University of Oregon School of Law: Rankings, Programs, and Admissions

The University of Oregon School of Law, established in 1884, stands as Oregon's only state-funded law school. Housed in the Knight Law Center in Eugene, Oregon, it operates under the motto "Mens agitat molem" (Latin for "Minds Move Mountains"). The school holds the distinction of being the first law school in Oregon to be accredited by the American Bar Association, achieving this milestone in 1923.

Overview

Oregon Law is not only recognized as one of the best law schools in the state but also as a top public law school nationally, particularly for its programs in environmental law, dispute resolution, and legal research and writing. The academic environment is known for its healthy competition, balanced by a strong sense of community among students. This reputation attracts a significant number of students from outside Oregon; in 2017, this figure was 71 percent.

Students and faculty share an optimistic outlook on the study and practice of law. Oregon Law students aspire to various career paths, including supporting new businesses, influencing water resource policy, protecting the rights of immigrants, representing athletes, assisting families, mediating labor disputes, ensuring sustainable futures for nonprofits, advocating for veterans, and creating global partnerships. Many students have international experience, with over one-third of the 1L class having volunteered, interned, or worked abroad, and 25 percent speaking more than one language. The student body is diverse, with a majority of women and nearly 20 percent identifying as students of color. The entering class of 2017 comprised 144 1L students from 30 states and 90 universities and colleges.

Oregon Law professors are committed to providing a challenging yet supportive teaching environment. Faculty members are passionate about their research and integrate it into their teaching to engage and inspire students. They bring diverse backgrounds and are at the forefront of contemporary issues, such as advancing atmospheric trust litigation, advocating for new legal statuses, improving clarity on implicit bias, and reforming the criminal defense system.

Campus and Facilities

The award-winning William W. Knight Law Center houses the University of Oregon School of Law. The building's exterior reflects the tradition of legal education, while the interior boasts a state-of-the-art design. The Knight Law Center includes the Jaqua Law Library, group and individual study rooms, the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics, the Environmental and Natural Resources Center, a central commons, and an outdoor courtyard. A branch of the university's Duck Store is also located in the building. Additionally, the School of Law has a presence at the University of Oregon-Portland, in the historic White Stag Block.

Academics

Oregon Law offers a broad range of courses, spanning from criminal law to environmental and natural resources law, international law, and family law. Business law offerings include tax law, intellectual property, and sports law. The school's centers and programs are vital to its academic energy. The university campus location allows law students to pursue concurrent JD/Master’s programs, with nine options available that require only one additional year of study. About one-third of Oregon Law students concentrate their studies in a specialized area. The school also offers a 3+3 Program for undergraduate students in the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon.

Rankings

The University of Oregon School of Law consistently receives high rankings from U.S. News & World Report. In the 2024-2025 rankings, the school is placed at #82 among the Best Law Schools. Notably, Oregon Law is the only law school in the Pacific Northwest with three top-ranked specialty programs.

In 2022, U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of Oregon School of Law at #67, marking its highest rank in at least two decades and remaining #1 in the state. This rise was attributed to strong employment and bar passage results, as well as the excellence of the student body.

Specialty Programs

Oregon Law has several nationally recognized specialty programs:

Legal Research and Writing: Consistently ranked #1 in the nation, the Legal Research and Writing (LRW) program has held a top-ten position for seventeen consecutive years. The LRW faculty are recognized leaders and innovators, earning awards for teaching and service and contributing significantly to national organizations, scholarly journals, and publications. The program has been preparing students for real-world legal practice since 1978.
Environmental Law: The Environmental and Natural Resources Law Center is ranked #7 in the nation. It focuses on interdisciplinary research projects and maintains a legacy of leadership in environmental law. The program emphasizes problem-solving and meaningful change across legal and environmental fields.
Dispute Resolution: The Appropriate Dispute Resolution Center is ranked #11 nationally. It emphasizes skillful management of disputes, deals, and decision-making. The program is committed to excellent teaching and skills-based learning, helping students manage complex interactions in various legal settings.

Additional Recognition

PreLaw magazine has also recognized Oregon Law's programs. The Environmental Natural Resources Law program received an A+ grade, Family Law received an A grade, and Business Law an A-.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

Practical Training

Oregon Law offers vast opportunities for practical training, enabling students to complete at least one for-credit clinic or externship. These experiences ensure practical skills development and experience before graduation. Unique opportunities include the In-House Counsel Externship Program, Business Law Clinic, Criminal Prosecution and Criminal Defense Clinics, the Environmental Law Clinic through the Western Environmental Law Center, Nonprofit Clinic, and Domestic Violence Clinic. Externships are available locally, in Portland, throughout the region, and nationally and internationally. Students can also propose their own externships.

Clinical Programs

The school offers nine different clinical opportunities each year, with between 110 and 180 seats available. There is also a robust externship program.

Law Journals

The School of Law supports three student-run publications:

Oregon Law Review
Journal of Environmental Law and Litigation
Oregon Review of International Law

Admissions

The admission process aims to enroll students who are academically well-prepared. The applicant’s academic record and LSAT results form the foundation for evaluation. Each applicant’s file is reviewed holistically. The Oregon Law application process requires a comprehensive response to a range of questions, a résumé, and two letters of recommendation. No specific LSAT score, GPA, or combination of test scores and grades ensures admission. The Admissions Committee also considers applicants for scholarships, offering a generous merit scholarship program with renewal based on academic performance. A select number of incoming first-year students are awarded 1L Fellowships, providing opportunities to work closely with faculty and program directors and gain early exposure to specialized areas.

