EUGENE–Candidates vying to enroll at the University of Oregon School of Law this year are smarter than last year’s applicants are–and there are more of them.

Applications to enter the state’s only public law school jumped 17 percent in 2001, more than twice the national increase in law school applications.

The UO applicants also scored an average of two full percentage points higher on the Law School Admissions Tests than did students who applied during the previous year.

School officials believe that the new William W. Knight Law Center has played an important role in increasing the attractiveness of the law school.

The building, completed in 1999, includes a state-of the-art computer lab. In addition, the 1,000 computer hookups available throughout the structure provide connectivity to on-line information data bases, on-line classes and live video teleconferencing.

"The building provides a fitting showcase for a faculty long recognized as among the best of public law schools. It combines comfort and attractiveness with an unexcelled technological infrastructure," says James O’Fallon, associate dean of the law school.

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