School of Law

law.uoregon.edu

Michael L. Moffitt, Dean
541-346-3852
541-346-3846 admissions office
541-346-1564 fax
105 Knight Law Center
1221 University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon 97403-1221
info@uoregon.College

The School of Law offers a three-year, full-time professional curriculum leading to the doctor of jurisprudence (JD) degree; a two-year, full-time program leading to an interdisciplinary master’s degree (MA or MS) in conflict and dispute resolution; and a one-year, full-time program leading to a master of laws (LLM) in environmental law.

The law school’s broad-based curriculum and clinical programs prepare students for careers in almost every practice area and professional setting. Special centers and programs include business law and entrepreneurship, environmental law, dispute resolution, family, child, and elder law, public law and policy, sports law, and the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics.

The Center for Career Planning and Professional Development offers counseling, seminars, mentoring programs, and connections to UO law graduates throughout the world.

The John E. Jaqua Law Library is a light-filled space occupying three floors, designed to meet the research and study needs of law students. It provides print, electronic, and video resources, and has full wireless access. Each floor of the law library contains a mix of books, tables, carrels, equipment, and study rooms. Law students can use our online catalog to order materials from the law library and from other libraries in Oregon and Washington. Attorney librarians teach students how to perform legal research in class and in the library.

UO law students run three journals and nearly forty active student organizations, serve the public in numerous clinical programs, and organize the world’s oldest and largest public interest environmental law conference, attracting more than 3,000 participants each year. In addition, UO law students have received the top Oregon State Bar Association award for pro bono work nine times.

The William W. Knight Law Center offers a spacious, warm environment for study and community activities and includes more than 1,500 fast Ethernet jacks as well as wireless access throughout the building.

Additional information and complete descriptions of courses offered appear on the school website.

Academic Calendar for Law Students

The School of Law operates on a semester calendar. On this schedule, registration for fall and spring semesters begins the third week of April, fall semester examinations are given before the winter vacation, and the spring semester ends in mid-May. More information about calendar dates is available online at registrar.uoregon.edu/calendars/academic .

January Term

The School of Law offers a collection of one-week intensive courses held the week before the start of the regular spring semester.

Summer Session

The School of Law offers a summer session that is open to law students who have completed at least one year of legal studies and who are in good standing at a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. Summer session is not open to beginning law students.

For complete summer session information, contact the registar’s office at the School of Law or visit law.uoregon.edu/registar .

Clinics, Externships, and Practical Skills

The law school's Clinics and Externships Program gives students real-world experience with concepts learned in the classroom. The program offers second- and third-year students access to practical work experiences that gives them a taste of what it's like to practice law before they graduate.

Students and employers alike recognize the value of clinical training during law school, and the demand for practice experience is high. Almost 85 percent of UO law students have participated in at least one clinical or externship opportunity before they graduate.

Child Advocacy Externships

Students in this externship work during the summer for Oregon juvenile court judges and practitioners. Those who work with judges perform research, prepare for and observe all types of hearings in juvenile delinquency and dependency cases, and work on a major law reform project under the judge’s direction. Students placed with practitioners are involved in all areas of the attorneys’ practices.

Civil Practice Clinic and Advanced Civil Practice Clinic

Students represent low-income clients through Lane County Legal Aid. Cases may result in a court appearance or contested case hearing, often involving social security, welfare, food stamp, public housing, or unemployment benefits. 

Criminal Defense and Advanced Criminal Defense Clinic

Students conduct client and witness interviews and investigations and help defend clients in a wide range of misdemeanor prosecutions in Oregon Circuit Court through Public Defender Services of Lane County.

Criminal Prosecution Clinic and Advanced Prosecution Clinic

Students are assigned to one of several local prosecutors' offices, where they prepare and try minor criminal cases under the supervision of an attorney. In the advanced clinic, students try jury trials, prepare felony trials, respond to and argue circuit court motions, and assist felony trial lawyers with circuit court cases. 

Domestic Violence Clinic and Advanced Domestic Violence Clinic

Students work with attorneys to provide comprehensive civil legal services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking while learning the skills required for client representation in litigation-based practice. 

