Business Law
The Center for Business Law and Innovation at Lewis & Clark provides comprehensive programs in business and commercial law, as well as opportunities to build practical skills through opportunities and connections with the Oregon business community.
Earn Your JD in the Pacific Northwest
As the only law school in Portland, Oregon, Lewis & Clark is known for its leading faculty, broad course offerings, practical skills training, and postgraduate fellowships. Our location means we have deep connections with the business community across the Pacific Northwest, and our Center for Business Law and Innovation will help you work alongside and learn directly from professionals. From start-up to merger, idea to initial public offering, acquisition to sale, legal issues punctuate the life of a business.
Specialize in Business Law
Lewis & Clark’s Center for Business Law and Innovation has courses and cocurricular opportunities designed to:
- Educate law students about foundational business law concepts
- Provide law students with opportunities to work side-by-side with lawyers, entrepreneurs, and businesses
- Provide transactional legal services to emerging businesses, nonprofit ventures, and individuals
- Inspire and give students training that can help them become business leaders
JD students may specialize in one of several areas, with certificates offered in business law, intellectual property law, federal tax law, and energy, innovation and sustainability law. Further, a four-year joint JD/MBA degree is offered in cooperation with Portland State University.
Tracey Nguyen More about TraceyI want to be an asset to Oregon’s small business community, and I think that studying the law will help me achieve that.
Ron Sluck More about RonEvery attorney I had spoken with had loved their experience at L&C, and given that I love the area, it ended up being one of the easiest decisions of my life.
Matt Heldt More about MattMy favorite class would have to be Evidence. I learned how to properly write and argue evidentiary motions. That kind of real-world experience has helped me in a subsequent summer job and has made me better prepared for the practice of law.
Funding Your Degree
A legal education is often more affordable than you think, and earning an advanced degree is a significant investment in your future. Our financial aid program creates solutions to serve students from diverse economic backgrounds.
A Hands-on Approach to a Legal Education
Immerse yourself in experiential learning opportunities that bridge theory and practice, allowing you to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings. You can gain practical experience through involvement in our clinics (the Small Business Legal Clinic and the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic) and externships. We also offer several moot court and legal competition opportunities that hone trial, persuasive writing, and litigation skills. Lewis & Clark will prepare you for the complexities of legal practice while fostering critical thinking and professional development.
Experiential Learning at Lewis & Clark Law
Learning From Experts
Lewis & Clark business law faculty are experts in their respective disciplines, respected scholars, and veteran practitioners. They are also committed to a wide variety of ventures aimed at fostering innovation in both legal practice and education.
Our Innovation Board is comprised of some of the top legal professionals representing many of the preeminent firms, corporations, and industries of the Pacific Northwest. Together they have years of experience in corporate counseling, negotiation, representation, and litigation, and they are an invaluable resource for faculty and students alike.
Meet the FacultyInnovation Board
A Network of Legal Leaders and Our Esteemed Alumni Community
Our alumni have gone on to interesting careers across the United States and all over the world, from law firms to in-house legal teams to governmental agencies.
Connect With Our Admissions Team
Our law admissions team is here to support you as you navigate through the application process and are available to answer any questions you may have.
News
Lewis & Clark Law Classmates and Colleagues Team Up to Excel in Patent Moot Court Competition
Two evening law students dominate patent moot court competition, scoring 99% in their oral arguments.
A Day with the Nike Office of the General Counsel
The annual event, “A Day With the Nike Office of the General Counsel,” gave students an in-depth look at how one of the world’s most recognizable brands handles its legal affairs, and offered valuable insight into the diverse career paths taken by Nike’s attorneys and legal team.
Intel Workshop Gives Law Students a Front-Row Seat to Deal Strategy
Lewis & Clark Law students gained hands-on experience in deal strategy and cross-functional collaboration during Intel’s Accelerating the Deal workshop led by in-house counsel Trevor Jones and Elizabeth Borges.