Law Direct Admission Programs

Law School Bound encompasses two Direct Admission programs for Willamette University students, the 3+3 Direct Admission program for undergraduate students, and the 4+3 Direct Admission programs for undergraduates and alumni.

3+3 Direct Admission Program

3+3 Direct Admission Program is a partnership between the Willamette University School of Law and Willamette College that allows students to complete a bachelor's degree and law degree in six years rather than the usual seven. WU students who are admitted under the direct admission program are guaranteed a Direct Admission scholarship of $25,000, renewable each year the student is enrolled at Willamette Law and remains in good standing. Direct Admission applicants are ineligible for Willamette Law’s $10,000 Early Decision scholarship.

What is the benefit?

Students complete their education more quickly, effectively reducing costs and student loan debt and providing students an extra year of earning power after they graduate.

How does it work?

Students complete three years of study at the Willamette University College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) and three years of law school at Willamette University School of Law.

An admitted CAS student can enter law school before completing their undergraduate degree. After finishing their first year of law school, they can apply their law school credits toward completion of a baccalaureate degree, enabling them to graduate with a bachelor’s degree after the first year of law school.

Requirements

To qualify for the 3+3 Direct Admission Program, students must meet admissions requirements for the undergraduate school and the School of Law, in addition to the following:

• Complete all general education requirements, major/minor requirements, and accrue a minimum of 96 credits within three years.
• Meet in person with the CAS program advisor and Law Admissions advisor.
• Apply to the School of Law by the end of your junior year. JD Application Process
• Have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.4 by the end of your junior year.
• Take the LSAT or the GRE and achieve a score that is no lower than the current median of the School of Law's most recent entering class. Students should plan on taking the LSAT or the GRE in the summer between their sophomore and junior year, but no later than March of their junior year.

Note: Acceptance as a candidate for the Law School Bound Program does not guarantee admission to the School of Law. Participants will need to take the LSAT and follow the JD application instructions. Careful scheduling is required during your undergraduate years to meet your course requirements for this program, so early enrollment is beneficial. Your bachelor’s degree will be awarded after you have successfully completed your first year of legal studies.

Students interested in applying for the 3+3 Law School Bound Program will be required to meet with the CAS advisor, Jessica Cardinal-Lanier at jcardinallanier@willamette.edu or call 503-370-6252 and Willamette Law's Assistant Director of Admissions, Athena Scruton Lathos, at amscrutonlathos@willamette.edu or 503-370-6837.

4+3 Direct Admission Program

The 4+3 Direct Admission Program allows undergraduate students studying at WU and WU alumni to gain admission to Willamette Law based on certain academic credentials. If a student meets these credentials, admission to Willamette Law will be automatic. WU students and alumni who are admitted under the direct admission program are guaranteed a Direct Admission scholarship of $25,000, renewable each year the student is enrolled at Willamette Law and remains in good standing.

Interested students must meet the program’s eligibility requirements, as outlined below:

1. Be an alumnus or student in any major at WU who has completed at least 90 credits; 45 of these credits must have been completed at WU;
2. Complete all requirements for the WU Bachelor’s degree before matriculating at Willamette Law;
3. Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 in courses taken at WU and no lower than a 3.0 GPA on all transferred courses;
4. Earn a minimum score on the LSAT of 154; or earn a minimum GRE score (155 (verbal); 145 (quantitative); 4.5 (writing));
5. Apply to Willamette Law for admission into the full-time or part-time J.D. program between September 1st and June 15th in the academic year before the student intends to begin J.D. study; and
6. Meet Willamette Law’s character and fitness requirements and comply with Willamette Law's general admissions policies.

Alternative Eligibility for the Direct Admission Program

On occasion, exemplary applicants who do not achieve a LSAT or GRE score equivalent to or exceeding Willamette Law’s most recent median may still be offered a Direct Admission scholarship. These exceptions are made at the discretion of the Assistant Dean of Admissions after a holistic application review.

The Direct Admission Program allows undergraduate students studying at PSU and PSU alumni to gain admission to Willamette Law based on the specified academic credentials. If a student meets these credentials, admission to Willamette Law will be automatic. PSU students and alumni who are admitted under the direct admission program are guaranteed a Direct Admission scholarship of $10,000, renewable each year the student is enrolled at Willamette Law and remains in good standing. Direct Admission applicants are ineligible for Willamette Law’s $10,000 Early Decision scholarship.