Domestic Violence Externships

Students are placed at the Klamath Falls Legal Aid Services of Oregon office and handle a range of issues related to the representation of domestic violence victims and often have the opportunity to appear in court. The externship exposes students to the challenges faced by low-income, rural victims of violence.

Environmental Law Clinic and Advanced Environmental Law Clinic

Working with the Western Environmental Law Center, students assist in primarily federal court litigation representing nonprofits in enforcing federal environmental law.

Environmental Law Externships

Externs are placed with governmental and nonprofit agencies working on a variety of issues related to environmental regulations and compliance, energy policy, land use, and climate change.

Federal Bankruptcy Court Externship

Students serve as judicial externs for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon and participate in all aspects of judicial decision-making, including researching and drafting bench memoranda and opinions, and observing oral arguments and chambers conferences.

General Externships

Externs are placed with nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies in a variety of settings to gain practical experience in different readings of the law. 

Judicial Externships

Externs work for district and appellate federal courts, federal immigration court, state trial and appellate courts, and the U.S. bankruptcy courts. The judges include students in all aspects of their work, including settlement meetings, trials, and discussions in chambers. 

Legislative Issues Workshop

Students are involved in research, bill tracking, report writing, committee presentation, and other tasks during the biennial sessions of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. 

Mediation Clinic

After mediation training, students spend one morning each week working in a local small claims court, helping disputants to search for nonlitigation solutions to their problems. 

Nonprofit Clinic

The nonprofit clinic is a joint venture with the UO's Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management and the Master's Degree in Conflict and Dispute Resolution program. Students learn about assessment of nonprofit organizations with assistance from experienced practitioners in the field and through practical experience working with nonprofit clients.

Office of the United States Trustee Externship

The Office of the United States Trustee is the division of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for overseeing the administration of bankruptcy cases. In this supervisory role, the U.S. trustee ensures that the bankruptcy cases proceed without delay, debtors comply with the disclosure requirements of the Bankruptcy Code, assets are distributed according to the code’s priority scheme, plans of reorganization proposed by consumer debtors comply with the code’s requirements for confirmation, and instances of fraud and abuse of the bankruptcy system are identified.

Portland In-House Counsel Externships

Students are placed in corporate counsel offices to give them a window into the world of major Oregon businesses and the operations of corporate legal counsel. Students participating in the program are exposed to the roles of in-house counsel, the relationship between in-house and outside counsel, and the workings of business operations. The substantial classroom component for both full- and part-time externs explores ethical issues faced by corporate counsel.

Small Business Clinic

Students advise local small-business owners on business formations, stock sales, leases, contracts, and other transactional legal issues.

Small Claims Mediation Clinic

Intensive, skills-oriented course that trains law students to mediate a range of cases. Skills training offers opportunities to practice communication skills and the mediation model in role-playing activities. Enhances interviewing, problem solving and analysis, and negotiation skills. 

Tax Externship

Students work full- or part-time with the Office of Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service in Portland. The counsel’s office represents the IRS in litigation in the U.S. Tax Court. Students research and write on tax issues involving small businesses and individuals.

Trial Practice Laboratory

Students examine and develop courtroom skills in civil and criminal cases. Primary emphases are on the opening statement, direct examination, cross-examination, objections, closing argument, and voir dire of juries. Each student participates in weekly classroom exercises and in a full trial at the end of the semester. 

Centers and Programs

Appropriate Dispute Resolution Center

Many lawyers today are more likely to participate in a settlement conference, mandatory arbitration, or mediation session than they are to argue a case in the courtroom. The law school’s appropriate dispute resolution courses, trainings, and programs help students understand a wide range of dispute resolution methods so that as lawyers they may advise their clients wisely. adr.uoregon.edu

Business Law

Comprehensive business law courses contribute to the core of the law school curriculum. Practical experience is gained in classroom studies and in real-world opportunities, teaching students the relationship between law and entrepreneurship and providing students the necessary deal-making skills to become transactional lawyers. bizlaw.uoregon.edu

