law.uoregon.edu/admissions

Summary

Established	1884
Location	Eugene, OR
Dean	Marcilynn A. Burke
2022 US News Ranking	67th
LSAT Median Score	159
GPA Median Score	3.54
Bar Passage Rate	94% (2022)
Employment Rate	49% (2022)
Cost	$44,082 Residents $54,864 Nonresidents
Average Debt	$100,104
Application Deadline	March, 2023

Forum and Discussion

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Reference

University Of Oregon School Of Law
https://law.uoregon.edu/
Rank #67
LSD Law
LSAC Guide
How to Learn to Do Well on a Law School Exam
Success in Law School - A Unique Perspective
The Guide to Law School Loans
Guide to Fee Waivers

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