What if we told you that everything you are looking for in a law school could be found in a single place?
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he University of Illinois College of Law is one of the oldest and best-regarded law schools in the country. Located on the campus of one of the nation’s top public research universities, this is a place where the spirit of innovation resides. We are the home of the founding chapter of the law honor society known as the Order of the Coif, the birthplace of such interdisciplinary movements as law and economics and law and psychology, and we have produced many of the nation’s great law textbook and treatise writers.
Here, you are trained to be a lawyer before you have to BE a lawyer. You can have coffee with renowned legal scholars. You can spend your capstone semester in the heart of Chicago. You can follow your passion to pay it forward. And you can be sure that you won’t have to spend your law career paying for it.
WELCOME TO ILLINOIS.
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THE ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE Whether you’re on the path to corporate law, public interest advocacy, legal research or anywhere else – Illinois will get you there. With access to 8 joint degree programs, renowned faculty, and real-life learning opportunities, you decide your direction. Coursework in the College of Law is rooted in the work of leading legal theorists and multi-disciplinary research. While there are no specific degree concentrations, Illinois considers the following to be areas of strength: • Business and Law • Criminal Law • Environmental Law
• Public Interest
Joint Degree Programs • Chemistry • Computer Science • Human Resources and Industrial Relations • Journalism • Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences • Political Science • Urban Planning
Required First Year Courses
• Interdisciplinary Study
• Civil Procedure • Constitutional Law • Contracts • Criminal Law • Fundamentals of Legal Practice • Introduction to Advocacy • Legal Research • Legal Writing and Analysis • Property • Torts
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More info at law.illinois.edu/joint-degrees
SPOTLIGHT: Environmental Law at Illinois
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he College of Law is situated at a worldclass research institution dedicated to sustainability, with renowned faculty working on groundbreaking environmental issues. Few law schools can compete with Illinois’ breadth of environmental offerings or its commitment to environmental teaching.
Environmental Coursework: Beyond the Ordinary Illinois routinely offers courses in Environmental Law, Administrative Law, and Natural Resources—the backbone of an environmental law curriculum. The College also offers a variety of advanced environmental electives, including courses such as: Climate Change, Sustainable Development, and Environmental Policy; Ethics, Law, and the Environment; and many more. Distinctively, Illinois also has a history of offering innovative environmental courses that exhibit its commitment to handson teaching and its researchbased approach to solving environmental problems. In recent years these have included: • Costa Rica: A Case Study in Environmentally Sustainable Economic Development, an intersession course taking students through the jungles, mountains, and beaches of Costa Rica to examine firsthand the success with which the country has promoted environmental sustainability.
• Energy and Natural Resource Transactions, a course for exploring the relationship between contract law and the management of natural resources, is designed to give students the tools they need to start a career in the thriving field of transactional natural resources law. • Applied Environmental Law, a course presenting students with a variety of current, real-world applications of environmental law, working with lawyers and assisting non-profit environmental organizations, government agencies, and other entities engaged in environmental work.
Additional Student Opportunities • Apply for internships through the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and the Environment. • Serve on the Student Sustainability Committee. • Complete environmental certificate programs, such as the Online Certificate in Environmental Sustainability. • Get involved in the hundreds of campus-level environmental opportunities.
Faculty Innovation and the Environment The strength of any law school can be measured by its faculty, and Illinois boasts faculty members exploring some of the most exciting frontiers of environmental law. Faculty research projects often provide students with opportunities to participate in groundbreaking environmental research. Recent projects include: • Professor Heidi Hurd (environmental ethics, environmental management) led a project researching the impacts of climate change and sustainable development. • Professor Arden Rowell (environmental regulation, comparative environmental law), working on a Department of Energy grant, co-directed an interdisciplinary team working to figure out safer ways to manage nuclear power and nuclear waste. • Professor Lesley Wexler (international environmental law) and Professor Arden Rowell led a project researching how international environmental law treats victims of foreign disasters.