Center for Law and Entrepreneurship

The center prepares law students to represent and to be entrepreneurs, encourages faculty research related to problems that confront entrepreneurs, and brings law students and members of the Northwest business community together. The center collaborates on a number of projects with the university’s Charles H. Lundquist College of Business, and in addition to lectures, symposiums, and numerous business courses, the center runs the Small Business Clinic. The center hosts various guest lectures and opportunities for interaction with members of the local business and legal communities. bizlaw.uoregon.edu/center

Criminal Justice Program
The University of Oregon Criminal Justice Program prepares future lawyers with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to practice in the criminal justice system as prosecutors and attorneys for criminal defendants and parents and children in the juvenile justice and child-welfare systems. law.uoregon.edu/criminal-justice

Environmental and Natural Resources Law

For more than forty years, this program’s focus on public interest environmental law and its commitment to innovations in environmental legal education have made it one of the nation’s oldest and most respected programs. Its faculty is involved in innovative legal scholarship that makes a global impact on environmental law. enr.uoregon.edu

Family Law, Child Advocacy Law, and Elder Law

The increasingly complex nature of family relationships requires lawyers to possess an in-depth understanding of the law that structures them. Future legal practitioners gain the knowledge and practical skills necessary to advocate for children, families, and the elderly, and also may pursue opportunities and hone their skills with the law school’s Child Advocacy Project or the Domestic Violence Clinic. familylaw.uoregon.edu

International Law
Globalization, extensive migration, and shifting demographics make international law a crucial component of legal education, creating an imperative to educate students prepared to practice at home and abroad. law.uoregon.edu/international-law

Legal Research and Writing 

Ranked fourth in the nation by U.S. News and Report, this rigorous program thoroughly prepares law students for the exacting style of writing expected of individuals in a clerkship or legal practice. law.uoregon.edu/lrw

Portland Program 

The program creates opportunities for students to build ties with the legal and business community in Portland, Oregon. As the state’s largest city, Portland is home to more than 3,000 UO School of Law alumni. The Portland Program offers externships, courses, symposiums, and a summer session. law.uoregon.edu/portland-program

Public Law and Policy Program

Building on a foundation of course offerings, career planning support, and service opportunities, UO students prepare for careers in the public sector. UO law graduates accept public service positions at rates far exceeding the national average. law.uoregon.edu/publiclaw

Sports Law
The Sports Law program prepares students to enter a rapidly growing and evolving field. Through traditional course work and experiences outside of the classroom, students learn about legal areas surrounding the sports industry and gain practical skills in contract negotiation, legal drafting, sponsorships, business development, labor law, and intellectual property and licensing. law.uoregon.edu/sports-law

Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics 

An independent center within the law school, the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics organizes dynamic programs in the spirit and tradition of former U.S. senator and law school dean Wayne Morse. Senator Morse was best known for his stance against the Vietnam War and as an advocate for civil rights, labor rights, and the rule of law. waynemorsecenter.uoregon.edu

Admission Procedures

Prelaw Preparation

The School of Law does not prescribe a prelaw curriculum. Intellectual maturity and breadth of educational background are considered more important than specific subject matter.

Details about prelaw study and law school admission criteria appear under Law, Preparatory, in the Academic Resources section of this catalog.

Information about the School of Law and its programs is available on its website. Additional information may be requested through the website or by contacting the Office of Admissions. Admissions staff members are happy to respond to inquiries regarding the admission process as well as to make arrangements for visits to the School of Law.

Requirements through the Law School Admission Council

The University of Oregon School of Law is a member of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). To complete the application process, an applicant must register with LSAC to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and participate in the Credential Assembly Service (CAS); register at www.lsac.org or call 215-968-1001. An applicant should take the LSAT no later than February of the year in which they wish to enroll. A score from the June 2010 test administration is the oldest acceptable score for fall 2015. An applicant must submit official academic transcripts of all college-level work and postgraduate work and letters of recommendation to the LSAC. All required fees must be paid and all required documents received before the admissions committee will review an application. Applicants receive an admission decision from the Office of Admissions in a letter sent through the United States Postal Service between December and May.

Basic Admission Requirements

An applicant must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university prior to enrolling in the School of Law. Enrollment restrictions and the large volume of applications for admission to the law school make it necessary to admit applicants who, in terms of their overall records, are the most qualified for legal studies.

