First-Year Law Orientation

Throughout Orientation, you will participate in various programs that will provide you with opportunities to meet attorneys, judges, business professionals and administrators. Although comfort is the biggest consideration, we recommend business casual attire (no t-shirts or jeans) as the best choice for these encounters.

For the fall semester, all first-year students will have class each day, Monday through Friday. Classes may start as early as 8 a.m. and end as late as 5:30 p.m.  

All full-time, first-year students are pre-registered for a standard schedule of required classes. You may not register yourself for first semester classes or request special consideration. Note: Part-time students should contact Lexie Zirschky, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Administration in mid-summer regarding scheduling. Your individual class schedule will be made available prior to Orientation.

Your book list is available on the Willamette Bookstore site after your class schedule is made available. Although you may choose to purchase your books prior to Orientation, you will also be able to purchase books at the Willamette University bookstore during Orientation. The Willamette University Public Interest Law Project will also host a used book sale during Orientation where a limited number of first-year books and study-aids will be available.

Mandatory First-Year Orientation is on Monday, August 19, 2024 - Friday, August 23, 2024.

Fall semester classes begin on Monday, August 26, 2024.

You may find other important dates such as the final examinations schedule, winter break, and the start of the spring semester on the Office of Student Affairs website.

Campus Map

Office of Student Affairs
Comprehensive law student support, law registrar
Truman Wesley Collins Legal Center, 2nd floor
(503) 370-6380

Office of Career Planning & Development
Job search, Attorney-Mentor Program, Externship Program
Truman Wesley Collins Legal Center, 2nd floor
(503) 370-6057

Office of Admissions
Truman Wesley Collins Legal Center, 4th floor
(503) 370-6282

The Service Center
Student IDs, Parking Permits, Bike Registration
University Services Building
(503) 370-6300

Office of Financial Aid
1st Floor Waller Hall
(503) 370-6273 (voice
(877) 744-3736 (toll free)

Student Accounts
Tuition payments, refunds, 1098-T tax information
Waller Hall, 1st floor
(503) 370-5308

Bishop Wellness Center
Health Services, Student Insurance, Counseling, Learning and Disability Services
Baxter Hall, Main Campus
(503) 370-6062

Office of International Education
International student support, Study Abroad programs
Global Learning Center, NW corner of Baxter near Smullin and Ford Halls
(503) 370-5493

Campus Recreation
Montag Center, 1st floor
(503) 370-6892

Shanan Woods is the Senior Financial Aid Counselor for graduate programs.

Full-time tuition for the 2024-2025 academic year is $53,980. Your fall semester tuition and fees statement will be available in late July. Please see Tuition and Financial Aid for a breakdown of tuition, fees, and estimated expenses for full-time and part-time tuition.

Student loan funds and refunds will be available to pick-up during Orientation week from Student Accounts, or by direct deposit through your WU Account (click on Colleague Self Service to get started, and then Banking Information to provide your details). 

To receive your funds, you must:

• Return your signed award letter to the Financial Aid Office
• Complete your Master Promissory Note (MPN) at www.studentloans.gov
• Complete Entrance Loan Counseling at www.studentloans.gov

Willamette Integrated Technology Services (WITS) is Willamette's technology services group. WITS manages the campus' network, email systems, computer labs, and more. They provide students with their network account which is used to access Willamette's technology resources, as well as a variety of student technology support.

WITS has prepared an FAQ document regarding technology on campus:

• WITS FAQs: Computers on Campus

WITS has a Help Desk in Smullen 118.  The Help Desk can be reached at (503) 370-6767 from 7:45am-5pm during the school year, and 8am-4:30pm during the summer. 

The WITS technology consultant assigned to the College of Law is Edgar Nevarez Lechuga. If you have questions about computers, networks, or technology in the law school, please contact Edgar.

At the College of Law, you will encounter a variety of web-based applications to supplement your education. The following is an overview of the most common applications you will utilize. Most of these systems require an active network account to access.

PARTNER

PARTNER, the Professional Activities, Recruiting, Tools and Networking for Employment Results, is a resource used by the Office of Career Planning & Development.  PARTNER may be used to:

• Link students with potential externship programs
• Help inform students of job opportunities
• Allow students to view and register for events held by the Placement Office, such as career events, interviews, and visits.  

TWEN

The West Education Network (TWEN) is an online extension of the law school classroom. TWEN may be utilized by some faculty for you to:

• Access course syllabi, materials, and readings
• Participate in class discussions
• Receive and submit online assignments and complete quizzes

Canvas

The Canvas is a learning and collaboration system. You may use Canvas to:

• Access class syllabi, readings, and handouts
• Access committee work as part of a student organization

An integral part of your legal education will involve learning how to find the law and conducting the legal research necessary to complete class assignments and papers. Through your campus ID, you will have 24/7 access to the J.W. Long Law Library, housed within the Truman Wesley Collins Legal Center. The Law Library provides study tables, annually-reserved shared carrels, conference rooms and professional print and online resources. Online resources, such as legal databases are also accessible remotely with your active student network account.

The Law Library is staffed by reference librarians and circulation staff weekdays, evenings and weekends. You will have the opportunity to meet the Law Library staff during Orientation. 

The Office of Career Planning & Development, located on the 2nd floor of the law school, is a valuable student resource, dedicated to creating employment and professional development opportunities for students and alumni. You will have the opportunity to meet the Office of Career Planning & Development staff during Orientation.

