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Willamette Law launches new direct admission programs
— Dean Brian Gallini
Willamette Law is offering new direct admission programs benefiting students from the University of Alaska Southeast, the University of Alaska Anchorage, Portland State University, Western Oregon University and Willamette University.
The programs admit undergraduates and alumni to the College of Law based on certain academic credentials.
Generally speaking, the programs include four years of undergraduate study and three at Willamette Law. Admitted students are guaranteed a $10,000 scholarship, renewable each year they are enrolled and remain in good standing.
University of Alaska Southeast and University of Alaska Anchorage
Bruce Botelho ’71, JD’76, former mayor of Juneau and UAS community advisor, helped facilitate the formation of the UAS degree pathway.
“Willamette Law has trained generations of attorneys who have served Alaska with distinction,” Botelho says. “Cementing this long-term relationship between WUCL and Alaska through the direct admission program at UAS will ensure the continuing development of legal professionals with deep ties to our region.”
There is no law school in Alaska, so Willamette Law has long filled the gap for students there.
“Our goal is to get our students where they want to go,” says Denise Runge, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at UAA. “Now we have a really clear path that we can offer to our students.”
Many prominent Alaskan attorneys and politicians, including U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski JD’85 and Judge Joshua M. Kindred JD’05, earned their law degrees from Willamette.
Portland State University
PSU previously had a 3+3 Direct Admission Program with Willamette. The new 4+3 Program takes its place and, with the guaranteed scholarship, still offers students more financial stability as they make an investment in legal education.
Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University announced the latest direct admission pathway in July 2021 with similar requirements and benefits of the other programs. More information on WOU’s agreement can be found at wou.edu/ transferpathways.
Willamette University
A fifth pathway, Willamette University Law School Bound, offers exclusive and enhanced pre-law advising, moving students toward a 3+3 or 4+3 direct admission program.
With the 3+3 option, students finish both their BA and JD in six years, providing them an extra year of earning power. The 4+3 option offers students a guaranteed $25,000 scholarship, renewable each year they are enrolled at Willamette Law and remain in good standing.
Law School Bound provides students enhanced transparency in the law school admissions process alongside a durable scholarship.
Moving forward
Participating students are supported in their academic journeys by Leah Straley, Willamette Law assistant dean of admissions. Dean Brian Gallini is enthusiastic about the new agreements.
“We look forward to welcoming many future law students through these unique partnerships,” he says. “These programs will help expand access to legal education while providing a transparent path to admission that builds on our historic legacy of educating Alaskan and Oregonian attorneys.”