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Impa r tin g
A
s she approaches her 13-year anniversary on the Illinois Law faculty and her 20th year in the academy, there is no doubt that Professor Suja Thomas has made a name for herself as a legal scholar. Crediting some of the cases she worked on as a young lawyer in New York City with sparking her interest in juries and employment discrimination, today Thomas is an expert in both of these areas, as well as civil litigation, civil procedure, and constitutional law.
O U R FA C U LT Y
The faculty at Illinois Law are acclaimed teachers, community-minded innovators, and interdisciplinary experts. They are national leaders in many areas of law, and their highly cited research is shaping the modern legal landscape. • Range of perspectives – 39% of the tenured faculty have advanced degrees in other fields in addition to their law degrees. • Homegrown talent – of the 53 full-time faculty members, 6 received their law degrees at the University of Illinois. • Powerhouse of legal scholarship – Ranked #29 in the Leiter Poll of top law faculties.
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The rise of the #MeToo movement just happened to coincide with the publication of her latest book “Unequal: How America’s Courts Undermine Discrimination Law,” which demonstrates the many ways our modern legal system fails victims of workplace discrimination, including and especially in cases of sexual harassment. Since the book’s release, Thomas has been quoted or referenced in the New York Times Magazine, Vox.com, The Nation, and many other publications, and she has penned op-eds for the San Francisco Chronicle and the New York Times. Her work on the jury system has been similarly influential, so much so that she was selected as a Diverse Voices in Docs fellow in 2020 by Kartemquin Films for her documentary project on the disappearance of juries. At a recent law school celebration honoring Professor Thomas and her scholarly achievements, she spoke about why she does legal scholarship, and how she thinks her work can make a real impact. Her primary audience is the courts. “I want to reach the people I think can actually affect change,” she said.
Knowledge and Support in Equal Measure Thomas employs a variety of tactics to influence the courts, many of them involving collaboration with her law students. A few years ago an employment discrimination lawyer approached her and asked her to submit an amicus brief on why summary judgment is unconstitutional. She worked with a group of five students and a former colleague of hers to submit the brief. Thomas is currently working on her documentary on the jury system with a recent law graduate. She worked with another student to build her website, and she has additional student collaborations in progress, including one on the issue of whether juveniles should have the right to a jury trial. In each of these instances, Thomas has identified and tapped into the particular strengths of her individual students, which has proven to be mutually beneficial. Thomas touts the expertise of Illinois Law students. “So many law students have special skills and experience. As a law professor engaged in wide-ranging work, it’s wonderful to be able to tap into
those abilities and work with some of these talented students.” Clearly, Thomas is engaged with and committed to her students and their academic success, but she also cares about their well-being. She regularly leads mindfulness sessions for interested students. Thomas said “For years, mindfulness has helped me focus on the present. Some years ago, I suggested that we do a session on mindfulness for law students. Now, students can learn about mindfulness during orientation and can attend weekly mindfulness sessions.” And, because law school can’t be all hard work all the time, Thomas has started a new tradition of hosting a co-ed student basketball tournament at her house. The 2nd annual event took place at the end of the 2019 spring semester. Many years ago, Thomas had fun playing basketball in law school, including in a three on three tournament. When she learned that two of her students were former basketball players, she asked them to help organize
a tournament. “It was a blast with almost thirty law students participating. My husband Scott’s quesadillas and wings added to the fun.” Thomas works closely with the Office of Career Planning and Professional Development to help place students in judicial clerkships, and she makes a genuine effort to keep in touch and maintain relationships with her students after they leave the building. Allison Slocum ’16 said, “I’m honored to have had Professor Thomas as a law professor, a colleague, and now consider her a friend. “As a law student, Professor Thomas was not only interested in getting to know me, she made an effort to get to know my husband and two children as well. Anytime she hosted a student dinner, my entire family was invited. To this day, she invites my family to celebrate Labor Day while watching the local parade from her front lawn.”
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aw faculty at Illinois are regularly quoted by and pen op-eds for major news outlets. The following headlines are just a sampling of some recent media mentions. Read more at law.illinois.edu/news:
• Retailers continue to file for bankruptcy as a result of COVID-19, but what exactly does that mean? Lawless unpacks the basics for GQ Magazine. • Thomas book referenced in op-ed written by Elizabeth Warren for Teen Vogue. • Wilson quoted in NY Times: She Didn’t Want a Pelvic Exam. She Received One Anyway. • Amar discusses consequences of impeachment vote on NPR’s All Things Considered.
