University of Idaho College of Law
Encyclopedia
The University of Idaho College of Law is the law school
of the University of Idaho
, with its main campus in Moscow
and a third-year program in Boise
. The College of Law was established in 1909 and is the only law school located in the state
of Idaho. It has been a member of the Association of American Law Schools
since 1914 and has been accredited by the American Bar Association
since 1925. The US News & World Report ranks Idaho in the Third Tier (top 150 out of approximately 200 accredited law schools) in its annual law school rankings.
The College of Law in 2009-10 had an enrollment of around 310 students, with an entering first-year class of roughly 110 students. As a public
law school, it had approximately 60 percent of students come from Idaho, and the remaining 40 percent came from over 24 states and foreign countries. Over 70 undergraduate
colleges and universities were represented. Minorities comprised 12.1 percent and women comprised 40.1 percent of students.
The College of Law now has a second location in Boise
. The Boise third-year program currently accommodates 30 third-year law students, but will eventually grow into a three-year, comprehensive branch of the College of Law in Boise.
range was 152/157 and the GPA
range was 3.09/3.64. The College of Law in 2009 had a 47.8% acceptance rate. Approximately 36% received some level of grant-based financial aid from the College.
passage rate was 81.4 percent for first-time takers in 2009. The overall bar passage rate, including states like Washington, Oregon, and Utah, was 77.18%. . About 40% of Idaho graduates have employment commitments at graduation (before taking the bar examination), and 88% are employed within nine months of graduation or pursuing additional graduate degrees (2008 graduating class data). Among those employed, 37% were employed in private practice
, 24 percent in judicial clerkships
, and 30% percent in government
or public interest
law. The average starting salary is $51,079. The College of Law was recognized by National Jurist Magazine as one of the top 30 law schools in the country for the percentage of its graduates that entered public interest law after graduation.
was $21,856. The criteria for determining residency status, and for acquiring residency status, are established by law and are available on the University of Idaho website. Absence from the state to attend a post-secondary school elsewhere does not, by itself, result in loss of residency status.
(J.D.) degree
and also takes part in several joint degree programs:
is based on traditional law courses and includes pro bono
work (law-related public service
), several legal clinic
s, externship
s with either federal
or state courts, internships with private law firm
s or public organizations, and a semester-in-practice program offered, in addition to the third-year program, in the state capital, Boise. The curriculum is comprehensive; it includes emphases in Natural Resources & Environmental Law and in Native American Law, with developing emphases in Litigation & Dispute Resolution and in Business Law & Entrepreneurism.
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
of the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
, with its main campus in Moscow
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
and a third-year program in Boise
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
. The College of Law was established in 1909 and is the only law school located in the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Idaho. It has been a member of the Association of American Law Schools
Association of American Law Schools
The Association of American Law Schools is a non-profit organization of 170 law schools in the United States. Another 25 schools are "non-member fee paid" schools, which are not members but choose to pay AALS dues. Its purpose is to improve the legal profession through the improvement of legal...
since 1914 and has been accredited by the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
since 1925. The US News & World Report ranks Idaho in the Third Tier (top 150 out of approximately 200 accredited law schools) in its annual law school rankings.
The College of Law in 2009-10 had an enrollment of around 310 students, with an entering first-year class of roughly 110 students. As a public
Public university
A public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities. A national university may or may not be considered a public university, depending on regions...
law school, it had approximately 60 percent of students come from Idaho, and the remaining 40 percent came from over 24 states and foreign countries. Over 70 undergraduate
Undergraduate education
Undergraduate education is an education level taken prior to gaining a first degree . Hence, in many subjects in many educational systems, undergraduate education is post-secondary education up to the level of a bachelor's degree, such as in the United States, where a university entry level is...
colleges and universities were represented. Minorities comprised 12.1 percent and women comprised 40.1 percent of students.
The College of Law now has a second location in Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
. The Boise third-year program currently accommodates 30 third-year law students, but will eventually grow into a three-year, comprehensive branch of the College of Law in Boise.
