Willamette University’s College of Law, founded in 1883, was the first law school to be founded in the Pacific Northwest region. The school’s location in close proximity to Oregon’s Supreme Court and other state government buildings in Salem places it at the heart of government and business affairs. The university itself was established in 1842, making it the oldest west of the Mississippi River.
The university’s beginnings date back to a Methodist-run school set up to teach Native American youth in the 1830s and ‘40s. The Oregon Institute superseded the former Native American school in 1842, and went on to earn a charter from the territorial government under the name Wallamet University.
The school has served both men and women since its founding. Its first graduate, in fact, was Emily York, who earned a degree in literature.
In 1867, Willamette established the first professional school of any kind in the West with the founding of its medical school.
The university remains dedicated to its liberal arts curriculum and professional programs and has continued its long-term commitment to the environment and community service.