Willamette’s JD curriculum is both challenging and rewarding, designed to provide students with a strong foundation in legal principles while allowing them the flexibility to explore their specific areas of interest.
First Year
The first year at Willamette is focused on establishing a solid understanding of the law through a core curriculum. Courses are designed to introduce students to essential legal concepts and develop critical skills in legal research and writing.
- Fall Semester Courses
- Civil Procedure
- Contracts I
- Legal Research and Writing I
- Torts
- Spring Semester Courses
- Constitutional Law I
- Contracts II
- Criminal Law
- Legal Research and Writing II
- Property
Our first-year program is distinctive in its small class sizes, particularly in Legal Research and Writing and one substantive course, both limited to 30 students. This approach fosters a collegial environment and close interaction with faculty, providing a supportive community during the traditionally competitive first year.
Lawyering
Writing and research are at the heart of legal practice. Willamette’s required Lawyering course, offered in small sections, ensures that students receive individualized attention as they develop these critical skills. Throughout the first year, students learn the fundamentals of legal analysis, research, and writing, while also gaining an understanding of the professional and ethical responsibilities of being an attorney.
Second Year
In the second year, students have the opportunity to tailor their coursework to align with their career goals. While exploring a wide range of elective courses, students are required to complete the following:
- Professional Responsibility
- Evidence
- Constitutional Law II
These courses ensure that all students, regardless of their chosen specialization, have a firm grasp of essential legal principles and ethical standards.
Third Year
The third year at Willamette is focused on refining legal expertise and enhancing practical skills. A key component of this year is the completion of a rigorous writing requirement, which involves producing a substantial legal research paper under the close supervision of a faculty member.
- Writing Requirement
Students may fulfill this requirement by enrolling in specific seminars designed for in-depth legal research, such as:- First Amendment Law
- Global Sustainability
- American Indian Law
- Civil Rights
- Advanced Topics in Conflict Theory
- Comparative Constitutional Law
- State Constitutional Law
- Alternatively, students of high academic standing may choose to write a comment for the Willamette Law Review or the Willamette Journal of International Law and Dispute Resolution, which must be accepted for publication or certified as publishable.
A Path to Success
Willamette University School of Law’s JD program equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to excel in the legal profession. Our curriculum is designed to not only provide a strong legal foundation but also to foster the development of specialized expertise and a commitment to professional excellence.