In evaluating the strength of the overall record, the admissions committee considers the undergraduate grade point average (GPA), the results of the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), the personal statement, and letters of recommendation. The applicant should also submit a résumé that highlights educational background, employment, global and multicultural experience, and extracurricular activities. International applicants are required to submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

The admissions committee strives to annually enroll a class that is academically distinguished and reflects a rich blend of educational, economic, cultural, and professional backgrounds.

Class Profile

For the class of 2016, the School of Law received 1,545 applications for the 120 seats in its first-year class.

Fall 2013 Class Statistics

Percentile	GPA	LSAT Score
75th	3.55	161
50th	3.36	158
25th	3.03	156

Costs and Financial Aid

Law students are classified as graduate students. Tuition and fees are payable in full as prescribed by the Office of Business Affairs. Payment of the stipulated fees entitles students enrolled for academic credit to all services maintained by the university for the benefit of students.

Tuition and Fees for JD Program

For the 2013–14 academic year, tuition and fees were $29,458 for resident students and $36,724 for nonresidents. See the law school website for more information. Tuition and fee schedules are subject to revision by the State Board of Higher Education.

Residence classification regulations appear in Chapter 580, Division 10, of Oregon Administrative Rules, which are quoted in the Admissions section of this catalog. Details governing administration of nonresident and resident policies are complex. For answers to individual questions, students are advised to consult a staff member in the university’s Office of Admissions.

Total Costs

Because student living arrangements and personal spending habits vary widely, no single figure represents the cost of attending the university. Information on total 2013–14 costs for a resident student at the School of Law is available to view at lawadmissions.uoregon.edu/tuition . The child-care allowance varies according to circumstance and is based on documentable costs for the period of time the student is enrolled. Transportation costs also vary.

Health insurance is optional. Costs for semester or for full twelve-month coverage are available in the office of the Associated Students of the University of Oregon.

Financial Assistance

See the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships section of this catalog for complete information about financial aid including loans.

Scholarships and Fellowships

Information about scholarships and financial aid is available on the school’s website at law.uoregon.edu/students/financial  and law.uoregon.edu/1lfellowships or by telephone, 541-346-3846.

The law school has a Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) to help students with large law school loans to more easily enter public service. Learn more by visiting law.uoregon.edu/lrap .

Faculty

Adell L. Amos, associate professor (environmental and natural resources law); dean's distinguished fellow; associate dean, academic affairs. BA, 1995, Drury; JD, 1998, Oregon (Coif); Missouri bar, 1999. (2005)

Carl S. Bjerre, Wallace L. and Ellen A. Kaapcke Law Professor (commercial law, contracts). BA, 1982, California, Berkeley; JD, 1988, Cornell (Coif); New York bar, 1989; Oregon bar, 2001. (1996)

John E. Bonine, Bernard B. Kliks Professor of Law (environmental law, administrative law, constitutional law); director, Master of Laws Program. AB, 1966, Stanford; LLB, 1969, Yale; California bar, 1970; Oregon bar, 1977. (1978)

Stuart Chinn, professor (constitutional law, legislation); Kenneth J. O'Connell Senior Fellow; faculty director, public law and policy program; codirector, program in law, policy, and social justice. BA, 2001, MA, 2001, JD, 2004, PhD, 2008, Yale. (2009)

Andrea Coles-Bjerre, associate professor (creditors’ rights, bankruptcy, civil procedure). BA, 1984, Barnard; JD, 1987. Brooklyn Law; New York bar, 1988. (1996)

Michael Fakhri, assistant professor (international business transactions, law and development). LLB, 2001, Queen's (Ontario); LLM, 2006, Harvard. (2010)

Caroline Forell, Clayton R. Hess Professor of Law (women and the law, torts, trusts and estates). BA, 1973, JD, 1978, Iowa (Coif); Oregon bar, 1978. (1978)

Dave Frohnmayer, professor (state administrative law, legislative issues); president emeritus. BA, 1962, Harvard; BA, 1964, MA, 1969, Oxford; JD, 1967, California, Berkeley (Coif); California bar, 1967; Oregon bar, 1971. (1970)

Elizabeth R. Frost, instructor (legal research and writing). BA, 2002, Yale; JD, 2006, Michigan, Ann Arbor. (2010)

