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Alaska Law Summer Program

A different kind of summer. A different way to study law. Take your legal education beyond the Lower 48 with our Alaska summer study abroad program.

Moose in Alaska

Build a deeper understanding of the legal system through our domestic study abroad experience in Alaska. The Alaska Law Summer Immersion program is a five-week, adventure-filled academic program hosted by Willamette Law in partnership with the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), offering an unparalleled opportunity to learn through immersive legal study and hands-on experiences. 

Designed for rising 2L and 3L law students, this program blends rigorous coursework with unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experiences in one of the most legally distinctive regions of the United States. And yes, there's plenty of fun built in, too. 

Students will earn four to five elective credits, study pressing issues in environmental, energy, and Alaska Native law, and gain firsthand exposure to the legal, cultural, and environmental dynamics of America’s northernmost state.

  • Dates: June 30–July 31, 2026
  • Location: University of Alaska Anchorage
  • Credits: Four to five elective credits
  • Eligibility: Rising 2L or 3L students in good standing at any ABA-accredited law school
  • Estimated Program Cost: $14,600 (includes housing, tuition, local transportation, and excursions)

Why Study Law in Alaska?

  • Study law in the only state in the U.S. without a law school. It’s a place with a legal landscape unlike anywhere else, where questions of tribal sovereignty, natural resource law, and rural justice intersect daily with the realities of geography, culture, and environment. You’ll see firsthand how Alaska’s unique challenges create equally unique opportunities for lawyers who want to make an impact.
  • Earn academic credit while learning in an extraordinary setting where class discussions continue under the midnight sun and every day offers a new perspective on how law meets the land.
  • Build your resume and your network as you connect with Alaska’s judges, attorneys, policymakers, and law firms who are making a real impact across the state.
  • Experience law beyond the Lower 48 in a domestic “law study abroad” program that will challenge what you think you know about the law, justice, and community.
  • Make lifelong friends, laugh a lot, and come home with stories you'll be telling for years.
University of Alaska, Anchorage Campus

Excursions and Activities

Beyond the classroom, students will experience Alaska through curated excursions that connect academic learning to the land, culture, and people. Students will live in suite-style housing at UAA, with board meals and campus amenities included. Between classes, take advantage of Anchorage’s long daylight hours to explore its thriving restaurant scene, nearby trails, and summer festivals.

Required Site Visits

Optional Excursions

Course Content

Students will complete four to five elective credits through interdisciplinary coursework taught by Willamette Law and UAA faculty, along with Alaska-based practitioners and policy experts. Courses emphasize discussion, applied learning, and field-based experiences that deepen students' understanding of legal studies in environmental, Indigenous, and rural justice contexts.

Core Courses (4 credits):

  • Environmental and Natural Resources Law: You’ll examine sustainability, regulation, and conservation in one of the world’s most resource-rich regions.
  • Rural Criminal Justice: You will study access-to-justice challenges in Alaska’s rural and remote communities.
  • Alaskan Legal Practice: This course will help you understand the unique structure and culture of Alaska’s judicial system.
  • Indigenous and Tribal Law: You’ll explore tribal sovereignty, Native corporations, and the intersection of federal and state law.
  • Optional Independent Study: In this course, you’ll pursue a supervised research project on a topic inspired by your Alaskan experience.
University of Alaska students studying outside on a sunny day
“Studying and living in Alaska will challenge how you think about natural resources, community, and justice.”
Kelly Gamble
Associate Professor of Law, Associate Dean for Student & School Success, Director of Academic Excellence
Kelly Gamble

How to Apply

Because applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and space is limited, applicants are encouraged to complete the application process as early as possible.

  • Eligibility

    • Enrolled and in good standing at an ABA-accredited law school
    • Rising 2L or 3L (entering 1L students are not eligible)
    • Transferable credits are subject to home institution approval
    • Note: For Summer 2026, International Students are not eligible to participate

  • Application Requirements

    • Online application form (no fee)
    • Unofficial transcript
    • Short statement of interest
    • Acknowledgment of credit transfer and financial aid process (for non-Willamette students)

  • Deadlines

    • Priority Deadline: January 15, 2026
    • Final Deadline: March 1, 2026

Program Cost: $14,600

Includes tuition, housing, excursions, and administrative fees. Financial aid may be available through your home law school.

Frequently Asked Questions

Willamette University

School of Law