Criminal Law and Justice
Join the criminal law and justice program at Lewis & Clark Law School and specialize your juris doctor degree to prepare for legal practice as a prosecutor or a defense attorney in both state and federal courts.
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 access to prosecution and defense offices from the county to federal level, plus deep connections to private sector offices and nonprofit organizations. Our curriculum navigates aspects of the criminal justice system that goes beyond prosecution or defense of criminal charges. You will learn about and work on victims’ issues, the collateral consequences of criminal convictions, re-entry issues, and post-conviction litigation, and gain insight into the ways that criminal law intersects with poverty issues and with immigration enforcement.
Specialize in Criminal Law
Gain a competitive edge in the job market by earning a specialized Certificate in Criminal Law and Justice. To earn this certificate, you must complete the required courses (Criminal Procedure I and II, Criminal Law, and Evidence or Integrated Evidence and Trial Advocacy) and at least one elective course, participate in a clinic or a practical skills course, and choose a criminal law and justice topic for one of the two upper-level writing requirements.
Criminal Law and Justice Certificate
Bailey Grinter More about BaileyMy work in the Small Business Legal Clinic was the first time in law school that I really felt like a lawyer.
Alexander Gersovitz More about AlexanderBeing in Portland for so long, I was well acquainted with Lewis & Clark’s great academic reputation and vibrant alumni community.
Phoebe Moffett More about PhoebeI chose Lewis & Clark for the opportunity to receive an environmental law education from one of the best places to do so.
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.
Practical Skills to Enhance Your 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 by taking classes in advocacy, externing with prosecutors or defense attorneys, or participating in one of our many student-led groups. We offer two clinics that expose students to cutting-edge criminal justice issues. The Criminal Justice Reform Clinic tackles issues that cut across the criminal justice spectrum, and the National Crime Victim Law Institute is the nation’s leading center for advocacy on behalf of victims of crime. Through Oregon’s Student Appearance Rule, third-year law students have the unique opportunity to argue cases in court. These developed skills prove invaluable, and employers are impressed with the skills our graduates are able to use immediately upon employment.
Experiential Learning at Lewis & Clark Law
Learning From Experts
The faculty teaching criminal law courses are experts in their fields and are among the best instructors in the country. They are often called upon to share their expertise with the media on high-profile criminal law issues and cases, and they present at conferences and workshops around the globe.
Our Esteemed Alumni Community
Our alumni have gone on to interesting careers, such as government prosecutors, public defenders, and private defense attorneys.
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
Legal Advice Portal Expands Access to Justice for Victims of Hate & Bias Crimes in Oregon
A new online portal from the NCVLI is providing free legal advice to victims of hate and bias crimes in Oregon, bridging a critical gap in access to justice.
New Public Defense Practicum Partnership with Metropolitan Public Defenders
Starting in the 2024-2025 academic year, Lewis & Clark Law School is partnering with Metropolitan Public Defenders to offer a year-long Public Defense Practicum, giving 2L and 3L students practical experience in public defense at a time when Oregon is facing a crisis-level shortage of public defenders.
Clinic Students Featured in Restorative Justice Podcast
“Cellblocks to Mountaintops,” a restorative justice podcast, investigates the story of Sterling Cunio, one of the “Oregon Five”– juveniles convicted of aggravated murder without an opportunity for parole. Cunio was a client of the law school’s Criminal Justice Reform Clinic, and clinic students worked on the cases that are featured in the podcast.