Susan N. Gary, Orlando J. and Marian H. Hollis Professor of Law (trusts and estates, estate planning, nonprofit organizations). BA, 1977, Yale; JD, 1981, Columbia; Illinois bar, 1981; Oregon bar, 1989. (1992)

Ibrahim J. Gassama, professor (torts, international law, human rights). BA, 1980, Virginia Polytechnic; JD, 1984, Harvard; New York bar, 1985. (1991)

Erik Girvan, assistant professor (civil procedure, remedies). BA, 1998, Alaska, Fairbanks; JD, 2002, Harvard; PhD, 2012, Minnesota, Twin Cities. (2012)

Leslie J. Harris, Dorothy Kliks Fones Professor of Law (criminal law, family law, children and the law). BA, 1973, New Mexico State; JD, 1976, New Mexico (Coif); New Mexico bar, 1976; District of Columbia bar, 1977. (1982)

Richard G. Hildreth, Frank Nash Professor of Law (ocean and coastal law, property, climate change law and policy); director, Ocean and Coastal Law Center. BSE, 1965, JD, 1968, Michigan (Coif); diploma in law, 1969, Oxford; diploma in law, 1973, Stockholm; California bar, 1969; Oregon bar, 1982. (1978)

Robert C. Illig, associate professor (business associations, mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital). BA, 1991, Williams; JD, 1996, Vanderbilt; New York bar, 1997. (2004)

Carrie Leonetti, associate professor (criminal law, evidence, criminal adjudication). AB, 1994, Michigan, Ann Arbor; JD, 2000, Harvard; Maryland bar, 2000; California bar, 2008. (2008)

Tom Lininger, Orlando J. and Marian H. Hollis Professor of Law (ethics, criminal law, public interest law). BA, 1988, Yale; JD, 1991, Harvard; California bar, 1993; Oregon bar, 2008. (2003)

Mohsen Manesh, assistant professor (advanced business law, business associations, contracts); faculty director, portland program. BS, 2003, Arkansas; JD, 2006, Georgetown. (2011)

Roberta Mann, Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Stewart Business Law Professor (tax law, property law, environmental law). BS, 1980, MBA, 1982, JD, 1987, Arizona State; LLM, 1995, Georgetown; Arizona bar, 1987; District of Columbia bar, 1989. (2008)

Megan McAlpin, instructor (legal research and writing); director, externships and clinics. BS, 2000, Western Oregon; JD, 2003, Willamette; Oregon bar, 2003. (2007)

Michelle McKinley, Bernard B. Kliks Professor of Law; associate professor (immigration law, refugee and asylum law, international law). BA, 1985, Wellesley; MPhil, 1988, Oxford; JD, 1995, Harvard. (2007)

Michael L. Moffitt, professor (civil procedure, negotiation, appropriate dispute resolution); dean; Philip H. Knight Chair. BA, 1991, Marietta; JD, 1994, Harvard. (2001)

Margaret L. Paris, professor (criminal law, Oregon practice and procedure). BA, 1981, JD, 1985 (Coif), Northwestern; Illinois bar, 1985. (1992)

Eric Priest, assistant professor (copyright law, trademark law, property); faculty director, LL.M. program. BA, 1999, Minnesota, Twin Cities; LLM, 2005, Harvard; JD, 2002, Illinois Institute of Technology. (2009)

Ofer Raban, associate professor (constitutional law, criminal investigation, legal interpretation). BA, 1994, City University of New York, City College; DPhil, 1994, Oxford; JD, 1999, Harvard. (2008)

Jennifer Reynolds, assistant professor (dispute resolution); faculty director, Appropriate Dispute Resolution Center. AB, 1992, Chicago; MA, 1996, Texas, Austin; JD, 2008, Harvard. (2009)

Joan Rocklin, senior instructor (legal research and writing). BA, 1993, Williams; JD, 1998, Pennsylvania (Coif); New York bar, 1998. (2001)

Suzanne E. Rowe, James L. and Ilene R. Hershner Professor in Jurisprudence; director, Legal Research and Writing Program. BA, 1983, North Carolina, Chapel Hill; JD, 1989, Columbia; California bar, 1992; District of Columbia bar, 1992. (2000)

David Schuman, courtesy professor of practice. BA, Stanford; MA, San Francisco State; JD, 1984, Oregon.