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PUTTING PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE
Analytical
Trial Advocacy
In the Trial Advocacy Program, students tackle real-world challenges thinking, through experiential learning to gain the skills they need to succeed in problem-solving, the practice of law. A dedicated faculty of seasoned trial practitioners research, presupports the Program, giving students unparalleled opportunities trial and trial to learn from a variety of experienced attorneys and judges. The skills, negotiation, Program also annually selects team members for the Trial Team, and interviewing through a competitive process. Team members earn academic credit are critical skills and participate in external competitions throughout the year. needed for realworld success. Clinical Education Beginning in the The role of clinics in preparing students for legal practice first year, students cannot be understated, and Illinois Law offers a number of receive instruction opportunities for students to gain this critical experience. and practice in Working with real clients on real problems is one of the richest critical lawyering ways to learn about lawyering and the complexity and depth skills, including client that clients bring to cases. With an average of eight student interviewing and participants per clinic, you can be sure you’ll get a very handsoral advocacy. During on experience. Furthermore, the College recently completed the second and third a major renovation of our clinic space, providing our students years, students “learn by a professional legal setting in which to grow their skills as a practitioner. doing” in live-client and professional skills courses. Law Competitions Students and alumni frequently report that these There are ample opportunities for Illinois Law students to participate in competitions, with some of our most active learning programs popular offerings being moot court, client counseling, and are among the most negotiation competitions. For many of these programs, meaningful experiences that students become part of a team and travel to external they have at the College of competitions throughout the year. Law.
More Experiential Learning Opportunities at law.illinois.edu/clinics
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Learning to Lawyer in the Midst of a Pandemic
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hen COVID-19 began sweeping across the world in early 2020, no one could have predicted all of the ways that life as we knew it would be upended. Not only did law schools have to pivot practically overnight to remote teaching and learning methods, many students also faced sudden uncertainty in regards to their summer employment plans. Recognizing this challenge, administrators and faculty at the College of Law saw an opportunity to use the pandemic as a teaching tool, while simultaneously fulfilling the employment needs of our students. And thus, the COVID-19 Practicum was born.
Petra Walech “I am working for Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) this summer. As a part of the COVID-19 practicum, I update COVID-19 information on ILAO’s website. I monitor the Housing, Coronavirus, and the Law blog and keep the article I wrote about the CARES Act and eviction updated. ILAO is incredibly important, right now especially. People in Illinois depend on ILAO for information during this crisis. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute and support ILAO. For myself, I have had the chance to read up on many areas of law that I would otherwise not have exposure to. I have also seen first-hand how organizations are adapting to COVID-19. ILAO’s staff is supportive and builds community even through this crisis.”
Launched in the summer of 2020, the Practicum consisted of a oneweek, intensive class focused on various aspects of the COVID-19 Milton Martinez pandemic. Topics included constitutional law, contract law, “I am currently working for the potential tort claims associated John Howard Association of with the pandemic, bankruptcy, Illinois. On a day to day basis, I labor and employment, elder read letters sent to us from people law, and health law. Thereafter, incarcerated in Illinois facilities. students enrolled in the class We address issues that violate were assigned to work with legal the basic human rights of these aid agencies around the State individuals, and are often the only of Illinois, applying the lessons people who listen to/advocate for 4 career counselors - 1 based in Chicago, 1 dedicated to students pursuing public interest and gove learned during their time in those that are incarcerated. the Practicum to serve Illinois 96% Bar Passage Rate From this internship, I hope residents who had been adversely (July 2017 Illinois Bar, first-time takers) to gain experience in reform affected by the pandemic. #33 Go-To Law School 2018 work as well as opportunities to Law Journal) Practicum students received a (Nationalnetwork within the public interest stipend to defray costs and living community. Criminal justice expenses, thanks to generous reform is work I am passionate support from the Jerome Mirza about, so it feels great to be able Foundation and College of Law to contribute to changing people’s alumni Kimball and Karen lives in a positive way while at the Anderson (Class of 1977). same time exploring/soaking up knowledge in a field that matters to me.”
