Willamette University, College of Law Admission
Willamette University, College of Law Undergraduate Program
Willamette University, College of Law Application

The Facts

Willamette University is a rather small, private institution located in the town of Salem, Oregon, and is affiliated with the Methodist church. The school has a combined graduate and undergraduate population of over 3,000 students, however, the university's College of Law is significantly smaller, and is home to about 466 graduate law students. The average age of enrollment is around 26, and it is fairly rare for any of the students to enter the school directly from their undergraduate education. The school is perhaps best known for its wonderful library and research resources, as well as its wonderful connections within the state's legal and professional communities. The school offers degrees in the 1 year LLM in transitional law, the 3 year JD, as well as a combined degree in the 4 year JD/MBA. Some of the most popular programs include courses in the areas of business law, dispute resolution, government services, international law, and comparative law.

Admission to Willamette University's College of Law is quite competitive among the many students who apply; last year, over 1,264 students applied for admission to the school, and approximately 504 of those students were accepted. Eventually however, only about 180 of the admitted students actually enrolled for the coming semester. The admitted students had an average LSAT score ranging from 153 to 158, as well as an average undergraduate GPA of about a 3.4. Students are notified of their admissions status on a rolling basis, and there is currently no early application program in place.

The College of Law has 40 faculty members, all of whom come from relatively diverse legal and professional backgrounds. In general, students rave about the accessibility and approachability of their professors, saying that they are always available to answer questions and provide assistance. The school has a very manageable student to faculty ratio of about 18:1, and the small classes allow for plenty of interaction and discussion between students and their professors.

Employment Facts

Students at the College of Law don't seem terribly nervous about finding jobs after graduating; in fact, over 91% of the most recently graduating students were able to find jobs within a few months of receiving their degrees, and had an average starting salary of about $55,025. Students are most frequently hired by employers such as Stoel Rives, Schwabe Williamson Wyatt, the Washington State attorney general, Lane county circuit court, Bulirant Houser Bailey, Miller Nash, the Oregon Department of Justice, as well as the Oregon state legislature.

What's Good

"The students are very supportive of one another, which is terrific for a law school."

"The professors know how to make even the dullest subjects very engaging."

"I really appreciate the focus on practical legal skills here. It helps in the job market."

What's Bad

"There are some classes that are a bit over crowded."

"Sometimes I wish there were more internships available. It would be nice."

"Tuition is pretty high here, and they aren't too fond of giving out financial aid."

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