Lewis & Clark Law School News from the Dean

Dear Alumni:

I want to address two issues in this month’s letter: law school rankings and job prospects for our students.

Rankings. I am delighted to report that Lewis & Clark Law School made a 12-point gain this year in the U.S. News & World Report rankings guide, following a comparable gain last year. The law school now ranks among the top ten law schools in the Pacific region and remains the top-ranked law school in Oregon. The school ranks in the top third of the 182 schools accredited by the American Bar Association and included in the rankings.

This gain is a tribute to the stature and strategic efforts of our superb faculty, staff, and administrators, as well as the extraordinary quality of our students. Much of the ranking is based on assessments by law professors, judges, and practicing lawyers, so it appears that word is getting out about the great things we’re doing here.

Lewis & Clark Law School was also ranked second among the top environmental law programs in the country. (Our program has been consistently ranked number one or number two for more than a decade.) Our legal writing program ranked 17.

For the first time, U.S. News assessed part-time law programs and Lewis & Clark ranked 32. I attribute this ranking to the fact that the law school maintains the same high standards for both the day and evening programs.

Job Prospects. While our rankings are great news, our current students and new graduates are facing an economy that is far from great. Our Career Services Office is taking a very aggressive approach to assisting them with their job searches and career planning. I hope that, as alumni, you will join us in doing all you can to assist these students and new alumni by contacting Libby Davis, our Associate Dean for Career Services & Alumni Relations (eadavis@lclark.edu; 503/768-6610), with any leads you have on opportunities, by serving as mentors, and by offering to meet informally to discuss seeking a job in challenging times. Everyone at the Law School, and especially our students and recent graduates, will appreciate any assistance you can offer now and in the future. Of course, we recognize that the job market is also difficult for many who are already out of law school. Our Career Services Office is available to all of our alumni who need career advice and assistance.

Warm regards,

Bob Klonoff

Dean & Professor of Law