Nancy E. Shurtz, B. A. Kliks Professor of Law (taxation, estate planning, women and the law). BA, 1970, Cincinnati; JD, 1972, Ohio State; LLM, 1977, Georgetown; Ohio bar, 1973; Tennessee bar, 1973; District of Columbia bar, 1977. (1982)

Elizabeth Tippett, assistant professor. MA, 2002, Harvard; JD, 2006, Harvard.

Merle H. Weiner, Philip H. Knight Professor of Law (torts, family law, domestic violence). BA, 1985, Dartmouth; LLM, 1988, Cambridge; JD, 1990, Harvard; District of Columbia bar, 1991; Maryland bar, 1991; California bar, 1993. (1998)

Mary C. Wood, Philip H. Knight Professor of Law (Indian law, public lands, property); faculty director, Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program. BA, 1984, Washington (Seattle); JD, 1987, Stanford; Washington bar, 1989; Oregon bar, 1990. (1992)

Emeriti

Barbara Bader Aldave, retired professor. BS, 1960, Stanford; JD, 1966, California, Berkeley (Coif); Oregon bar, 1966; Texas bar, 1982. (2000)

Donald W. Brodie, professor emeritus. BA, 1958, Washington (Seattle); LLB, 1961, New York University; Washington bar, 1961; Oregon bar, 1981. (1967)

Maurice J. Holland, professor emeritus. AB, 1958, Yale; MA, 1961, JD, 1966, LLM, 1970, PhD, 1980, Harvard; Massachusetts bar, 1963; Oregon bar, 1987. (1986)

Jon L. Jacobson, professor emeritus. BA, 1961, JD, 1963, Iowa (Coif); California bar, 1964. (1968)

Mary S. Lawrence, associate professor emerita. BA, 1960, MA, 1962, Michigan State; JD, 1977, Oregon; Oregon bar, 1977. (1977)

Ralph James Mooney, professor emeritus. BA, 1965, Harvard; JD, 1968, Michigan (Coif); California bar, 1968. (1972)

James M. O’Fallon, professor emeritus. BA, 1966, Kansas State; MA, JD, 1972, Stanford (Coif); California bar, 1973. (1981)

Milton L. Ray, professor emeritus. BA, 1947, Rochester; JD, 1950, Chicago (Coif); Illinois bar, 1950; California bar, 1964. (1971)

Eugene F. Scoles, distinguished professor emeritus. AB, 1943, JD, 1945, Iowa (Coif); LLM, 1949, Harvard; JSD, 1955, Columbia; Iowa bar, 1945; Illinois bar, 1946. (1968)

Rennard Strickland, distinguished professor emeritus. BA, 1962, Northeastern State; MA, 1966, Arkansas; JD, 1965, SJD, 1970, Virginia (Coif); Creek Nation bar, 1965. (1997)

Peter N. Swan, professor emeritus. BS, 1958, LLB, 1961, Stanford; California bar, 1962; United States Supreme Court bar, 1967; Oregon bar, 1979. (1970)

Dominick R. Vetri, professor emeritus (art law, torts, gay and lesbian legal issues). BS, ME, 1960, New Jersey Institute of Technology; JD, 1964, Pennsylvania (Coif); New Jersey bar, 1965; Oregon bar, 1977. (1967)

The date in parentheses at the end of each entry is the first year on the University of Oregon faculty.

• Doctor of Jurisprudence
• Master of Laws in Environmental and Natural Resources Law
• Master of Arts in Conflict and Dispute Resolution
• Master of Science in Conflict and Dispute Resolution

Degree Programs

The curriculum presents fundamental subjects of law during the first year, and the first-year program is prescribed. These required courses are designed to provide a solid foundation in legal theory, practical writing and research skills, and a theoretical and practical knowledge of the law.

All but two second- and third-year courses are elective.

