Law Schools in Oregon + LSAT Prep (2026 Guide)

Oregon has three ABA accredited law schools, Lewis & Clark Law School, the University of Oregon, and Willamette University, and all three admit more than half their applicants. Their median LSAT scores span 154 to 161 in the 2025 ABA 509 disclosures, so a mid to high 150s score puts an Oregon seat within realistic reach.

By Ali Unar, Georgetown Law, Founder of Lovare Institut.

Ali Unar is a Georgetown Law student and the founder of Lovare Institut, an admissions and LSAT-prep practice built on primary-source law school data.

Verified August 2026

What law schools are in Oregon?

Oregon is a mid-sized state for legal education, with three ABA accredited law schools clustered in the Willamette Valley. Lewis & Clark Law School sits in Portland, the University of Oregon is in Eugene, and Willamette University is in Salem, the state capital. With three schools whose medians sit within seven points of each other and acceptance rates all above 54%, Oregon offers a genuinely accessible in-state field. The table below lays out the numbers that separate the three.

School Median LSAT Acceptance rate Full-time tuition Lewis & Clark Law School 161 54.7% $61,434 University of Oregon 160 55.0% $47,240 Willamette University 154 61.4% $56,600

Each figure in this Oregon table, the median LSAT, the acceptance rate, and the full-time tuition, comes from that school's 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosure for the fall 2025 entering class. Two patterns stand out. On selectivity, Lewis & Clark Law School and the University of Oregon are nearly tied at the top, with medians of 161 and 160, while Willamette University is the most accessible at a 154 median and a 61.4% acceptance rate. On price, the University of Oregon is the lowest at $47,240 in full-time tuition, with Willamette University at $56,600 and Lewis & Clark Law School the highest at $61,434. The University of Oregon therefore pairs a high median with the lowest in-state price, which is the value story in Oregon.

Having three closely spaced schools gives Oregon applicants real flexibility. The two higher-median schools sit only one point apart, so an applicant competitive at one is generally competitive at the other, and Willamette University provides a more accessible option seven points below. Because all three admit more than half their applicants, Oregon is forgiving relative to states whose flagship programs turn away most applicants. Reading the three 2025 ABA 509 disclosures together is the fastest way to see where you stand in Oregon.

Oregon's three schools are best understood as a Willamette Valley cluster serving the Pacific Northwest. All three sit within roughly a hundred miles of one another along the Portland, Salem, and Eugene corridor, and their graduates draw from and feed into the same regional market. That geographic concentration is part of why the schools' retention figures land so close together and why an Oregon applicant can reasonably compare all three on cost and median without worrying that one is tied to a completely different job market. The larger Pacific Northwest, including Washington, is the natural extension of an Oregon legal career, which matters given that each school sends a meaningful share of graduates out of Oregon.

What LSAT and GPA do you need for law school in Oregon?

In Oregon the median LSAT scores in the 2025 ABA 509 disclosures run from 154 to 161, a seven point band that keeps the whole state within close reach of a single strong sitting. Lewis & Clark Law School sits at the top with a median of 161, the University of Oregon is right behind at 160, and Willamette University is the most accessible at 154. Knowing those three anchors tells you almost everything about where a given score stands in Oregon.

A score at or above 161 makes you competitive at Lewis & Clark Law School and the University of Oregon, the two most selective options in the state, and comfortably clears Willamette University as well. A score around 160 lines up with the University of Oregon and keeps you in range at Lewis & Clark, while a score around 154 matches Willamette University's median. A lower score does not close Oregon off: Willamette University admitted more than 61% of its applicants in the 2025 cycle, and both higher schools admitted more than half, so the state has a realistic in-state path across a wide range of scores. Because all three Oregon schools are relatively accessible, the practical goal for most applicants is simply to reach or beat the median at their target school rather than to clear an elite bar.

Because Oregon's two higher schools sit only one point apart and Willamette University is just seven points below, a single strong LSAT sitting can put all three in play at once. That makes preparation efficient here: rather than targeting one narrow band, an Oregon applicant who reaches the 160 to 161 range is competitive statewide, and even a score in the mid 150s keeps Willamette firmly in reach. Since law schools generally consider your highest LSAT, a retake that lifts you a few points can widen your Oregon options and strengthen scholarship leverage at the same time.

