An Accelerated Path to Law School • Newsroom • Lewis & Clark Quick Links Apply Visit Alumni Athletics Libraries Giving The Source Newsroom Newsroom An Accelerated Path to Law School An Accelerated Path to Law School Persistence is paying off for Danielle Pon BA ’24, JD ’27, who is currently attending Lewis & Clark Law School as part of the accelerated “3-3” BA/JD program. Legal Leap April 20, 2026 In the Accelerated BA/JD Dual-Degree Program, commonly referred to as the “3-3 Program,” you can complete a BA and a JD in six years rather than seven. Credit: Nina Johnson Danielle Pon BA ’24, JD ’27 found her passion for criminal justice reform and is pursuing the field of juvenile justice. SHARE Copy Link Danielle Pon BA ’24, JD ’27 had to make some sacrifices to stay on track in the Accelerated BA/JD 3-3 Program —where students can earn both degrees in six years, instead of seven. One of those was foregoing overseas study as an undergraduate. Still, she’s glad she saw it through. “I really like where I am right now,” says Pon, who was an major and is now in her second year of law school. “I like what I’m doing and what I want to do in the future. I think it’s all turned out really well for me.” Pon’s initial plan was to pursue environmental law. But after taking an environmental law class while still an undergraduate, she discovered the field was not for her. For a time, she struggled to identify a new path. Then she met Aliza Kaplan , professor of law and director of the Criminal Justice Reform Clinic . Kaplan, who taught Pon in legal writing, impressed Pon with her passion for criminal justice reform. Through the clinic’s work, Pon saw how legal advocacy could transform people’s lives. Kaplan’s example, together with Pon’s own interest in education, led her toward the field of juvenile justice. Moving directly from undergraduate study to graduate school comes with its challenges. “Looking back at the first year at the law school, everyone was going through a hard transition,” says Pon. “But no one wanted to be the first to say, ‘I don’t know what’s going on!’” Now in her second year, Pon has really hit her stride. “There’s such an established and strong sense of community … of helping each other out,” says Pon, who will be working with Kaplan at the youth legal clinic this summer. Pon will be engaging with youth in correctional facilities, helping them pursue reduced sentences through the legal process. Pon says she thinks that while the 3-3 law program is not for everyone, it’s still a great path to go down. “And, it’s really great that Lewis & Clark offers it.” BA/JD Dual Degree (3-3) Office of Communications Editorial Contact Shelly Meyer Media Contact Lois Leveen More Stories Education Improvement Ben Bowman Joins L&C as Senior Fellow Bowman will work closely with Graduate School leadership and faculty and with partners across the state to scale the school’s impact and expand the use of data and research to improve outcomes in Oregon K-12 schools. Faculty Award Dr. Kosansky Receives Fulbright for Rabat Genizah Project Associate Professor Oren Kosansky has received a prestigious Fulbright award for his project, “Digital Humanities Scholarship and Jewish Cultural Heritage in Contemporary Morocco”. Building on his extensive background in anthropology and Moroccan studies, this project bridges the gap between Middle East and North African (MENA) studies and Jewish studies. Community Brew Bringing Latinx Culture to Portland’s Coffee Scene Carlos Sanchez Huizar BA ’18, MA ’20 has turned his love of coffee and his experience at Lewis & Clark into Kilo D’ Cofi, a Latinx-owned café and community space in downtown Portland. Scholar-Athlete Fast Study In the lab and on the track, Malia Heien BA ’26 has built a Lewis & Clark career defined by stamina, achievement, and a remarkable drive to succeed.