Welcome from the Dean

Welcome to the University of Idaho College of Law.

In 2009, the University of Idaho College of Law is celebrating a century of excellence in legal education. Over the last 100 years, we have emerged as a top law school in the region with a strong legacy that includes state and national leaders in business, law and public service. Our intimate college is consistently recognized as among the best values in public legal education in the nation. We have also earned a widespread reputation for our commitment to public service. 

Our success stems from our steadfast belief that a law school should stand for something. At the University of Idaho College of Law, we stand for:  

• Serving the public and improving the administration of justice, exemplified by our pro bono service program and our leading clinical program. We are ranked in the nation’s top 20% of law schools for the number of clinical opportunities available per student and for the percentage of our graduates working in public interest positions. 
• Shaping sound public policy through interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship, demonstrated by our “Waters of the West” initiative.
• Strengthening sustainability and understanding of challenges facing the Western U.S. through our natural resources and Native American law curricula. 
• Advancing diversity, expressed by our commitment to equal opportunity and by our wide-open welcome of multiple perspectives and backgrounds. 
• Placing academic quality above quantity, evidenced by our highly selective admissions process and close faculty-student collaboration in an intimate learning environment. 
• Affirming that a life in the law is a noble calling, reflected in our acclaimed professionalism program in which small groups of students talk face-to-face with distinguished lawyers and judges about ethics and professionalism as part of New Student Orientation.

These distinctive characteristics are built upon our strategic vision for America’s best small public law school. Please explore our Web site or contact me directly to learn more about our outstanding law school.

Don Burnett
Dean and Foundation Professor of Law
dburnett@uidaho.edu