Western Oregon University (WOU) and Willamette University signed an agreement yesterday to make it easier for WOU students interested in law to pursue a graduate degree at Willamette University College of Law (Willamette Law).

 

This program admits WOU undergraduate students and alumni who meet certain academic credentials to Willamette Law and gives each student a $10,000 scholarship, renewable each year the student is enrolled at Willamette Law and remains in good standing.

 

“This partnership provides our students with a great opportunity to take the skills they’ve developed at WOU and make a significant step toward their career goals in law,” WOU Interim President Jay Kenton says. “We’re proud to partner with Willamette University in this program and are pleased that our students will have access to study at such an esteemed law school.”

 

The eligibility requirements for WOU students and alumni include: at least 45 of the student’s last 60 credits must have been completed at WOU; must have completed at least 90 credits total; must have finished a WOU bachelor’s degree before matriculating at Willamette Law; must have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 in WOU courses and at least 3.0 on all transferred courses; and must have earned a minimum score on the LSAT or GRE at or above the 50^th percentile of the most recent class to matriculate at Willamette Law.

 

“We are so pleased to partner with WOU and give its talented students and alumni a transparent path to law school admission,” Willamette Law Dean Brian Gallini says. “WOU graduates have always had great success at Willamette, and we hope this partnership will provide future WOU graduates with enhanced access to a legal education.”

 

Willamette hopes to expand mentorship opportunities to WOU undergraduate students to help explore legal careers, develop skills for law schools and a better understanding of the law school admission process, and demystify financing  a graduate education.

 

To learn more, visit the WOU transfer pathways website for more information.

 

About Willamette University College of Law

Willamette University College of Law was the first law school to open in the Pacific Northwest. Building on deep historic roots, we focus with pride on educating the next generation of problem-solving lawyers and leaders. Our location in Salem, Oregon, directly across the street from the Oregon State Capitol and Supreme Court, cannot be matched in the region. Our thought-leading scholars advance and promote our shared responsibility to make a difference in society, placing justice, fairness, and equality at the heart of everything we do.

The College of Law produces the best problem solvers, community leaders, legal dealmakers, and changemakers in the most innovative region of the country. We have had several years of remarkable growth in academic achievement, as our bar passage rates and employment outcomes reflect. We also consistently have the highest graduate employment rates among all Oregon law schools, and are among the best on the entire West Coast.

We are a dynamic force within our university’s vision of an “Only at Willamette” education and have worked to develop one of the most forward-thinking and creative legal education programs in the country. Our student-centric approach manifests in the robust experiential learning opportunities we provide alongside curricular strengths in public service, business law, advocacy, international law, and health law.

Photo Caption: A Virtual Signing Ceremony was held to sign the agreement. Pictured from left to right are Willamette Law Dean Brian Gallini, WOU Interim President Dr. Jay Kenton, Willamette Law Assistant Dean of Admissions Leah Straley, WOU Director of Transfer Pathways Dr. Kristin Mauro, WOU Dean Dr. Kathy Cassity and WOU Professor Dr. Mark Henkels.