On grade point average, the 2025 ABA 509 figures in this guide report each school's median LSAT and the spread between its 25th percentile GPA and its median GPA, but this guide does not list a specific median GPA number for the Oregon schools, so I will not state one. What the GPA spread tells you is how much room each school leaves below its GPA median for applicants whose numbers do not line up evenly, which is the splitter question the next section takes up directly for Oregon.

Which Oregon law schools are splitter friendly?

A splitter is an applicant with a high LSAT and a lower GPA, and a splitter friendly school is one that shows a willingness to reach below its GPA median for a strong LSAT. The clearest signal in the 2025 ABA 509 data is the spread between a school's 25th percentile GPA and its median GPA, because a wider spread means more room below the median. In Oregon, all three schools read as splitter friendly on that measure, which makes the state one of the more forgiving in the country for an uneven file.

Lewis & Clark Law School shows the widest GPA 25th-to-median spread in the state at 0.35 in its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure, followed by the University of Oregon at 0.3 and Willamette University at 0.26. Those are wide spreads across the board, and they mean a strong LSAT can offset a GPA that sits well below a school's median at any of the three Oregon programs. In practice, an Oregon applicant who scores at or above a school's median LSAT but carries a softer transcript is exactly the profile these schools have shown they will admit. Because all three Oregon law schools are splitter friendly, there is no in-state program here whose spread is so narrow that a splitter is shut out, which is unusual and worth knowing if your numbers do not line up evenly.

The mirror image, the reverse splitter with a high GPA and a lower LSAT, is not what these spreads flag. The 2025 ABA 509 spreads used here speak to LSAT strength offsetting GPA in Oregon, so a reverse splitter should still work to lift the LSAT and treat a strong transcript as support rather than the lead. For most Oregon applicants the honest reading is that all three schools reward a good LSAT and all three leave visible room below their GPA medians.

What is the legal job market like in Oregon?

Oregon's dominant legal market is Portland, the state's largest metro and the center of its private firms, corporate legal departments, and federal courts. Salem, the state capital, anchors government and public-sector legal work, and Eugene, home to the University of Oregon, rounds out the major centers along the Willamette Valley corridor. Where each Oregon school places its graduates tells you how strongly it feeds the local market, and the ABA Class of 2024 employment data gives a clear in-state retention read for all three schools.

By the ABA Class of 2024 employment data, Lewis & Clark Law School keeps 59% of its class in Oregon, Willamette University keeps 55%, and the University of Oregon keeps 52%. Those figures are notably close to one another, all sitting just above half, which tells a consistent story: each Oregon school sends a small majority of its graduates into the Oregon market while a substantial minority leaves, often for the broader Pacific Northwest. Lewis & Clark's Portland location gives it the highest in-state share of the three, a fit with its position in the state's largest legal market. This guide does not include salary figures for Oregon, so none are stated here.

The clustering of the retention figures matters for how you choose. Unlike states where one school clearly dominates in-state hiring, Oregon's three schools all feed the local market at similar rates, so the choice among them turns more on cost, median fit, and location than on any large gap in where graduates land. An applicant set on a Portland career might lean toward Lewis & Clark on its 59% in-state figure, while an applicant drawn to Eugene or seeking the lowest price might prefer the University of Oregon, whose 52% retention still means a majority stay in Oregon.

Does Oregon use the NextGen bar exam?

Oregon has already moved to the NextGen bar exam. According to the NCBE, Oregon administered its first NextGen bar exam in July 2026, which puts it ahead of most of the country. Oregon is a former Uniform Bar Exam state and no longer offers the legacy UBE, so candidates in Oregon now sit for the NextGen exam rather than the older format.

This makes Oregon different from most states, which are still administering the Uniform Bar Exam and will not switch until 2027 or 2028. Per the NCBE, the legacy UBE and the Multistate Bar Exam end nationally after the February 2028 administration, but Oregon has already completed its transition, having given its first NextGen exam in July 2026. The practical takeaway for anyone planning to sit for the Oregon bar is straightforward: prepare for the NextGen format from the start, because Oregon is no longer a legacy UBE jurisdiction. NextGen is the NCBE's redesigned bar examination, and an Oregon student entering law school now should assume the NextGen exam is the one they will take.

Being an early NextGen state carries one more practical consequence for Oregon candidates. Bar-preparation materials and course offerings tend to follow the largest markets, and because Oregon adopted NextGen ahead of the national wave, an Oregon candidate should make sure any prep course or study plan is genuinely built for the NextGen format rather than the retired Uniform Bar Exam. Since Oregon has already administered a NextGen exam as of July 2026 according to the NCBE, there is no ambiguity about which exam applies in Oregon, only the need to confirm current sitting details with the Oregon State Bar and to choose NextGen-specific study resources.