Admissions
For the 2009 incoming class, the 25th/75th percentile LSATLaw School Admission Test
The Law School Admission Test is a half-day standardized test administered four times each year at designated testing centers throughout the world. Administered by the Law School Admission Council for prospective law school candidates, the LSAT is designed to assess Reading Comprehension,...
range was 152/157 and the GPA
Grade (education)
Grades are standardized measurements of varying levels of comprehension within a subject area. Grades can be assigned in letters , as a range , as a number out of a possible total , as descriptors , in percentages, or, as is common in some post-secondary...
range was 3.09/3.64. The College of Law in 2009 had a 47.8% acceptance rate. Approximately 36% received some level of grant-based financial aid from the College.
Bar passage rate & job placement
The Idaho bar examinationBar examination
A bar examination is an examination conducted at regular intervals to determine whether a candidate is qualified to practice law in a given jurisdiction.-Brazil:...
passage rate was 81.4 percent for first-time takers in 2009. The overall bar passage rate, including states like Washington, Oregon, and Utah, was 77.18%. . About 40% of Idaho graduates have employment commitments at graduation (before taking the bar examination), and 88% are employed within nine months of graduation or pursuing additional graduate degrees (2008 graduating class data). Among those employed, 37% were employed in private practice
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
, 24 percent in judicial clerkships
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
, and 30% percent in government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
or public interest
Public interest
The public interest refers to the "common well-being" or "general welfare." The public interest is central to policy debates, politics, democracy and the nature of government itself...
law. The average starting salary is $51,079. The College of Law was recognized by National Jurist Magazine as one of the top 30 law schools in the country for the percentage of its graduates that entered public interest law after graduation.
Tuition
Fees for Idaho residents were $11,776 per year for the 2009-10 academic year, while non-resident tuitionTuition
Tuition payments, known primarily as tuition in American English and as tuition fees in British English, Canadian English, Australian English, New Zealand English and Indian English, refers to a fee charged for educational instruction during higher education.Tuition payments are charged by...
was $21,856. The criteria for determining residency status, and for acquiring residency status, are established by law and are available on the University of Idaho website. Absence from the state to attend a post-secondary school elsewhere does not, by itself, result in loss of residency status.
Degree programs
The College of Law offers the Juris DoctorJuris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
(J.D.) degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
and also takes part in several joint degree programs:
- J.D./M.S.Master of ScienceA Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
/Ph.DDoctor of PhilosophyDoctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in Water Resources Management offered as part of the Waters of the West initiative in cooperation with the UICollege of Natural Resources and other colleges at the university. - J.D./M.S. in environmental scienceEnvironmental scienceEnvironmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and biological sciences, to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems...
degree in cooperation with the College of Graduate Studies Environmental Science Program. - J.D./Master of Accounting degree in cooperation with the UI College of Business and Economics or in cooperation with the College of Business at Boise State University. A concurrent law and Master of Business Administration degree in cooperation with BSU is also being developed.
Curriculum
The curriculumCurriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
is based on traditional law courses and includes pro bono
Pro bono
Pro bono publico is a Latin phrase generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms...
work (law-related public service
Public services
Public services is a term usually used to mean services provided by government to its citizens, either directly or by financing private provision of services. The term is associated with a social consensus that certain services should be available to all, regardless of income...
), several legal clinic
Legal clinic
The phrase legal clinic may refer to any private, nonprofit law practice serving the public interest. In the academic context, these law school clinics provide hands-on experience to law school students and services to various clients. Academic Clinics are usually directed by clinical professors...
s, externship
Externship
Externships are experiential learning opportunities, similar to internships, offered by educational institutions to give students short practical experiences in their field of study. In medicine it may refer to a visiting physician who is not part of the regular staff...
s with either federal
United States federal courts
The United States federal courts make up the judiciary branch of federal government of the United States organized under the United States Constitution and laws of the federal government.-Categories:...
or state courts, internships with private law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
s or public organizations, and a semester-in-practice program offered, in addition to the third-year program, in the state capital, Boise. The curriculum is comprehensive; it includes emphases in Natural Resources & Environmental Law and in Native American Law, with developing emphases in Litigation & Dispute Resolution and in Business Law & Entrepreneurism.