Requirements

Interested students must meet the program's eligibility requirements, as outlined below:

1. Be an alumnus or student in any major at PSU;
2. Complete all requirements for the PSU Bachelor’s degree before matriculating at Willamette Law;
3. Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 in courses taken at PSU and no lower than a 3.0 GPA on all transferred courses by the time of application to Willamette Law;
4. Earn a minimum score on the LSAT at or above the 50th percentile of the most recent class to matriculate at the School of Law; or earn a minimum GRE score of 155 (verbal); 145 (quantitative); 4.5 (writing);
5. Apply to Willamette Law for admission into the full-time or part-time J.D. program between September 1st and June 15th in the academic year before the student intends to begin J.D. study; and
6. Meet Willamette Law’s character and fitness requirements and comply with Willamette Law's general admissions policies.
7. Current undergraduates must contact and schedule a meeting with a PSU pre-law advisor before applying. Alumni are encouraged, although not required, to do the same.

Alternative Eligibility for the Direct Admission Program

On occasion, exemplary applicants who do not achieve a LSAT or GRE score equivalent to or exceeding Willamette Law’s most recent median may still be offered a Direct Admission scholarship. These exceptions are made at the discretion of the Assistant Dean of Admissions after a holistic application review.

University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) encourages students with a serious interest in law to consider the Willamette University School of Law’s 4+3 program.

The 4+3 Direct Admission Program allows undergraduate students studying at UAA and UAA alumni to gain admission to Willamette Law based on certain academic credentials. If a student meets these credentials, admission to Willamette Law will be assured. UAA students and alumni who are admitted under the direct admission program are guaranteed a Direct Admission scholarship of $10,000, renewable each year the student is enrolled at Willamette Law and remains in good standing. Direct Admission applicants are ineligible for Willamette Law’s $10,000 Early Decision scholarship.

Requirements

Interested students must meet the program's eligibility requirements, as outlined below:

1. Complete all requirements for a UAA Bachelor’s degree before matriculating at Willamette Law
2. Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 in courses taken at UAA and no lower than a 3.0 GPA on all transferred courses;
3. Earn a minimum score on the LSAT at or above the 50th percentile of the most recent class to matriculate at the School of Law; or earn a minimum GRE score of 155 (verbal); 145 (quantitative); 4.5 (writing);
4. Apply to Willamette Law for admission into the full-time or part-time J.D. program between September 1st and June 15th in the academic year before the student intends to begin J.D. study; and
5. Meet Willamette Law’s character and fitness requirements and comply with Willamette Law's general admissions policies.

Alternative Eligibility for the Direct Admission Program

On occasion, exemplary applicants who do not achieve a LSAT or GRE score equivalent to or exceeding Willamette Law’s most recent median may still be offered a Direct Admission scholarship. These exceptions are made at the discretion of the Assistant Dean of Admissions after a holistic application review.

University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) encourages students with a serious interest in law to consider the Willamette University School of Law’s 4+3 program.

The 4+3 Direct Admission Program allows undergraduate students studying at UAF and UAF alumni to gain admission to Willamette Law based on certain academic credentials. If a student meets these credentials, admission to Willamette Law will be assured. UAF students and alumni who are admitted under the direct admission program are guaranteed a Direct Admission scholarship of $10,000, renewable each year the student is enrolled at Willamette Law and remains in good standing. Direct Admission applicants are ineligible for Willamette Law’s $10,000 Early Decision scholarship.

Requirements

Interested students must meet the program's eligibility requirements, as outlined below:

1. Complete all requirements for a UAF Bachelor’s degree before matriculating at Willamette Law
2. Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 in courses taken at UAF and no lower than a 3.0 GPA on all transferred courses;
3. Earn a minimum score on the LSAT at or above the 50th percentile of the most recent class to matriculate at the School of Law; or earn a minimum GRE score of 155 (verbal); 145 (quantitative); 4.5 (writing);
4. Apply to Willamette Law for admission into the full-time or part-time J.D. program between September 1st and June 15th in the academic year before the student intends to begin J.D. study; and
5. Meet Willamette Law’s character and fitness requirements and comply with Willamette Law's general admissions policies.

