Lewis & Clark Law School Programs
At Lewis & Clark, you will be challenged daily to solve real-world legal problems. Our curriculum is designed to give you the legal knowledge, practical skills, and professional acumen to succeed in your legal career.
Take the Next Step in Your Education
Lewis & Clark Law School prepares you to think like a lawyer from the start, building your foundational knowledge of the law and applying that knowledge to practical settings in the classroom. You’ll continue to develop these skills through required experiential learning both inside and outside the classroom with moot courts, clinics, and one of the largest externship programs in the nation. Our first-year and lawyering programs will teach you a new way of thinking, while preparing you for all the legal writing to come throughout your time at L&C and after you graduate.
Why Choose Lewis & Clark Law School >
Glenda Valdez More about GlendaI chose to attend Lewis & Clark because of the wide array of environmental courses available to students. The niche courses here allow students to understand environmental law at a level unique compared to other institutions.
John Herrmann More about JohnLawyering with Professor Kaplan was my favorite class because it was the most intensive and practicable knowledge that I’ve ever gained. Not only was it an enjoyable class with a great professor, but my professional skills and writing ability grew tenfold over the course of the year!
Colleen Hui More about ColleenSo far I have really enjoyed Contracts and Torts, because these subjects are very relatable/applicable to our everyday lives.
Shaping Tomorrow’s Legal Leaders
Our accomplished faculty members are experts in their field. They are committed to the success of each of their students, and they bring enthusiasm, innovative scholarship, and practical experience to the classroom. Our faculty foster a supportive and collaborative environment, providing additional experiential learning opportunities, mentorship, and advice.
Faculty Directory Faculty Highlights
Study Abroad as a Law Student
As a law student at Lewis & Clark, you have access to enriching study abroad opportunities. L&C has partnerships with the summer study abroad program at the University of San Diego, Santa Clara Law School, and with the China Program at the University of Missouri Kansas City. We also partner with several law schools abroad, which supports the exchange of students between institutions for entire semesters at a time. Students who are interested in an international practice have opportunities to obtain relevant practical work experience in the United States or abroad through international externships.
Juris Doctor (JD) Degree Program
Our renowned JD program offers specialized pathways in a variety of cutting-edge fields, catering to both full-time and part-time students. Discover your passion, unlock your potential, and chart your path to success with us. Your future begins here.
Specialize Your Degree
Our specialized JD certificate programs—such as our advocacy and top-ranked environmental law program—offer in-depth knowledge and practical skills tailored to your chosen field, equipping you with a competitive edge in the job market.
Joint Degree Programs
Students pursuing our joint degree programs earn both their juris doctor degree and a specialized degree within an accelerated time frame, saving valuable time and money.
Joint JD/MBA With Portland State University Joint JD/LLM in Environmental Law
Flexible Options
We provide the flexibility that students are looking for by offering full- and part-time divisions. In the first year, full-time students usually take classes during the day; part-time students take evening courses. After your first year, you can switch things around and take courses in the day, in the evening, or both.
Part-time and Full-time Options
Putting Theory Into Practice
Lewis & Clark offers robust opportunities to learn the practical skills of client negotiation, making persuasive arguments, and courtroom techniques. We have one of the largest externship programs in the country, as well as an Advocacy Center and numerous clinics where you can learn from real-world experiences while still in school. Employers seek out our graduates and regularly state that they are “practice ready.”
Experiential Learning at Lewis & Clark Law
Master of Law (LLM) Degree Programs
Our two advanced legal degree programs in environmental law and animal law are designed for U.S. and international law graduates and attorneys seeking to specialize their skills for practice, teaching, research, academia, policy, and more.
Master of Legal Studies (MSL) Degree Programs
An MSL degree is a great choice for college graduates and professionals who want to learn about animal or environmental law but do not wish to practice law. The degree can be completed full-time in one year, with various part-time options also available. MSL students take some of the same classes as our JD students and are taught by our experienced environmental law faculty. Examples of candidates for the MSL program include federal agency employees, teachers, elected officials, journalists, people pursuing careers in lobbying or nonprofit organizations, and business people seeking a deeper understanding of animal or environmental regulations.
SJD Program in Animal Law
Lewis & Clark offers the world’s first and only animal law doctoral program. Our Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) in Animal Law program is designed for U.S. and international advanced legal degree holders seeking to dedicate their careers to animal law research, scholarship, teaching, or policy. The three-year program has a rich and diverse curriculum, taught by the field’s leading faculty and practitioners. By the end of the program, SJD candidates will have produced and defended a dissertation of publishable quality that makes a substantive contribution to the animal law field.