LLM

10015 SW Terwilliger Boulevard, Portland, OR 97219-7799, USA
Phone: 503.768.6600 | Website: law.lclark.edu

Introduction

Lewis & Clark Law School's campus combines the best of city life with the natural beauty that surrounds Portland. Our campus is just six miles from downtown Portland and borders a forested wilderness park that provides the perfect backdrop to the study of environmental law.

Lewis & Clark's overall environmental law program was founded in 1970 and is considered one of the best in the United States. LLM students benefit from this top-ranked program by selecting from the same impressive list of environmental and natural resources classes we offer our JD students. Our classes are offered year round (including summer).

Law School Enrollment

• Total law school enrollment: 771
• JD program:
  • Full-time: 565
  • Part-time:188
• LLM program: 18

Physical Facilities

• The resources and staff of the Paul L. Boley Law Library, the largest law library in the state and the second largest in the Northwest, well exceed standards set by the Association of American Law Schools. The Law School library is an exquisite study space with computer labs equipped with the latest technology. Wireless access is available on the entire campus.
• Framed by majestic fir trees, the campus is composed of contemporary buildings with classrooms and a large state park a moment's walk from the library. Traditional student needs and those of individuals with disabilities are met through a variety of facilities.
• In 2001, Wood Hall, an award-winning "green" building, was completed. This addition to campus added office space for the environmental program staff along with space for the three on-campus environmental clinics, PEAC, IELP, and CALS. Classrooms 7 and 8, two seminar rooms, a computer lab, and office space for the three law reviews were also added.
• In the Legal Research Center (LRC) you will find the Admissions Office, Business Office, Registrar's Office, and the Dean's office, along with faculty offices. A large student lounge overlooks the park with a full-service cafeteria, coffee cart, and bookstore. Classrooms 5 and 6 are also located in the LRC.
• The Office of Alumni and Events, Career Services Office, offices of student organizations, lockers, and shower facilities are located in Gantenbein.
• Classrooms 1, 2, 3, and 4 are located in the McCarty Classroom Complex.
• Lewis & Clark Law students also have access to all facilities of Lewis & Clark College.

Housing

Although the law school does not offer on-campus housing, the college owns a few rental houses nearby. The Admissions Office maintains a database on the law school website for rental properties.

Environmental and Natural Resources Law

Lewis & Clark Law School offers an LLM in environmental and natural resources law for graduates of ABA-approved law schools or their foreign equivalent who want to emphasize this area in practice, teaching, research, or public policy. The program is intended for both recent law school graduates and established lawyers who want to enhance their current practice or develop a new specialty.

We offer classes in both "environmental law," focusing on the legal schemes for regulating pollution of air, land, and water, and "natural resources law," addressing the legal schemes for resources such as wildlife, water, forests, minerals, and public lands. We also offer cutting-edge classes such as Environmental Justice; International Environmental Law; Trade and the Environment; Environmental Mediation and Negotiation; and Law, Science, and the Environment.

The LLM program is small so that we can work with each LLM student on an individual basis. Our program director assists each US LLM with his or her course selection, provides career counseling along with our Career Services Office, and helps with paper topics. Our assistant director works with each international LLM student on course selection and class tutoring, orients students to Portland, and teaches a preparational seminar in August to help international students prepare to study US environmental law. Each LLM student has a faculty advisor who can also assist in class choices, paper topics, and career advice.

Lewis & Clark's LLM program requires completion of 26 semester hours of credit for US students and 28 hours for international students. The program can be completed in two semesters or spread over two and a half years. US students can apply to begin their LLM studies in the fall semester (which generally begins in late August) or in the spring semester (which generally begins in mid-January). Absent unusual circumstances, we require international students to begin in the fall so they can attend the International LLM Summer Seminar, a 2-credit course designed to help prepare them for law study in the United States.

Application Information

Each application is evaluated as a whole. We are interested in your scholarly capacity, your skills as a lawyer, your academic performance, and your interest in the environmental and natural resources law field.

• Application deadline—US students
  • Fall semester (August)—March 15
  • Spring semester (January)—August 1
• Application deadline—International students
  • Fall semester (August)—February 15
• Application Fee: $50.00
• LLM Application (LSAC LLM Credential Assembly Service)
• Letter explaining why you seek an LLM in environmental and natural resources law (about 200 words)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Current résumé
• Writing sample (approx. 10–15 pages) that demonstrates your ability to organize, reason, and communicate
• Law school transcript
• TOEFL® or IELTS™ scores for international applicants
• Tuition for 2011–2012 is $1,320 per credit hour (a total of $34,320 for 26 credits)

Contact Information

For additional information, please visit the Environmental and Natural Resources Law website, or contact:

Linda D'Agostino–Long
Program Assistant
10015 SW Terwilliger Boulevard
Portland, OR 97219
USA

Phone: 503.768.6784
Fax: 503.768.6671
E-mail: elaw@lclark.edu

Career Services

The Career Services Office maintains and runs an extraordinary number and variety of programs. The staff consists of experienced administrators, counselors, and professionals to assist with career advice, résumé and interview preparation, and job search strategies.

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