School of Law, William W. Knight Law Center

University of Oregon, School of Law, William W. Knight Law Center History

University of Oregon School of Law, William W. Knight Law Center was established in 1884 and is a public institution. The 295-acre campus is in the small town of Eugene, Oregon. The primary mission of the law school is to offer a rigorous legal education with a curriculum that balances: Basic intellectual and analytical skills for the practice of law; an introduction to advanced and frontier areas of law; knowledge of the persistent values of law; and opportunities to develop hands-on legal skills. Students have access to federal, state, county, city, and local agencies, courts, correctional facilities, law firms, and legal aid organizations in the Eugene area. The law school is aggressive in its commitment to nationwide networks that provide both summer and permanent employment. Housing for students is available in Eugene and the surrounding area. Law students are also eligible for special graduate student housing. All law school facilities are accessible to the physically disabled.

University of Oregon, School of Law, William W. Knight Law Center Academics

In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M. and Masters in conflict resolution. Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 5 semester credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.S. (Juris Doctor/Master of Science), and J.D./M.S. or M.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Science or Master of Arts in environmental studies, international studies, and conflict and dispute resolution).

The School of Law, William W. Knight Law Center offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, environmental law, family law, intellectual property law, international law, juvenile law, labor law, litigation, maritime law, securities law, tax law, torts and insurance, sustainable business law, ocean and coastal law, estate planning, public interest public service law, Oregon Child Advocacy Project, and Appropriate Dispute Resolution/Conflict Resolution. In addition, a variety of clinics are offered that include the Civil Practice Clinic, Criminal Defense Clinic, Criminal Prosecution Clinic, Domestic Violence Clinic, Environmental Law Clinic, Mediation Clinic, and the Small Business Clinic. A variety of seminars are offered, such as the Constitutional Law Seminar. Students have excellent opportunities for internships including the Federal Bankruptcy Court internship, Judicial internships, and the Legislative Issues Workshop. Faculty-supervised research may be done for school credit or for pay. Each year, the law school hosts symposia and lectures through the many programs, including the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics, Bowerman Center for Environmental Law, and the Center for Law and Entrepreneurship. A reciprocal student-abroad exchange has been established with the University of Adelaide in Australia. The Academic Choice for Excellence Program (ACE) is offered to all first-year students and addresses the needs of nontraditional law students. It involves a summer orientation prior to registration and tutorial assistance during the academic year. Law students are active in six multicultural organizations including the Minority Law Students Association (MLSA), and the Oregon State Bar Affirmative Action Program, which offers financial assistance through scholarships and loans. Additionally, the law school offers placement assistance and scholarships to ethnic minority students.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 85 total credits, of which 37 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law I, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Research and Writing, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of a basic writing requirement, a comprehensive writing requirement, Constitutional Law II, and Legal Profession. Students are encouraged to participate in one of seven clinics and/or skills training courses. The required orientation program for first-year students consists of a 3-day orientation and registration before the first day of classes. Orientation includes a convocation, small group sessions, peer advising sessions, a library tour, and an all-school picnic. Peer and faculty advising continues throughout the J.D. program.

In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0 and have completed the upper-division writing requirement.

University of Oregon, School of Law, William W. Knight Law Center Unique Programs

Library

The law library contains 191,944 hard-copy volumes and 183,847 microform volume equivalents, and subscribes to 3000 serial publications. Such on-line databases and networks as CALI, CIS Universe, DIALOG, Infotrac, Legal-Trac, LEXIS, LOIS, Mathew Bender, NEXIS, OCLC First Search, WESTLAW, Wilsonline Indexes, Internet, HeinOnline, BNA All, MOML and, LLMC are available to law students for research. Special library collections include an Ocean and Coastal Law Library, a rare book collection, an India Law and culture collection, and a labor and employment collection. Recently, the library took on initiative to catalog all electronic files. The ratio of library volumes to faculty is 5998 to 1 and to students is 369 to 1. The ratio of seats in the library to students is 1 to 2.

Special Consideration

The law school recruits minority and disadvantaged students in a variety of ways, in accordance with the law schools diversity plan. Requirements are not different for out-of-state students. Transfer students must have one year of credit, have attended an ABA-approved law school. The Admissions Committee considers each application on an individual basis.

University of Oregon, School of Law, William W. Knight Law Center Admissions

In the fall 2007 first-year class, 2054 applied, 826 were accepted, and 178 enrolled. Seventeen transfers enrolled. The median GPA of the most recent first-year class was 3.45.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT. No specific undergraduate courses are required. UO conducts a holistic review of every applicant file. Candidates in need of admissions counseling may request an applicant. There is no formal interview process.

Applicants should submit an application form, LSAT results, transcripts, a personal statement, TOEFL if international, a nonrefundable application fee of $50, 2 letters of recommendation, and r

University of Oregon, School of Law, William W. Knight Law Center Financial Aid

About 90% of current law students receive some form of aid. Awards are based on need and merit. Required financial statement is the FAFSA. There are special funds available for minority or disadvantaged students. Check the website for additional scholarship information. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application soon after acceptance.

University of Oregon, School of Law, William W. Knight Law Center Students

About 43% of the student body are women; 21%, minorities; 3%, African American; 10%, Asian American; 3%, Hispanic; 1%, Native American; and 1%, foreign nationals. The majority of students come from Oregon (40%). The average age of entering students is 25; age range is 20 to 46. About 4% of students have a graduate degree. About 1% drop out after the first year for academic or personal reasons; 99% remain to receive a law degree.

Students edit the Oregon Law Review, the Journal of Environmental Law, and the Oregon Review of International Law. Other publications include the Western Environmental Law Update. Students compete in the Client Counseling Competition, Mock Trial Competition, and the Environmental Moot Court Competition. Other competitions include the National Corporate Law Moot Court Competition and the Technology Entrepreneurship Program (TEP). Student organizations include the Women’s Law Forum, Outlaws (LGBT), and Land Air Water (LAW). Local chapters of national associations include the Black Law Student Association, Phi Alpha Delta, and the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy. Campus clubs and organizations include Streetlaw, Run Club, and the Legal Ballers Association.

The law school operates on a traditional semester basis. Courses for full-time students are offered days only and must be completed within 3 years. There is no part-time program. New students are admitted in the fall. There is an 8-week summer session. Transferable summer courses are offered.