Welcoming the Law School Class of ’29

Fall semester kicked off in August with 208 new 1Ls joining the Lewis & Clark Law School student body.

“Our admissions team has done remarkable work to enroll this accomplished and interesting class.,” said Dean Alicia Ouellette. “We are looking forward to welcoming them into our classes and skill-based practical training programs and empowering them to implement their dreams of becoming lawyers.”

The incoming students and their stories reflect a diverse set of law scholars with a variety of of life experiences.. They hold some 50+ different undergraduate majors from 106 colleges and universities. Many are older than 50 years of age. They have brought their rich backgrounds to the class, including an MDwith a pilot’s license, a ranch hand, a commercial fisherman, a judicial clerk, a Peace Corps alum, a black belt in Shotokan karate, a high school teacher, a basketball coach, veterans of the army and marines, and student who holds a PhD in molecular medicine.

Sixty-two percent of the incoming class hails from states other than Oregon. This year’s class also includes students from a dozen nations or territories outside the United States.

Female students outnumber males by roughly a 3:2 margin, while self-identified students of color (including Middle Eastern) comprise 31 percent of the total.

The 208 students enrolling in this year’s class reflect increased interest in Lewis & Clark Law. The 1,247 applications to Lewis & Clark Law this year marked an 8.8 percent increase over 2025.

Despite an increase in enrollment, Lewis & Clark Law exceeded year-to-year admissions standards, with a median LSAT score of 162 and GPA of 3.61 both representing an uptick over prior years.