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Clinics, Field Placements, and Live Client Courses Professional Skills Courses
87% 9
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THE CHICAGO CONNECTION The Chicago Program offers semester-long Chicago-based courses and events for interested third-year students. Taught by leading practitioners and College faculty, courses are taught in the Illini Center in downtown Chicago, The Chicago Bar Association, and in the offices of several preeminent law firms, including Winston & Strawn, Foley & Lardner, Steptoe & Johnson, and Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella. Events and lectures are open to all third-year students, offering fantastic opportunities to network with the College’s more than 4,000 Chicago-based alumni. Launched in 2012, the Chicago Program is designed to enrich the College’s curriculum, expand professional opportunities for students, and involve alumni and other practitioners more closely in the College’s educational mission.
• Professors are College of Law faculty and leading practitioners predominantly from Chicago-area law firms, corporations, government agencies, and public interest organizations. They offer realworld experience and advice to students, helping the transition from law student to lawyer. • The innovative curriculum engages students with insight into timely and relevant areas of legal practice as well as practical skills training essential to new practicing lawyers.
• Students network with professors, panelists, legal professionals, and the College’s Chicago-based alumni at program events and lectures. • The flexible schedule allows students to work part-time during the week, providing the opportunity for students to start post-graduation jobs early; intern with firms, government agencies, and judges to gain valuable experience; and interview with prospective employers.
THECHICAGOPROGRAM 10
Learn more about what to expect in the Chicago Program at law.illinois.edu/chicagoprogram
Chicago Program Student Experiences Alice Fan ’18 Deloitte, Tax Attorney “One of the greatest benefits of the Chicago Program is having a really small class size. It allowed us to have a close connection to the teachers, because many of them are real practitioners in law firms. They were all especially helpful with career advice. “I also liked how easy it was to network. Because I didn’t have to drive the two-plus hours from Champaign to Chicago, I was able to make a lot of connections, and it really encouraged me to start talking to more people.”
Dmitri Kachan ’18 Will County State’s Attorney’s Office, Assistant State’s Attorney “I decided to participate in the Chicago Program because I thought the opportunities were very rich – the almost one-to-one faculty to student ratio is amazing, being able to run an entire trial and argue in front of an actual judge – those kinds of possibilities that take the experience outside of just sitting in class are what make this a great program. “I think the Chicago Program took me from the theoretical perspective and plucked me into the everyday routine of being a lawyer. This is a place where I want to end up working and living, so getting that real-world experience – talking to my
supervising attorneys, talking to the partners about their cases, observing actual cases in progress – has been extremely beneficial. Having access to that, along with the perspectives of the practicing attorneys who teach our classes has been invaluable.”
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4 career counselors - 1 based in Chicago, 1 dedicated to students pursuing public interest and g 96% Bar Passage Rate (July 2017 Illinois Bar, first-time takers) #33 Go-To Law School 2018 (National Law Journal)
Practice THE LAW
CAREER PLANNING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPM E N T 94% 96%
4 career counselors - 1 based in Chicago, 1 ded 96% Bar Passage Rate (July 2017 Illinois Bar, first-time takers)
The Office of Career Planning and Professional Development prepares students to succeed in a competitive legal marketplace by providing them with ready access to the Chicago market and other major markets, a strong alumni network, practical skills training, alternative avenues to begin their careers, and individualized support.
Specialized Programming Fundamentals of Legal Practice A requirement for firstyear students, this course is intended to better prepare students for practice, covering topics like the business of law, self-assessment, business development and marketing, professional communications, client service, and project management.
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4 career counselors - 1 based in Chicago,#33 1 dedicated students pursuing Go-TotoLaw School 2018public interest and gover
Professional Experience Day 96% Bar Passage Rate
(National Law Journal)
(July 2017 Illinois Bar, first-time takers) Early in the academic year, our entire #33 Go-Toto LawChicago School 2018 first-year class travels (National Law Journal) for a daylong multi-stop visit with dozens of different legal employers, including firms of all sizes, government agencies, public interest law firms, inhouse legal departments, and various courtrooms in Chicago. Professional Experience Day is designed to provide an early look at the kinds of careers available to students, including some nontraditional options.
