Why Willamette University?

Class profile

US News rank

#168

Median GPA

3.48

25th–75th: 3.22–3.70

Median LSAT

154

25th–75th: 151–156

Acceptance rate

58.9%

Class size (FT 1L)

113

Transfers admitted (2025)

1

ABA 2025 reporting cycle

2025 transfer admit profile

Actual GPAs of students Willamette University admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.

25th percentile

—

Suppressed (small cohort)

Median

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50th percentile

75th percentile

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Suppressed (small cohort)

4 1Ls transferred out of Willamette University in the same cycle — context for how portable Willamette University's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.

Top employment markets

1. 1Oregon
2. 2Washington
3. 3California

Where the most recent graduating class concentrated employment, per the school's ABA 509 employment summary. Use this as a signal of where the alumni network and OCI recruiting pipeline are strongest.

Signature clinics

Clinical programs that define Willamette University's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Willamette University" essay where they align with your interests.

• Immigration Clinic
  Students represent clients facing serious immigration challenges, including asylum claims.
• Trusts and Estates Clinic
  Students gain practical experience in estate planning and elder law, assisting clients with wills, trusts, and protective proceedings.
• Criminal Defense Clinic
  Students represent clients in misdemeanor cases, handling client communication, motion practice, and courtroom appearances.

Notable journals

Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.

• Willamette Law Review— General legal issues, with an annual symposium issue and occasional focus on Oregon legal items.
• Willamette Journal of International Law and Dispute Resolution— Global legal developments and international dispute resolution.
• Willamette Journal of Social Justice and Equity— Legal and policy issues related to social justice and equity, including race and gender.
• Willamette Law Online

Faculty highlights

Well-known faculty grouped by primary specialty. If a professor's scholarship aligns with your interests, name them in your essay and reference a specific paper or course.

• Jeffrey Dobbins
  Dean, School of Law; Professor of Law
• Laura Appleman
  Van Winkle Melton Professor of Law & University Research Integrity Officer
• Curtis Bridgeman
  Roderick & Carol Wendt Chair in Business Law; Dean Emeritus
• Sheryl L. Buske
  Assistant Professor of Law & Director of International Programs
• Susan P. Cook
  Trusts and Estates Law, Elder Law
• Paul A. Diller
  Constitutional Law, Local Government Law
• Steven K. Green
  Constitutional Law, Religion and the Law
• James A. Nafziger
  International Law, Comparative Law
• Sarah J. Purce
  Immigration Law
• Aaron Simowitz
  Civil Procedure, Conflict of Laws
• Symeon C. Symeonides
  Conflict of Laws, Comparative Law
• Beth Zilberman
  Immigration Law

What makes Willamette University distinctive

Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.

• ·Located directly across from the Oregon State Capitol and Oregon Supreme Court, offering unparalleled access to real-world legal experiences.
• ·Strong emphasis on experiential learning through clinics, externships, and simulation-based courses.
• ·Offers six specialized certificate programs to enhance the JD degree.
• ·Provides joint degree programs, including a JD/MBA and 3+3 programs with undergraduate institutions.
• ·Houses the Oregon Civic Justice Center, which includes the Clinical Law Program and various centers.

Frequently asked about Willamette University

Schools similar to Willamette University

Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.