Alumni
The UI College of Law has over 3,400 living alumni, some notables are:- Edward J. Lodge '61 -- District Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of IdahoUnited States District Court for the District of IdahoThe United States District Court for the District of Idaho is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Idaho...
- Candy Wagahoff Dale '82 - Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho.
- Jim McClureJames A. McClureJames Albertus "Jim" McClure was an American politician from the state of Idaho, most notably serving as a Republican in the U.S. Senate....
'50 - former U.S. Senator from Idaho (1973-91) - Frank ShrontzFrank ShrontzFrank Anderson Shrontz is a former CEO and chairman of the Boeing Company.The son of a sporting goods merchant, Shrontz graduated from Boise High School in 1949 and the University of Idaho in 1954 with a Bachelor of Laws degree, where he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Following a...
'54 (LL.B)Bachelor of LawsThe Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
- former ChairmanChairman of the BoardThe Chairman of the Board is a seat of office in an organization, especially of corporations.Chairman of the Board may also refer to:*Chairman of the Board , a 1998 film*Chairmen of the Board , a 1970s American soul music group...
& CEOChief executive officerA chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of BoeingBoeingThe Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001... - Jim RischJim RischJames Elroy "Jim" Risch is a Republican politician, rancher, and attorney from Ada County, currently serving as the junior United States Senator from Idaho. He previously served as Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Idaho.-Early life:Risch was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
'68 - U.S. Senator from Idaho (2009- ), former Governor and Lieutenant Governor of IdahoLieutenant Governor of IdahoLieutenant Governor of Idaho is a constitutional statewide elected office in the State of Idaho. According to the Idaho Constitution, the lieutenant governor is elected to a four-year term.... - Linda Copple Trout '77 - former Chief Justice, Idaho Supreme CourtIdaho Supreme CourtThe Idaho Supreme Court is the state supreme court of the state of Idaho, composed of the chief justice and four associate justices.The decisions of the Idaho Supreme Court are binding on all other Idaho state courts.The only court that may reverse or modify its decisions is the Supreme Court of...
(1997-2004), justice (1992-2007) - Daniel Eismann '76 - Chief Justice, Idaho Supreme CourtIdaho Supreme CourtThe Idaho Supreme Court is the state supreme court of the state of Idaho, composed of the chief justice and four associate justices.The decisions of the Idaho Supreme Court are binding on all other Idaho state courts.The only court that may reverse or modify its decisions is the Supreme Court of...
(2007- ), justice (2001- ) - Roger Burdick '74 - Vice Chief Justice, Idaho Supreme CourtIdaho Supreme CourtThe Idaho Supreme Court is the state supreme court of the state of Idaho, composed of the chief justice and four associate justices.The decisions of the Idaho Supreme Court are binding on all other Idaho state courts.The only court that may reverse or modify its decisions is the Supreme Court of...
(2007- ), justice (2003- ) - Joel Horton '85 - Idaho Supreme CourtIdaho Supreme CourtThe Idaho Supreme Court is the state supreme court of the state of Idaho, composed of the chief justice and four associate justices.The decisions of the Idaho Supreme Court are binding on all other Idaho state courts.The only court that may reverse or modify its decisions is the Supreme Court of...
justice (2007- ) - John Melanson '81 - Idaho Court of Appeals judge (2009- )
- David Gratton '85 - Idaho Court of Appeals judge (2009- )
- Lawrence WasdenLawrence WasdenLawrence G. Wasden is the current Attorney General of the state of Idaho, United States, serving since 2003.Wasden is the 2006-07 President-elect of the National Association of Attorneys General.-Education:...
'85 - Attorney General of the State of Idaho (2003- )
External links
- law.idaho.edu - official site