Perspectives on Practice Throughout the academic year, the Careers office partners with various student organizations to bring in guest speakers to share perspectives on their legal practice. Guests are often alumni of the College, eager to provide insight and advice on careers in many different areas of the law.
Bar Passage Rate
(July 2019 Illinois Bar, Employmentfirst-time Rate takers) (Class of 2017, full-time, long-term, JD-preferred)
#27
Go-To Law School 2020 (National Law Journal)
94%
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Employment Rate (Class of 2019, full-time, long-term, JD-preferred) Employment Rate
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(Class of 2017, full-time, long-term, JD-preferred)
Attorney-Counselors
1 based in Chicago,
1 dedicated to students pursuing public interest and government work
Employm
(Class of 2 long-term
New Immersive Experience Preps Students for Clerkships
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hen College of Law administrators first had the idea for a course that would prepare students for judicial clerkships, they knew exactly who to tap to develop it. Janice Farrell Pea, a long-time adjunct professor at the College and a Class of 1997 graduate, spent 20 years as a senior law clerk to Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita Garman, and she was thrilled at the opportunity to provide students with the necessary skills to achieve similar success. Judicial Opinion Writing launched in the fall of 2019 with seven students. A majority of the course focused on writing assignments, including a bench memo, a memo to the judge summarizing the oral argument, and two drafts of a judicial opinion. The students had the opportunity to choose among three different cases, People v. Morger, Yakich v. Aulds, and People v. Brown, all of which were argued at the Illinois Supreme Court during its September 2019 term. Although the briefs in each case were public records, Pea was especially grateful to former Chief Justice Lloyd Karmeier ’64 for granting access to additional records in the cases. Class meetings also facilitated discussion on a variety of engaging topics. “One of our sessions focused on the use of rhetorical devices in judicial opinions. We spent the
first hour examining judicial opinions and other documents for various rhetorical devices and discussed their effectiveness. Then each student made a presentation on the use of literary or cultural references in judicial opinions,” Pea said. The students found references to the Bible, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, and many more. Another session was spent discussing concurrences and dissents and their lasting impact on the development of the law. “Judicial opinion writing has helped me both as a writer and a reader. As a writer, I am better at organizing my writing and prioritizing information to include within my writing. As a reader, I am better able to notice organizational structures and language that support comprehension,” said Brittany Wiegand. Pea also coordinated visits from several guest speakers, many of them alumni, and each with valuable insights to offer to the potential future judicial clerks. Overall, Pea has been pleased with the inaugural semester of Judicial Opinion Writing. She especially wants students interested in clerkships to recognize that being able to take a course like this is pretty unique. As she was building the content and structure of the class, she realized that the College of Law may be the only law school in Illinois currently offering it, and it is certainly not standard practice at law schools across the country.
Like his fellow classmates, Doug Malcolm can attest to the value of the course, and said he would recommend it to anyone interested in a clerkship. “Professor Pea was a fount of knowledge thanks to her years of experience clerking for Justice Garman. She not only helped prepare us for what to expect if we get a clerkship – she also helped us prepare for the application as well. After this class, I feel confident in both my understanding of what will be expected of me in a clerkship and my ability to meet and exceed those expectations.”
#17 Law schools that sent the highest percentage of their graduating class to federal clerkships (Class of 2019, Law.com)
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FOR THE GREATER GOOD As part of the state’s land-grant university, Illinois Law is committed to training the next generation of public interest and government lawyers. The College of Law offers significant resources and support for students aspiring to careers in the public sector.
