About Us

A professor and a student walking near the Law Center building
About Us

At Oregon Law we prepare students for great careers. We train exceptional legal and dispute resolution professionals to drive change in a diverse and complex society. We prepare students through excellent classroom teaching paired with a multitude of practical experience opportunities and robust career development. And we accomplish these goals in a positive, collaborative environment.

Learning Outcomes

A portrait of Dean Burke against brilliant fall foliage
Marcilynn A. Burke

Marcilynn A. Burke is the dean and Dave Frohnmayer Chair in Leadership and Law.

Her vision for the law school is to develop world-class legal professionals to:

  • Be ethical and effective leaders, counselors, and innovators
  • Advocate for change in their communities, courtrooms, and boardrooms
  • Thrive in our interwoven, dynamic society

“Oregon Law is a great place to help you find your voice and learn how to use that voice to advocate for justice, your client, and your cause. With an Oregon law degree, you will have the skills and knowledge to drive change and chart your own path to success, however you define it. Come to Oregon Law to learn, to share, and to flourish.”

—Dean Marcilynn A. Burke


 

Dean Burke on the podcast – EdUp Legal

Hear from Dean Burke about her views on the future of legal education, and what diversity, inclusion and leadership should mean in the profession.

Visit the Podcast Page

 

9,400+
Alumni
500+
graduate students in 3 programs
400+
undergraduate students in legal studies minor
178
alumni who are sitting judges
Marcilynn Burke, Yvette Alex-Assensoh and Cheryl Harris pose together for a photo
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Diversity is a crucial and invaluable component of the intellectual, educational, and social mission of our community. At Oregon Law, we believe that strengthening our efforts around diversity, equity, and inclusion is critical to our overall efforts to achieve excellence as a competitive, world-class law school.

Our immediate aim is to foster a more inclusive learning and working environment for students, faculty, staff, and community partners—one that is successful, thriving, and more resilient because of its diversity. Our broader aim is to learn, teach, and practice the principles of equity and justice in all we do, helping to ensure that all people have the opportunity to grow, contribute, and develop.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

 

36
full-time faculty
44
years hosting the Oregon Supreme Court in Eugene
Dave Frohnmayer teaching a class
Oregon Law History

Founded in 1884 when most lawyers received their legal education by “reading law” while working in lawyer’s offices, Oregon Law was the first and remains the only public law school in the State of Oregon. Judge Matthew Deady, the president of the UO Board of Regents and a judge at the time, called the School of Law the “hope and pride of the state.”

Oregon Law Timeline

3
faculty and alumni have served as Oregon Attorney General
4
alumni Chief Justices of Oregon Supreme Court
2
alumni governors

Two Locations

 

Skyline of Eugene with trees in the foreground and hills in the background
Eugene Campus
Located on the east side of UO’s campus and across from Hayward Field, the William W. Knight Law Center houses Oregon Law’s JD, LLM, CRES, and undergraduate legal studies programs. The School of Law is the only law school in Oregon located on the campus of a major public university – giving students the distinct advantage of being part of a small, connected community within a large research university.
Skyline of Portland at dusk
Portland Third-Year Program
Our Portland Program is housed on the NE Portland UO Campus. Students who study in Portland have the unique opportunity to build a portfolio of real-world experience. They also have unparalleled access to mentoring and networking opportunities with some of the city’s most prominent lawyers and more than 45,000 UO alumni.

 

William W. Knight Law Center Building courtyard
Come see Oregon Law first hand