History of Lewis & Clark Law School

Lewis & Clark's law school was founded in Portland in 1884 as the state's law school. In 1915 the legislature decided to relocate the school to Eugene, but the faculty and administration declared their independence and their commitment to the urban location, and reorganized as a private institution. They established Northwestern College of Law, which operated as an evening school in downtown Portland for 50 years.

A respected member of the legal community since the beginning, the law school merged in 1965 with the largest private liberal arts institution in Oregon, Lewis & Clark College. The law school was renamed Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College, built a new campus, initiated the Day Division, and launched an aggressive library acquisition program. During the decade of the 1970s, the law school emerged from the position of a highly respected regional institution to that of national prominence among distinguished schools of legal education.

Our law school is enlivened by a youthful spirit. Its history is one of exceptional growth and achievement, still unfolding with a clear commitment to excellence.

Take a Virtual Campus Tour