Public Interest Opportunities Clinics Family Advocacy Clinic Federal Civil Rights Clinic Immigration Law Clinic Veterans Legal Clinic
Field Placements Innocence Project/Advanced Innocence Project Legal Externships State Appellate Prosecutor
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Not everyone will become a full-time
legal aid attorney. But working with legal aid clients, even for just one summer or one semester, will affect your life forever. You will gain empathy and
56%
Approximately of the JD Class of 2019 graduated with a Pro Bono notation
perspective, and you will be a better lawyer.” Ramona Sullivan, Class of 1996
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Gaining Empathy and Perspective Through Public Service
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amona Sullivan ’96 was drawn to public interest work almost immediately upon starting her law school journey at the University of Illinois. She began volunteering at Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance during her first year of law school and was a law clerk there every semester and every summer. She also married her late husband, Lionel Williams the summer after her first year and had their first child the summer after her second year. “I wanted a career that would let me pay my bills, take care of my family, and make a difference in my community,” she said. Ramona began her career at Land of Lincoln in Decatur and has since spent time at several of their office locations throughout the state. She was in private practice for a short time before going back to Land of Lincoln and is now at the Champaign County Public Defender’s Office.
She has also been a dedicated supporter of the College of Law for over 20 years. “I love to volunteer at the law school, and I try to support the Class of 1996 Endowment Fund every year. Our class gift provides a stipend to a student who is pursuing a public interest opportunity each summer. I remember presenting the first check to a law student in 2006. “This past summer, a law clerk at the PD’s office noticed my 1996 class picture on the wall and asked me to thank my classmates for paying his rent for the summer. I think it is very important for law students to explore public interest opportunities. Not everyone will become a full-time legal aid attorney. But working with legal aid clients, even for just one summer or one semester, will affect your life forever. You will gain empathy and perspective, and you will be a better lawyer,” she said. Having been in court several days each week for over 20 years,
Ramona was inspired to pursue the opportunity to create a more balanced bench. She recently ran for a judgeship in the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Champaign County. Ramona feels she would particularly bring a unique, balanced perspective to legal issues surrounding domestic violence. She has represented hundreds of victims of domestic violence seeking protection from their abusers, and hundreds of people accused of crimes related to domestic violence. She has also created community education courses about domestic abuse and consistently volunteered to try to help people learn to avoid becoming victims or abusers. A passionate advocate for public sector careers, Ramona is always eager to connect with young law students interested in the field. “A successful career is important, but it is even more important to enjoy your life and protect your integrity. Never forget the big picture.”
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FOR THE GREATER GOOD Public Interest Resources Fellowships To assist students in building careers in the public sector, the College has developed an innovative Public Interest Post-Graduate Fellowship Program. Fellowships range from six to twelve months and offer new graduates unique opportunities to pursue careers as prosecutors, public defenders, assistant attorneys general, municipal law attorneys, in-house counsel, and legal aid attorneys across the United States. While in law school, students also have the opportunity to apply for the Kimball and Karen Anderson Summer Fellowship, which allows them to work in paid positions with a variety of public interest organizations.
Loan Repayment Assistance Program Because the burden of law school debt can hinder students from choosing careers in public service, government, and non-profit organizations, we have created the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP), which offers partial loan forgiveness to qualifying applicants.
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We support fellowships because of the dire need for more legal services attorneys, in the hopes
that the respective organizations will be so impressed by the work of our graduates that they will prioritize figuring out a way to hire them after the fellowship ends.� Kimball Anderson, Class of 1977
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Serving Underserved Communities
I
n the past two years, the College of Law has enhanced our offerings in the area of public interest with the addition of two new clinics – the Immigration Law Clinic and the Veterans Legal Clinic.
Immigration Law Clinic Professor Lauren Aronson, a seasoned immigration law professional and director of the newly established Immigration Law Clinic, says that the main mission is to provide direct legal services to members of the community who cannot otherwise afford them. Aronson and her students are primarily focused on humanitarian relief, and they are currently working on u-visas (visas available to victims of crime in the United States), a few asylum cases, and several cases involving securing status for unaccompanied minors. Aronson is also passionate about outreach and education, and is encouraged by the mobilization of the local community behind immigration rights. Aronson plans to deploy her students to help dispel rumors about the reasons people choose to immigrate, and to educate people about the complicated legal process for immigrants. Each of her students is studying a specific topic in immigration law that can then be shared with members of the community (e.g. delivering presentations to English-Language-Learning high school students about their rights, or giving talks to local public defenders). In addition to her community outreach and education efforts, Aronson is of course committed to ensuring that her student clinicians come away from the experience with stronger lawyering and writing skills, as well as an elevated level of cultural competency. Perhaps most important, she hopes that they gain an appreciation for social justice.
