The Juris Doctor is a three-year professional degree required for taking the bar exam and practicing law in the United States.
Juris Doctor
Graduate
90
3 Years
Salem Campus
During the first two years of law school, students learn to “think like a lawyer.” The Clinical Law Program teaches them to “be a lawyer.” Students can choose from one of our three clinics including immigration, trusts and estates, and criminal defense.
At Willamette Law, we emphasize the critical role of law in preserving democracy and tackling pressing issues like climate change. Our curriculum integrates these strategic themes, empowering students to explore how legal frameworks can uphold democratic values and foster environmental stewardship. By studying here, you join a community dedicated to using the power of law to advocate for positive change, making significant contributions both within the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
The College of Law faculty has been chosen for its ability to excite, instruct and inspire. In addition to their impeccable credentials and years of law practice, the Willamette Law faculty has a deep commitment to teaching.
Professor Amy Meyers uses her legal experience to guide students in mastering essential skills and navigating diverse licensing paths, from the Uniform Bar Exam to new alternatives like Oregon’s Supervised Practice Portfolio.
Professor Rohan Grey’s focus is on the legal design and regulation of finance including digital fiat currencies, teaches Contracts, Business Organizations, and Securities Regulation.
Professor Laura Appleman brings a diverse background in criminal law, criminal procedure, family law, and sentencing law and policy, with prior roles including a Ninth Circuit law clerk and New York criminal appellate public defender.
Willamette Law alumni thrive across diverse legal fields, from prestigious judicial clerkships to dynamic positions in big law—and everything in between. Equipped with essential skills, our graduates are prepared to realize their professional aspirations, no matter where they choose to practice.
Preparation, particularly in legal research and writing, prepared Skalman to launch her own firm
Kristi Skalman JD’20 honed her legal skills as an attorney fellow at the Commons Law Center, focusing on trial preparation and community-based care. This experience was crucial in helping her establish her own family law practice, Vibrant Law, which prioritizes high-quality service and work-life balance.
Internships and Moot Court Board lead to offer to join JAG Corps
Henry Harder excelled at Willamette Law, leveraging the accelerated Law School Bound program to combine his political science studies with early law school entry and later expanding his skill set with a JD/MBA dual degree. Internships with the U.S. Army's Judge Advocate General’s Corps, combined with leadership roles in school activities like the Moot Court Board, have poised him for success.
Students must complete 90 credit hours to graduate. Law school at Willamette begins with an Orientation program, followed by essential courses such as Civil Procedure, Contracts I & II, Lawyering I & II, Torts, and Property. Throughout their studies, students will also delve into Constitutional Law I & II, Criminal Law, Professional Responsibility, Evidence, Real Estate Transactions, Criminal Procedure I, and Legal Analysis for the Bar.
The Juris Doctor (JD) is a three-year professional degree that is necessary for taking the bar exam and practicing law across most of the United States. Applicants to the JD program are required to have a bachelor's degree, or an equivalent degree for international applicants that is comparable to an American undergraduate bachelor's degree.
Willamette Law recognizes both the cost and the value of a legal education. We advise students to thoroughly understand their financial outlook when choosing a law school. The Financial Aid office at Willamette University is dedicated to assisting students in navigating the financial aid process.
Willamette University’s financial stability and strategic partnerships empower the School of Law to provide robust financial aid and scholarship opportunities. All applicants are automatically evaluated for scholarships upon application. A substantial number of incoming students at Willamette Law receive scholarship awards, which are renewable as long as the recipient maintains academic good standing.
Willamette Law offers six specialty certificate programs that emphasize the unique and comprehensive training that participants complete in these areas. These programs are each offered as a way for students to realize the benefits of the Colleges Signature Strengths through a structured pathway of coursework. Students need not choose a Certificate Program, but if they are interested in pursuing a certificate, they should consult with their faculty advisor, the director of the program, or Associate Dean for Student Affairs & Administration.
In the first-year contracts course, students will explore the essentials of contract formation, performance, and enforcement, including mutual assent, consideration, conditions, breach, and remedies. They will also examine key doctrines such as the Statute of Frauds, third-party rights, and contract discharge mechanisms.
The first-year torts course covers the spectrum of civil law remedies for personal injuries, emphasizing both intentional and unintentional wrongs. This course provides students a foundational understanding of how legal principles are applied to redress and compensate for injuries.
Willamette University