Where can you take the LSAT in Oregon?

LSAT test centers are available in Oregon's major metros, which include Portland, Salem, and Eugene, the largest population and university centers in the state. Along the Willamette Valley corridor where most of Oregon's population lives, most candidates have a test location within a reasonable drive.

Specific test centers, their addresses, and their available dates change every cycle, and remote proctored testing shifts the picture further, so this guide will not invent a fixed list. For the current Oregon test-center options and open dates, check the official LSAC list at lsac.org when you register, since that is the only source that stays current across cycles. Because the LSAT is also offered in a remote proctored format, an Oregon candidate outside the Portland, Salem, and Eugene metros, including in central and eastern Oregon, can usually test from home if the setup meets LSAC's technical requirements. Registering early gives Oregon candidates the widest choice of nearby seats before popular Portland dates fill.

Which Oregon universities feed law school?

Oregon's flagship university is the University of Oregon in Eugene, and it is among the most common in-state pipelines into law school, both for its own School of Law and for programs elsewhere. Oregon State University in Corvallis and Portland State University in Portland are the other large public universities that send steady streams of pre-law applicants each year.

Beyond those, Willamette University, Lewis & Clark College, Reed College, and the University of Portland all serve as common pre-law feeders in Oregon, drawing on strong undergraduate programs in political science, history, and philosophy. This is general background on where Oregon pre-law students tend to come from, and this guide does not attribute a specific placement statistic to any of these universities, because none was provided in the source data. Because Oregon has three accessible law schools, many Oregon undergraduates find a realistic in-state path, though a strong candidate should still weigh the broader Pacific Northwest market when building a list.

Frequently asked questions about law school in Oregon

How many law schools are in Oregon?

Oregon has three ABA accredited law schools: Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, the University of Oregon in Eugene, and Willamette University in Salem. That makes Oregon a mid-sized state for legal education, with two higher-median schools and one more accessible option, all clustered in the Willamette Valley. All three appear in the 2025 ABA 509 disclosures used throughout this Oregon guide, and there are no other ABA accredited law schools in the state.

What is the easiest law school to get into in Oregon?

By acceptance rate in the 2025 ABA 509 disclosures, Willamette University is the most accessible law school in Oregon at 61.4%, with a median LSAT of 154. The University of Oregon at 55.0% and Lewis & Clark Law School at 54.7% are close behind, both with medians around 160. All three Oregon schools admit more than half their applicants, so the state is accessible overall, and Willamette is the most open in-state door for a mid 150s score.

What is the best law school in Oregon?

By the numbers in the 2025 ABA 509 disclosures, Lewis & Clark Law School has the state's highest median LSAT at 161, a hair above the University of Oregon at 160, and it keeps the most graduates in Oregon at 59% by the ABA Class of 2024 employment data. The University of Oregon is the value leader at $47,240 tuition. Selectivity is only one measure of best, but Lewis & Clark and the University of Oregon lead Oregon closely.

What LSAT score do you need for law school in Oregon?

In Oregon the median LSAT scores in the 2025 ABA 509 disclosures run from 154 to 161. A 161 or higher is competitive at Lewis & Clark Law School, 160 lines up with the University of Oregon, and 154 matches Willamette University's median. A lower score does not close Oregon off, because Willamette admitted more than 61% of applicants and both higher schools admitted more than half in the 2025 cycle. Oregon is accessible across a wide range of scores.

How much does law school cost in Oregon?

Full-time tuition in Oregon clusters in the high forties to low sixties in the 2025 ABA 509 disclosures. The University of Oregon is the lowest at $47,240, Willamette University is $56,600, and Lewis & Clark Law School is the highest at $61,434. Those figures are tuition only and do not include living costs or fees. For an Oregon applicant weighing price, the University of Oregon is the lowest sticker cost while also carrying one of the state's higher medians.

Does Oregon use the NextGen bar exam?

Yes. Oregon has already moved to the NextGen bar exam, having administered its first NextGen exam in July 2026, according to the NCBE. Oregon is a former Uniform Bar Exam state and no longer offers the legacy UBE. The legacy UBE and the Multistate Bar Exam end nationally after the February 2028 administration, but Oregon completed its transition earlier, so Oregon candidates should prepare for the NextGen format now.