Veterans Legal Clinic “In this state a lot of law school clinics are geared towards veteran’s benefits, but a recent study from the VA actually shows that the unmet needs of veterans are more legally related, so we are hoping that by focusing our clinic on those unmet needs, we can fill a gap,” said Yulanda Curtis, director of the Veterans Legal Clinic.
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Accordingly, the clinic focuses on the civil legal needs of veterans in the community, including family law cases, consumer disputes, and evictions. The clinic also assists veterans with servicerelated matters such as discharge upgrades. Curtis credits her own experience growing up in a military family with shaping her approach to working with the veteran community, and hopes to pass that knowledge on to her student clinicians. “I feel like I have a unique perspective. I’ve seen firsthand what it takes and what families in the military face. The types of legal issues they face are unique because they are moving all around, and it just gets more complicated because of their military service. Providing the necessary legal aid to these veterans and their families seems like the least we can do.”
I hope that they learn what it means to be a zealous
advocate. They may not all practice in this area, but hopefully they will maintain an understanding of the importance of this work. I hope that they understand the complexity of immigration law and feel confident dispelling
misconceptions about it.” Lauren Aronson Associate Clinical Professor Immigration Law Clinic Director
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THESE ARE OUR
People
THE ALUMNI NETWORK Illinois Law alumni include managing partners at leading international law firms; founders of cutting-edge boutiques; CEOs, CFOs, and in-house counsel at Fortune 500 companies; federal and state judges, prosecutors, and public defenders; and lawyers working in other public interest positions. Our alumni are not only accomplished, but incredibly loyal, helping to mentor, teach, hire, and support our students.
11,241
Total U.S. Alumni NORTHEAST
WEST
1,430
MIDWEST
7,801
SOUTH
1,291
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Making Valuable Connections
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tudents at Illinois are provided with ample opportunities to connect with alumni throughout their time in law school, beginning immediately in the first year. The Alumni-Student Mentoring Program connects 1Ls with alumni in one-on-one, student driven relationships, in order for students to benefit from the knowledge and experiences of our alumni. As mentors, alumni provide an invaluable service by providing advice that can help first-years succeed in law school and better understand the legal field. Mentors are assigned to a student for the academic year, but it is up to the student to initiate and maintain contact. Mentors and students generally discuss a variety of topics, including networking, practice areas/settings, professionalism, and strategies for finding and selecting a job. The program is extremely popular, with over 90% of the incoming class electing to participate in any given year. One student participant summed up the experience with the following sentiments: “Having someone who had survived law school in full was an invaluable resource as they could give advice on both the job market and law school.”
Additional Opportunities to Meet Alumni • Alumni-Student Career Conference • Women Lead WITH Illinois Law Summit • Alumni guest lectures • Formal and informal events • Participation in Law Competitions
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THESE ARE OUR
People
THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE Illinois Law students are smart, driven, and passionate. Here, you can pursue your interests and create lasting relationships in our vibrant community. Complementing the breadth of courses and practical training is an array of opportunities for active engagement outside the classroom.
@uillinoislaw Follow us on Instagram for a sneak peek at student life!
30+
student organizations
100+
lectures and events per year
College-sponsored
student trips
Study abroad opportunities in
20 countries
5 journals, with 3 being student-edited 20
Meet Our Students Sana Rizvi “I really appreciate the atmosphere at Illinois Law. One of my biggest fears about attending law school was the cut-throat, competitive atmosphere that law schools are famous for. However, everyone I met at Illinois Law has been incredibly helpful and encouraging about the law school process. More often than not, I found people who were more than willing to talk about their experiences whether it be in certain classes or certain job opportunities. Moreover, the professors at Illinois are clearly experts in their fields and therefore excellent resources and people to know.”
the primary reasons why I chose this school, so being selected was really exciting.”