Alternative Eligibility for the Direct Admission Program

On occasion, exemplary applicants who do not achieve a LSAT or GRE score equivalent to or exceeding Willamette Law’s most recent median may still be offered a Direct Admission scholarship. These exceptions are made at the discretion of the Assistant Dean of Admissions after a holistic application review.

University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) encourages students with a serious interest in law to take advantage of the undergraduate UAS program over four years and to pursue the 4+3 program, with direct admission to Willamette University School of Law (Willamette Law).

The 4+3 Direct Admission Program allows undergraduate students studying at UAS and UAS alumni to gain admission to Willamette Law based on certain academic credentials. If a student meets these credentials, admission to Willamette Law will be automatic. UAS students and alumni who are admitted under the direct admission program are guaranteed a Direct Admission scholarship of $10,000, renewable each year the student is enrolled at Willamette Law and remains in good standing. Direct Admission applicants are ineligible for Willamette Law’s $10,000 Early Decision scholarship.

Requirements

Interested students must meet the program’s eligibility requirements, as outlined below:

1. Be an alumnus or student in any major at UAS who has completed at least 90 credits; 45 of these credits must have been completed at UAS;
2. Complete all requirements for the UAS Bachelor’s degree before matriculating at Willamette Law;
3. Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 in courses taken at UAS and no lower than a 3.0 GPA on all transferred courses;
4. Earn a minimum score on the LSAT at or above the 50th percentile of the most recent class to matriculate at the School of Law; or earn a minimum score of 155 (verbal); 145 (quantitative); 4.5 (writing);
5. Apply to Willamette Law for admission into the full-time or part-time J.D. program between September 1st and June 15th in the academic year before the student intends to begin J.D. study; and
6. Meet Willamette Law’s character and fitness requirements and comply with Willamette Law's general admissions policies.

Alternative Eligibility for the Direct Admission Program

On occasion, exemplary applicants who do not achieve a LSAT or GRE score equivalent to or exceeding Willamette Law’s most recent median may still be offered a Direct Admission scholarship. These exceptions are made at the discretion of the Assistant Dean of Admissions after a holistic application review.

Western Oregon University (WOU) encourages students with a serious interest in law to take advantage of the undergraduate WOU program over four years and to pursue the 4+3 program, with direct admission to Willamette University School of Law (Willamette Law).

The 4+3 Direct Admission Program allows undergraduate students studying at WOU and WOU alumni to gain admission to Willamette Law based on certain academic credentials. If a student meets these credentials, admission to Willamette Law will be automatic. WOU students and alumni who are admitted under the direct admission program are guaranteed a Direct Admission scholarship of $10,000, renewable each year the student is enrolled at Willamette Law and remains in good standing. Direct Admission applicants are ineligible for Willamette Law’s $10,000 Early Decision scholarship.

Requirements

Interested students must meet the program’s eligibility requirements, as outlined below:

1. Be an alumnus or student in any major at WOU who has completed at least 90 credits; 45 of these credits must have been completed at WOU;
2. Complete all requirements for the WOU Bachelor’s degree before matriculating at Willamette Law;
3. Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 in courses taken at WOU and no lower than a cumulative 3.0 GPA on all transferred courses;
4. Earn a minimum score on the LSAT at or above the 50th percentile of the most recent class to matriculate at the School of Law; or earn a minimum GRE score at or above the 50th percentile of the most recent class to matriculate at the School of Law
5. Apply to Willamette Law for admission into the full-time or part-time J.D. program between September 1st and June 15th in the academic year before the student intends to begin J.D. study; and
6. Meet Willamette Law’s character and fitness requirements and comply with Willamette Law's general admissions policies.

Alternative Eligibility for the Direct Admission Program

On occasion, exemplary applicants who do not achieve a LSAT or GRE score equivalent to or exceeding Willamette Law’s most recent median may still be offered a Direct Admission scholarship. These exceptions are made at the discretion of the Assistant Dean of Admissions after a holistic application review.