
<PAGE>
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.8
 
                 CONSENT OF PERSON ABOUT TO BECOME A DIRECTOR
 
  I, James W. Bagley, hereby consent to the use, in the Registration Statement
on Form S-4 of Lam Research Corporation (the "Company") to which this consent
is filed as an exhibit and the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus included
therein, of my name as a person about to become a director of the Company.
 
                                                    /s/ James W. Bagley
                                          _____________________________________
                                                      JAMES W. BAGLEY
 
July 1, 1997