Can you take the bar in Oregon with an out-of-state degree?

Yes. A JD from any ABA accredited law school, in any state, generally qualifies you to sit for the Oregon bar, so you do not have to attend one of the three Oregon schools to practice in the state. Oregon now administers the NextGen bar exam and is no longer a legacy UBE jurisdiction, according to the NCBE. Confirm current admission requirements with the Oregon State Bar before you apply.

Which Oregon law school has the best bar passage?

This Oregon guide's source figures do not include a school-by-school bar passage rate, so I will not state one. Bar passage results are reported in each school's ABA Standard 509 disclosure and in the Oregon State Bar releases, which are the right places to compare Lewis & Clark, the University of Oregon, and Willamette on that measure. Use those primary sources rather than an estimate for Oregon.

Are there part-time or evening law programs in Oregon?

The tuition figures in this Oregon guide are full-time figures from the 2025 ABA 509 disclosures, and this guide does not confirm part-time or evening tracks at Lewis & Clark, the University of Oregon, or Willamette University. Program formats change, so if an evening or part-time schedule is essential to you, verify the current offering directly with each Oregon school before applying rather than assuming one exists. The full-time numbers are the reliable comparison this guide supports.

Where can you take the LSAT in Oregon?

LSAT test centers operate in Oregon's largest metros, including Portland, Salem, and Eugene. Exact centers and dates change every cycle and remote testing is also offered, so this guide points you to the official LSAC test-center list at lsac.org for the current Oregon options rather than listing addresses that may be out of date. Registering early gives Oregon candidates the best choice of nearby seats, especially in the busy Portland area.

Which Oregon law schools are splitter friendly?

All three of Oregon's law schools read as splitter friendly in the 2025 ABA 509 data. Lewis & Clark Law School shows a GPA 25th-to-median spread of 0.35, the University of Oregon 0.3, and Willamette University 0.26. Those wide spreads mean a strong LSAT can offset a GPA below a school's median at any Oregon program, so an applicant with an uneven file has three realistic in-state options rather than none.

Do you have to go to law school in Oregon to practice there?

No. You can earn a JD at any ABA accredited law school and then sit for the Oregon bar, so attending an in-state school is not required to practice in Oregon. That said, the ABA Class of 2024 employment data shows Lewis & Clark Law School keeps 59% of its class in Oregon, Willamette University keeps 55%, and the University of Oregon keeps 52%, so all three in-state schools feed the local market with a majority of their graduates.

Which Oregon law school is the best value?

On the 2025 ABA 509 disclosures, the University of Oregon is the best value in Oregon, pairing a high 160 median LSAT with the state's lowest full-time tuition of $47,240. Lewis & Clark Law School has a marginally higher 161 median but the highest tuition at $61,434, and Willamette University sits at $56,600 with a 154 median. Between selectivity and cost, the University of Oregon offers the strongest combination among Oregon law schools.

Is Oregon an accessible state for law school admissions?

Yes, relatively. All three Oregon law schools admitted more than half their applicants in the 2025 ABA 509 disclosures, with Willamette University at 61.4%, the University of Oregon at 55.0%, and Lewis & Clark Law School at 54.7%. Medians run from 154 to 161, and all three schools are splitter friendly. Compared with states whose flagship programs reject most applicants, Oregon offers a genuinely accessible in-state field across a range of scores.

Why does Oregon already give the NextGen bar exam when most states do not?

Oregon is simply an early adopter. According to the NCBE, Oregon administered its first NextGen bar exam in July 2026 and is a former Uniform Bar Exam state that no longer offers the legacy UBE. Most states are still on the UBE and will not switch until 2027 or 2028, when the legacy exam ends nationally after the February 2028 administration. So an Oregon candidate should prepare for the NextGen format now rather than the older exam.

Sources

Median LSAT, acceptance rate, and full-time tuition for each school: American Bar Association Standard 509 disclosures, https://www.abarequireddisclosures.org/

NextGen bar exam and Uniform Bar Exam status for Oregon: National Conference of Bar Examiners, https://www.ncbex.org

LSAT test-center locations and dates: Law School Admission Council, https://www.lsac.org

Ready to see exactly where your numbers land across Lewis & Clark, the University of Oregon, and Willamette? Get your free Oregon law school profile evaluation and get a clear read on your in-state options.