Gonzaga is a strongly traditional law school that places heavy emphasis on public service and expects its students to do the same. Located in Spokane, Washington, the school offers plenty of campus activities, such as intramural and intercollegiate sports and theater, a supportive, dedicated faculty, and organizations that give students the opportunity to develop leadership skills and grow professionally. Examples include Amnesty International, the Federalist Society, Mission Possible and Phi Delta Phi. Gonzaga alumni have occupied and continue to occupy high-profile positions of leadership, including governor and state supreme court justice, indicating the quality of instruction at Gonzaga and potential for advancement following graduation.
The Seattle University School of Law is dedicated to maintaining rigorous academic standards and upholding social justice. As the largest law school in the Northwest, SU says it "prepares its graduates for a lifetime in law at the service of justice." School highlights include: an innovative, intensive legal writing program; the Ronald A. Peterson Law Clinic, where students work with real clients on actual cases; and a global academic program, with student placement available in South Africa, Brazil, Nicaragua and Cambodia, as of 2010.
Small classes and a high job placement rate are two of the reasons the University of Washington School of Law was ranked one of America's top public law schools. The UW School of Law educational curriculum includes participation in law clinics and externship programs, where students gain hands-on experience in the real world of law. UW was ranked among the world's top 20 universities by "The Economist" in 2005. Its school of law also offers a mentoring programs for new students.
Summing itself up in three words -- "challenging," "cooperative" and "flexible" -- the Lewis & Clark law school offers a varied curriculum to accommodate a variety of specializations and interests. Students enjoy a friendly, noncompetitive environment in which classmates help one another and can depend upon the assistance of faculty. Students may also opt for evening classes, a part-time schedule and the freedom of combining courses on theory with classes that teach practical application. L&C prides itself on allowing students to blaze their own educational trail.
In July 2009, 88 percent of the law students at Willamette passed the bar exam on the first try. The school's emphasis on bar exam preparation has meant that, for the better part of the first decade of the 21st century, WU graduates have outperformed their counterparts at other schools. In addition to this preparation, WU students can choose from five specialized-study certification programs, enroll in a study-abroad program in China, Ecuador or Germany, simultaneously earn an MBA and enjoy a diverse student community that comprises small, intimate classes.