Why you should consider this program

Willamette University College of Law invests in public interest law by serving students who want to pursue those opportunities. Many of our students are devoted to service, wanting to serve those who need it most. Helping translate the complex legal system from court and legislative rule to how that affects the average day-to-day citizen makes our legal system much more useful, and therefore, helpful. At Willamette Law, we do everything we can to support this. Our students graduate equipped with the analytical thinking and reasoning skills needed to be a successful and effective lawyer. Those drawn to public interest law feel a vocational pull to serve the underrepresented. This field of work focuses on making the legal system promote public good and can take many different forms in both the public and private sectors. We want our graduates to leave equipped with the knowledge, experiences, and resources to serve the public. Our motto _Not unto ourselves alone are we born” is not just words, it is an ethos that we live as a community of learners.

Benefits for Coverdell Fellows

	Tuition/fees for Complete Program	Value of Coverdell Fellowship	Net cost *
In state	$ 127,500	$ 31,873	$ 95,627
Out of state	$ 127,500	$ 31,875	$ 95,625

* Net cost is equal to tuition/fees minus fellowship value. For some universities, the fellowship value includes non-tuition/fee benefits such as health insurance or housing—see the first point below for more details.

Where the cost savings value of the Coverdell Fellowship comes from

25% scholarship

Fellowships awarded per year (average)

2

Other benefits or opportunities

Note that most students are likely to receive a merit-based scholarship award in addition to the Coverdell Scholarship.

Annual cost of living (estimated)

$ 15,836

Application fee waived?

Yes

Internship

Willamette Law students have a variety of options to complete their internship requirement including working at one of our clinical law programs located on campus. The clinics include work in child and family advocacy, human rights and immigration, estate planning, or law and business. Students may also participate in one of approximately 250 externships to complete this requirement. Externs have a wide range of opportunities from which to chose and can seek placements that fit their particular skills, background and career interests. Willamette students have enjoyed externships with local, national, and international hosts in a variety of legal settings, such as with in-house counsel of national and regional companies, state and federal representatives and senators, state and federal agencies, prosecutors' offices, public defenders' offices, nonprofit legal services, and private law firms. Students participate in transactional work, litigation, administrative advocacy and alternative dispute resolution as well as legislative drafting and advocacy. Click here for more information about our externship program.

Jobs for program alumni

Our first Coverdell student is still in the program and will graduate at the end of next academic year. Historically, Willamette Law alumni work in a variety of legal-related fields including non-profit, government, and public interest sectors. Willamette law has one of the top job placement rates in Oregon, the Pacific Northwest, and the west coast for full-time, long-term, JD-preferred, or JD-required jobs.

Other details

Program length

3 years for JD, 1 year for Masters and LLM

Application requirements

LSAT, academic record, resume, personal statement, 2 letters of recommendation, character and fitness review.

Admissions process

Add an addendum to your application indicating that you are a Coverdell applicant.

Program begins

Mid August

Non-traditional options

Coverdell Fellows may be full-time or part-time students.

Year Coverdell Fellows partnership started

2014

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Contact

Leah Straley, Associate Director of Recruitment