Admissions Statistics

For the 2024 admissions cycle, 1358 candidates submitted JD applications to the University of Oregon School of Law, and 902 received acceptance letters. Of those accepted, 169 chose to enroll.

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

Acceptance Rate: Approximately 66.4%
Enrollment Rate (of those accepted): Approximately 18.7%

Tuition and Financial Aid

As the state's only public law school, the University of Oregon School of Law provides an exemplary legal education at a cost-effective price. The cost of a legal education is a reality. The school offers financial aid and scholarships to help students manage the expenses. Law school tuition at the University of Oregon School of Law is $115k annually (calculated from semester costs).

Bar Passage and Career Opportunities

For JD graduates from the University of Oregon School of Law, the first-time bar exam pass rate is 76.67%.

After completing their JD program at the University of Oregon School of Law, graduates entering private law firms earn a median starting salary of $85,000. JD graduates pursuing public sector legal careers start at approximately $73,000. Additionally, 12.8% of graduates obtain prestigious judicial clerkships, and 13.4% pursue public interest law careers.

Oregon is one of 28 jurisdictions that have adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE), enabling bar exam “score portability.” Oregon Law alumni can be found throughout the country, though principally in the Pacific Northwest. The largest concentrations of Oregon Law alumni are in Portland and Seattle. In 2017, alumni passed both the Oregon and the Washington bar examinations at rates that exceed the average in both states. Graduates work in a variety of professional settings from large law firms downtown Seattle to small nonprofits in Eugene. As the state’s public law school, graduates have risen to prominent positions in US District Court for the District of Oregon, the Oregon Supreme Court, as the attorney general for the State of Oregon, and in the United States House and United States Senate.

Practical Experience

Through hands-on experiences, students create employment and networking opportunities and develop critical lawyering and client practice skills:

Clinical Programs
Field Placements
Fellowships
Pro Bono
Volunteer
Law Journals
Moot Court Competition
Simulation Courses

Combined with traditional in-class learning, these experiences prepare students to be ready for practice upon graduation.

Student Life

Students come to Eugene, Oregon, from all over the country, attracted to its natural beauty and affordability. Eugene is known for its engaged citizenry, active lifestyle, entrepreneurial spirit, and dedication to sustainable living. The city has received high marks nationally for “livability” and is known as the “Silicon Shire” for its growing technology development.

The University of Oregon offers abundant options for cultural activities, a range of housing choices, free public transportation for university students, and a lively legal community. Eugene is home to city and county offices, circuit court, the juvenile justice center, and a branch of the federal courthouse. The city offers numerous recreational opportunities, including biking, hiking, and running trails, and is close to the Oregon Coast and the Cascade Mountains. As a PAC-12 Division I university, Eugene has a legacy for athletic achievement and is known as TrackTown, USA.

Student Organizations

Oregon Law is home to more than 30 active and varied student organizations that promote events and networking opportunities throughout the year. Among them are Land, Air, Water (LAW), which hosts the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference (PIELC), the oldest and largest public interest environmental law conference in the world; the Oregon Law Students Public Interest Fund (OLSPIF); an active women’s law student group; five multicultural organizations; and a long-established LGBTQ organization.

Public Interest Environmental Law Conference (PIELC)

The Public Interest Environmental Law Conference (PIELC) is an annual conference held on the first weekend in March at the University of Oregon School of Law in Eugene, Oregon. PIELC is organized and hosted by the students involved in the environmental law society "Land Air Water" (LAW). The conference features internationally recognized keynote addresses and over 120 panels. The content is aimed at professional environmental activists and attorneys. The conference is unapologetically pro-public interest and pro-environment.

Notable Alumni

The University of Oregon School of Law has produced numerous accomplished alumni, including:

Robert C. Belloni: United States District Judge
Suzanne Bonamici: United States Representative for Oregon's 1st congressional district
William G. East: United States District Judge
William A. Ekwall: United States Representative for Oregon
Jack Faust: Attorney
Helen J. Frye: United States District Judge
John Frohnmayer: Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts
Alfred Goodwin: United States Court of Appeals judge
Bert E. Haney: United States Senator
Arthur D. Hay: Attorney
Donald Hodel: United States Secretary of Energy and United States Secretary of the Interior
Mustafa T. Kasubhai: United States District Judge
Malcolm F. Marsh: United States District Judge
Julius L. Meier: 20th Governor of Oregon
Hardy Myers: Attorney General of Oregon
Edwin J. Peterson: Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
David Schuman: Judge on the Oregon Court of Appeals
Frederick Steiwer: United States Senator
Jacob Tanzer: Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
Richard Louis Unis: Judge on the Oregon Circuit Court
Martha Lee Walters: Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
Harold Warner: Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
Ron Wyden: United States Senator
Minoru Yasui: Lawyer, civil rights activist, and namesake for Yasui v. Raymond
Wendell Wyatt: United States Representative for Oregon

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