Pro Bono legal services are professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment as a public service. The ABA recommends that attorneys render at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services per year. The Oregon State Bar's aspirational standard is for all attorneys to perform at least 80 hours of pro bono services per year. Providing pro bono service is part of being a lawyer. 

Facilitated by the Office of Career Planning & Development, Willamette Law's Pro Bono Honors Program enables all students to participate in this valuable practice. An award luncheon is held each summer in recognition of students who meet a minimum requirement of pro bono work as a legal or general volunteer. Awards are also given to students who have performed the most service hours per class. 

Willamette Law supports a number of affiliation and interest-based student organizations, including Phi Alpha Delta, Moot Court Board, the Multicultural Law Student Association (MLSA), and OUTLaw. You will have an opportunity to meet representatives from each of our student organizations at a student organization fair held during the first few weeks of class.

Willamette University's contact person for Veterans Affairs is Sarah Fisher, Assistant Registrar.

A $600 deposit is required to secure your seat in the entering class. Pay your deposit.

In early summer, we will send out email instructions on setting up your network account and creating your Willamette user account and email address.

Student ID Cards for incoming students are printed in advance of arrival. Please submit a photo prior to August 12. Photos can be submitted at any time. Cell phone photos are acceptable, so there are no costs or special equipment that is needed. ID Cards will be available for pick on the first day of Orientation at check in.

Upload Your ID Photo
Building Access
Compass Card

Student loan funds and refunds will be available to pick-up during Orientation week from Student Accounts, or by direct deposit through your WU Account (click on Colleague Self Service to get started, and then Banking Information to provide your details).

To receive your funds, you must:

• Return your signed award letter to the Financial Aid Office
• Complete your Master Promissory Note (MPN) at studenloans.gov
• Complete Entrance Loan Counseling at studentloans.gov

For questions or assistance, please contact Shanan Woods, Assistant Director of Financial Aid.

All full-time, first-year students are pre-registered for a standard schedule of required classes. You may not register yourself for first semester classes or request special consideration. Note: Part-time students should contact Lexi Zirschky, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Administration in early summer regarding scheduling. Your individual class schedule will be made available prior to Orientation.

If you have not done so already, please send to LSAC an official transcript showing the date your bachelor's degree was awarded as soon as possible or sstudents can have their final transcript emailed or mailed to us at the law school also. Please email to law-admissions@willamette.edu or mail to Law Admissions, 245 Winter St. SE, Salem OR 97301

We must have your official transcript prior to the start of Orientation. This is a requirement of the American Bar Association (ABA). You may not be allowed to attend class until you have met this requirement.  

Information on how to complete the online Health History form will be sent directly by Bishop Wellness Center this summer, after your student Network Account has been created.

All students enrolled half time or more are required to complete a Health History Form prior to the start of Orientation. Oregon State Law requires all entering University students to show proof of measles vaccine (MMRs), unless they meet certain exemptions. International students may have additional required immunizations. Students who have not fulfilled these state requirements will not be permitted to attend class. Please ask your health care provider about any needed immunizations.

DOMESTIC
All domestic students enrolled half time or more are required to have health insurance coverage. You will be automatically enrolled in the university provided plan unless you submit a waiver to opt-out and remain on your own health insurance plan.

To waive the Willamette Student Health Insurance Plan, you must submit a waiver through the Bishop Wellness Center.

INTERNATIONAL
All international students are required to have health insurance coverage. You will be automatically enrolled in the university provided plan unless you submit a waiver to opt-out and remain on your own health insurance plan.

To waive the Willamette Student Health Insurance Plan, you must submit an International student health insurance waiver through the Bishop Wellness Center.

The majority of law students live off campus in Salem and the surrounding area. However, there are a limited number of on-campus apartments and residence halls that are reserved for graduate students.

Our Moving to Salem Guide may prove helpful in your search for a local area apartment and or property management services. Additionally, the Housing Office maintains an updated listing of the availability of on-campus housing.

Other postings for housing and apartments will be posted on the Admitted Student Facebook Group. Willamette community members are also encouraged to use Switchboard, which, in essence, is Craigslist just for the Willamette community.  Often times postings for housing and available rentals will be posted here as are available. 

If your contact information changes, or if we can provide assistance in any way, please contact the Office of Law Admission at law-admissions@willamette.edu or (503) 370-6282.

Parking is available in designated Willamette University parking lots without a parking permit during orientation week but all other parking regulations remain in effect. Parking permits will be required and Campus Safety will issue citations to cars parked in Willamette University parking lots without a parking permit after Orientation.

If you park in City of Salem owned parking spots (i.e. Winter Street 10-hour metered parking spots), you are subject to City of Salem parking enforcement. The Admissions Office will not reimburse you for any ticket or citation expenses.

You may purchase temporary or annual parking permits for standard or reserved lots from the Service Center, located behind the College of Law.

During orientation, you will have the opportunity to discuss professional ethics in small groups of your peers led by local attorneys and professionals. Hypotheticals will be emailed prior to orientation. 

Please review the Oregon State Bar Statement of Professionalism.

• Statement of Professionalism

If you wish to limit the directory information provided under FERPA regulations, please complete and submit the FERPA Privacy Form to the Law Office of Student Affairs by the end of the first week of law classes.