LLM

245 Winter Street SE, Salem, OR 97301-3922, USA
Phone: 503.370.6282 | Fax: 503.370.6087
E-mail: llm-admission@willamette.edu | Website: www.willamette.edu/wucl/programs/llm/

Introduction

Established in 1883, Willamette University College of Law offers a learning environment that is distinctive among law schools. Located in Salem, Oregon, across the street from the state capitol complex and the Oregon Supreme Court, the college is situated in the epicenter of state law, government, and business.

The College of Law emphasizes small enrollment, excellence in teaching, and a high level of faculty-student interaction. We also boast a student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1. Our select enrollment of fewer than 440 students creates an intellectual intimacy unmatched by most law schools in the United States. As a community, we are committed to the advancement of knowledge through research and scholarship, to diversity, and to public service. Willamette law students should expect to be challenged, to defend their opinions, to think and rethink their ideas, and to leave with a heightened respect for themselves and confidence in what they can do.

Law School Enrollment

• Total law school enrollment: 434

Willamette offers only a full-time, daytime option for JD students, but LLM students may select either a one-year, full-time, or two-year, part-time option.

Physical Facilities

Law Library

The J.W. Long Law Library is designed to facilitate ease of use and comfort. Its more than 300,000 volumes and microform equivalents include state and federal primary law sources, as well as the leading treatises, periodicals, and other secondary sources that are vital to a full understanding of the law. Professional reference librarians are available to assist law students with all aspects of legal research, including use of electronic databases, the Hatfield Library Consortium online catalog, the library website, and other research applications on the law school network.

Willamette law students also have available to them, within several blocks, the collections of Willamette University's Mark O. Hatfield Library, the State of Oregon Law Library, the Oregon State Library, and the Oregon State Archives.

University Facilities

Law students also have access to all facilities of Willamette University, including the Goudy Dining Commons and The Bistro, the University Center, the Willamette Store, and much more. The Sparks Physical Education and Recreation Center houses a swimming pool, handball/racquetball courts, weight rooms, gymnasiums, and shower and locker facilities. The Hallie Ford Museum of Art is the third largest art museum in the state. The G. Herbert Smith Auditorium hosts the Oregon Symphony's performances in Salem. The Mary Stuart Rogers Music Center offers state-of-the-art acoustics for small performances of jazz, choral music, chamber music, and recitals. The campus provides intramural sports, cultural offerings, student organizations, and special events and lectures.

Housing

On-campus housing is extremely limited for law students but extensive housing opportunities exist in and around campus, the city of Salem, and throughout the surrounding areas up to and including the city of Portland. Upon request, the College of Law Office of Admission is able to provide information to prospective LLM students about housing options.

LLM Programs/Areas of Specialization

LLM in Dispute Resolution

Willamette University College of Law now offers students an opportunity to learn about dispute resolution, an emerging global method of resolving legal cases. The College of Law will give students the expertise to practice this cutting-edge field in private practice, at public interest organizations, and in government agencies.

Students can complete the program by selecting courses in arbitration, international arbitration, mediation, cross-cultural dispute resolution, negotiation and advanced negotiation, in addition to conflict theory, comparative law, international and transnational law, recent developments in dispute resolution, psychology and dispute resolution, and clinical offerings and externships.

LLM in Transnational Law

Willamette's LLM in Transnational Law, an advanced degree available to those who have completed a JD at an ABA-accredited American or Canadian law school or its equivalent from a foreign law school, combines the strengths of the school's comprehensive curriculum in domestic law with its well-established international programs and transnational courses. Students will be taught by faculty composed of internationally recognized scholars and educators.

The LLM program provides students with the fundamentals of international law and dispute resolution, international business transactions, comparative law, private international law, and, for foreign lawyers, United States law. Specialty subjects range from the law of ocean resources to international taxation. The program offers students an unusual opportunity to apply comparative and international legal insights to domestic law topics. Foreign students, in particular, have an opportunity to study and apply subjects from Willamette's rich array of domestic law courses.

The program is additionally enhanced by providing students with access to courses offered by the Atkinson Graduate School of Management, and study-abroad programs in China, Germany, and Ecuador offer further invaluable educational experiences.

Contact Information

For additional information, please visit the LLM Programs website, or contact:

Brian Miller
Assistant Director of Admission
Willamette University College of Law
245 Winter Street SE
Salem, OR 97301
USA

Phone: 503.370.6282
Fax: 503.370.6087
E-mail: llm-admission@willamette.edu

LLM Application Information

The director of international programs determines admission to the LLM Program. The director reviews each application individually, ensuring the fair appraisal of each candidate's file. Offers will be extended to eligible candidates on the basis of several factors, including law school record, proof of English proficiency if relevant, written recommendations, professional accomplishments, and expected commitment to the LLM program.

When to Apply

The priority deadline is April 1 of the enrollment year. Please note, applications will continue to be accepted following the priority deadline so long as there is seat availability. Should you have questions, please contact the Admission Office directly:

Phone: 503.370.6282
E-mail: llm-admission@willamette.edu

How to Apply

Application Form

A candidate may choose to apply through any of the following methods:

• Online: Apply online via Willamette's website. Start by creating your account.
• LLM CAS Application: Apply through LSAC, which maintains an approved electronic-format application to Willamette's College of Law. See Electronic Applications for information about submitting electronic applications via LLM CAS.
• Postal Mail: Apply by submitting a paper application. The application can be downloaded from the LLM Applicants website, or an application can be obtained from the College of Law by calling 503.370.6282 or e-mailing llm-admission@willamette.edu.

Application Materials and Requirements

• JD: All LLM candidates must have a JD from an accredited American law school or its equivalent from a foreign law school. Official law transcripts must be sent with degree conferred. If transcripts are not in English, a certified English translation must accompany the original.
• Application Processing Fee: All LLM candidates must submit a nonrefundable application processing fee of $50. Make checks payable to "Willamette University." Submit the application processing fee with the application for admission.
• Official, Certified Academic Records: An official copy of your law school transcript is required. Applicants should contact their law school and arrange to have their transcripts sent directly to Willamette University College of Law, Office of Admission. Applicants who have completed their law degrees from outside of the United States or Canada should use the LSAC LLM Credential Assembly Service.
• Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of written recommendation must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation. They may be submitted with the application or mailed directly to the College of Law, Office of Admission.
• Personal Statement: Applicants must submit a written statement discussing their qualifications and intentions for pursuing a graduate degree from the College of Law. The statement must be in English.
• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae: You may also submit your résumé/curriculum vitae. This, however, is not a substitute for the personal statement.

Additional Requirements for International Applicants

International applicants must also meet all international applicant requirements.

The LLM program at Willamette University College of Law is small. Generally, between two and five students enroll in the program each year. This small size provides students with a much more personalized program than they might experience at larger programs. It also permits students unusual flexibility in creating an individualized and unique curriculum. LLM students pay the same tuition as the JD students (for 2012–2013, tuition and fees are $34,660 USD).

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