Doctor of Jurisprudence

First-Year Required Courses
LAW 611	Contracts	3
LAW 613	Torts	3
LAW 615	Civil Procedure	4
LAW 617	Property	4
LAW 618	Criminal Law	3
LAW 622–623	Legal Research and Writing I-II	4
LAW 643	Constitutional Law I	3
Second- and Third-Year Required Courses
LAW 644	Constitutional Law II	3
LAW 649	Legal Profession	3
Electives
Law courses in area of study		55
Total Credits		85

Students who have been admitted to the School of Law, who have satisfactorily completed 85 semester credits, and who have otherwise satisfied the requirements of the university and the School of Law are granted the JD degree provided that they

• earn a BA or BS or equivalent degree from an accredited college or university at least two years before completing work for the JD degree

• complete successfully prescribed first-year courses

• complete successfully Constitutional Law II (LAW 644) and Legal Profession (LAW 649)

• fulfill a skills requirement and a writing requirement

• have been full-time law students for at least six semesters or equivalent

• earn a 2.00 cumulative law school grade point average

• fulfill other requirements as may be imposed

The School of Law reserves the right to modify its curriculum and graduation requirements at any time.

Students in the School of Law may accrue up to 5 of the required 85 semester credits by successfully completing graduate-level courses or seminars at the University of Oregon. These courses must be relevant to their program of legal studies and approved in advance by the assistant dean for student affairs.

Additional Requirements

A total of three years of full-time resident professional study in the University of Oregon School of Law or another law school of recognized standing is required for the JD degree. At least 55 semester hours must be completed at the University of Oregon School of Law.

During the second or third year of law school, each student must complete a writing requirement designed to improve legal writing skills and the ability to analyze legal problems. The requirement is met by an intensive writing experience involving thorough research, substantial writing and editing, and interaction with a faculty member in developing and editing a research paper or legal documents.

During the second or third year of law school, each student must also complete at least one course with substantial professional skills components to qualify for graduation. Professional skills include clinics and externships, trial and appellate advocacy, alternate methods of dispute resolution, counseling, interviewing, negotiating, and drafting.

Concentrations

Second- and third-year students may develop a specialty in business law, child advocacy law, criminal practice, dispute resolution, environmental and natural resources law, estate planning, family law, green business law, intellectual property law, international law, law and entrepreneurship, law and public policy, ocean and coastal law, public interest law, or tax law. A student who satisfactorily completes one of these programs earns a concentration.

Academic Support

The Academic Choice for Excellence Program, a voluntary program open to first-year law students, is particularly beneficial for nontraditional law students and those who are the first in their family to attend college or have been away from school for several years. The program includes academic tutoring designed to bolster the principles that underlie first-year course work, to develop research and writing skills, and to clarify the law school examination process.

Master of Laws in Environmental and Natural Resources Law

The School of Law offers a degree program leading to a master of laws in environmental and natural resources law. Applicants must have a JD from an accredited U.S. law school or a law degree from a non-U.S. program of legal education. The program requires two semesters in residence at the UO School of Law and 24 credits earned.

The LLM seminar is an integrating experience for students, providing education on topics of current concern and introducing students to a variety of lawyers, officials, and natural environments in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States during field trips. The students also work to improve their skills in making presentations, preparing articles for publication, and working collaboratively.

Some LLM students also have the opportunity to participate in the clinical program at the Western Environmental Law Center and the externship program at the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide.

This program is intended to prepare a select group of postgraduate students for careers in teaching, high-level governmental or international positions, and legal careers in private or public service.

LLM seminar		3
Seven approved courses		21
Total Credits		24

Full information can be found on the program website, llm.uoregon.edu .

Master’s Degree in Conflict and Dispute Resolution

The graduate program in conflict and dispute resolution, housed in the School of Law, offers an interdisciplinary, two-year master’s degree (MA or MS) granted by the Graduate School.

Master of Arts in Conflict and Dispute Resolution

Core courses		43
Elective courses		16
Internship (320 hours)		8
Thesis or terminal project		9
Total Credits		76

Master of Science in Conflict and Dispute Resolution

Core courses		43
Elective courses		16
Internship (320 hours)		8
Thesis or terminal project		9
Total Credits		76

Additional Requirements

In addition, the master of arts degree requires that graduates meet the Graduate School language requirement defined at gradschool.uoregon.edu/policies-procedures/masters . Students must also participate in thirty-two hours of basic mediation training, a prerequisite for the mediation skills course.

