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 (1L)
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
- Lawyering I
- Torts
- Spring Semester Courses
- Constitutional Law I
- Contracts II
- Criminal Law
- Lawyering II
- Property
Our approach to legal education 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 (2L) and Third Year (3L)
In the second and third years, students have the opportunity to tailor their coursework to align with their career goals and typically participate in hands on learning opportunities like a clinic or externship. Second and third year students are required to complete the following courses in addition to elective coursework:
- Professional Responsibility
- Evidence
- Constitutional Law II
- 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.
These courses ensure that all students, regardless of their chosen specialization, have a firm grasp of essential legal principles and ethical standards.
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.