First-year students take all the core courses together as a cohort. In their second year of study, degree candidates focus on individualized learning, completing their elective course work, their internship, and their final project.

Electives may be selected from courses offered across campus by various departments and programs, including the Lundquist College of Business; international studies; planning, public policy and management; philosophy; political science; psychology; sociology; and others. The conflict and dispute resolution master’s program offers its own elective courses that attract students from across the campus. Examples include the psychology of conflict resolution; grappling with zero-sum conflicts such as Northern Ireland and Israel-Palestine; environmental conflict resolution; and conflict resolution in the workplace.

The internship is a key element of the educational program, providing practical experience in an area that has relevance to the student’s educational and career goals and the potential to be a stepping stone to future career development. Internship placements range from local to international. Students are not required to complete all internship credits within a single term. Internship credits needn’t be acquired only at one placement location but may be divided among two, or possibly even three, sponsoring agencies.

The thesis or terminal project component of the degree requirements is sufficiently flexible in format and content to allow students to choose between a theory-based academic paper or a project more practical in nature. The former typically will be a formal study of some aspect of the field, the latter a project of practice conducted in the field followed with a final project report. Successful completion of the final project requires an oral defense before the student’s final project committee.

Full information can be found on the program website, conflict.uoregon.edu . 

Concurrent Degree Programs 

JD/MS in Conflict and Dispute Resolution

The School of Law offers a concurrent degree program leading to a doctor of jurisprudence and a master of science degree in conflict and dispute resolution. Students receive two degrees in four years rather than in the standard five, deepening their understanding of negotiation, dispute resolution, and alternative methods of settlement. Applicants must apply to and be accepted by both programs.

JD/MA in International Studies

The School of Law and the International Studies Program offer a concurrent degree program leading to a doctor of jurisprudence and a master of arts degree in international studies with a specialization in international law. Students receive two degrees in four years. Applicants must apply to and be accepted by both programs.

JD/MBA

The School of Law and the Lundquist College of Business Graduate School of Management offer a doctor of jurisprudence and master of business administration (JD/MBA) concurrent degree program. The program prepares students to use their legal skills in fields that require understanding of business principles, finance, accounting, corporate management, sports marketing, and international business. Students receive two degrees in four years rather than in the standard five. Applicants must apply to and be accepted by both schools.

JD/MA or MS in Environmental Studies

The School of Law and the Environmental Studies Program offer a concurrent degree program leading to a doctor of jurisprudence and a master of arts or a master of science in environmental studies. This program introduces students to scientific, social, and legal aspects of environmental regulation and resource development. Students receive two degrees in four years rather than in the standard five. Applicants must apply to and be accepted by the School of Law and the Environmental Studies Program.

JD/MA or MS in Media Studies

The School of Law and the School of Journalism and Communication offer a concurrent degree program leading to a doctor of jurisprudence and a master of arts or master of science in media studies. The degrees provide students with opportunities for both legal and communications internships. Applicants must apply to and be accepted by both schools.

JD/MCRP in Community and Regional Planning

The School of Law and the Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management offer a concurrent degree program leading to a doctor of jurisprudence and a master of community and regional planning. The degrees provide students with opportunities for both legal and planning internships. Applicants must apply to and be accepted by both programs.

JD/MNPM in Nonprofit Management

The School of Law and the Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management offer concurrent degrees that provide students with professionally accredited degrees in both law and public administration, the opportunity to interact with professionals in both the legal and public administration communities, opportunities for both legal and public administration internships, and an array of course work that prepares students for a wide range of professional careers.

JD/MPA in Public Administration

The School of Law and the Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management offer a concurrent degree program leading to a doctor of jurisprudence and a master of public administration. The degrees provide students with opportunities for both legal and public administration internships. Applicants must apply to and be accepted by both programs.

JD/MS in Water Resources Policy and Management

The School of Law and Oregon State University offer a concurrent degree program leading to a doctor of jurisprudence and a master of science in water resources engineering, water resources science, or water resources policy and management. Applicants must apply to and be accepted by both programs.