Felicia Shaw “I knew that I wanted to practice law in my hometown, Chicago. During the rigorous application process for law schools, Illinois Law was the school that met my academic aspirations without feeling like a financial burden or sacrifice. After receiving a scholarship, visiting the campus, and speaking with a current student at the time, I knew that I wanted to attend Illinois Law.”
Max Bungert “Through the tryout process, I was selected to participate in the College’s Federal Civil Rights Clinic. This will give me real courtroom experience to supplement what I have learned in the classroom, and may give me an opportunity to make a tangible difference in someone’s life. This clinic caught my attention during my tour at Illinois Law, and was one of
Learn more about our students at law.illinois.edu/student-life
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THIS IS OUR
Community LIFE IN CHAMPAIGN-URBANA A micro-urban community known for its big-city amenities yet small-town affordability, accessibility, safety, and friendliness, Champaign-Urbana (C-U) is dynamic and vibrant, with a lively cultural scene, a variety of restaurants, and numerous recreational opportunities.
Things to Know • Average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $900
Chicago
Champaign Urbana
• Getting around town is fast and easy.
— Mass transit bus system – FREE for students
— Pedestrian and bike-friendly, with dockless bike share available
— Uber, Lyft, and Zipcar are available
St. Louis
• Ranked the fastest-growing city in Illinois in 2017 (Business Insider), C-U boasts an assortment of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and cultural venues. • Recreation opportunities abound, with one of the premier campus recreation facilities in the country just steps away from the law school, and plenty of public and state parks in the region.
#8
10 Best College Towns (Livability, 2019)
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#2 ( Best College Towns in America Business Insider, 2018)
Indianapolis
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THE LAW
Join Us TUITION & AID Law school is a significant investment in your professional future. As a public law school on a land-grant university campus, the College of Law is committed to educational accessibility, affordability, and strong return on investment. With a frozen tuition rate and unconditional scholarships, incoming students can be confident in knowing the cost of their legal education. • All admitted students are automatically considered for meritbased scholarships. • Our Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) offers partial loan forgiveness and enables graduates to pursue public interest careers. • Federal loans are available through the University of Illinois.
$ 99%
$
$
of the JD student body received a scholarship or grant in 2018-2019.* *most recent ABA data
Cost of Attendance (Expenses for Academic Year 2020-2021) Resident Tuition
$35,000
$45,000
$5,101
$5,101
$13,060
$13,060
Books and Supplies
$1,800
$1,800
Other Expenses
$2,750
$3,090
$57,711
$68,051
Fees Room and Board
TOTAL 24
Non-Resident
Admissions Timeline September 1
Applications for the following fall are accepted.
January
Applicants seeking admission for the following fall are encouraged to take the LSAT no later than this month.
March 15
Preferred deadline for applicants. Applications will be accepted after this date, however, decisions will be released as we are able.
March 26
Admitted Student Open House
April 19
First seat deposit due
May 24
Second seat deposit due
Application Requirements The College of Law will only accept applications submitted through the LSAC Electronic Application. Applications must include: • Complete academic history • Law school admission test (LSAT) • Resume • Letters of recommendation (two are required, will accept up to four) • Personal statement
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction.
Learn More and Apply: law.illinois.edu/apply
Fostering Diversity in the Legal Profession Illinois Law is a participant in the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism’s law school preparation program, Jumpstart. The long-running educational program supports first year, minority law students who are traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession. The curriculum, which is designed in collaboration with law schools, provides context for success in law school and beyond.
More at 2civility.org. 25
ILLINOIS LAW AT A GLANCE
8
150
Joint Degree Programs
Student/ Faculty
5:1
Offered Courses
399
157
Minority
$
JD students rec eived in 2018-19
passage rate for the July 2019 Illinois Bar.
25%
Clinics, ďŹ eld placements, and other live client courses
scholarships
First attempt bar
Total JD Enrollment
12
99%
% 94%
$
Matriculants
61%
Bring Work Experience
23
Median Age 26
45
Majors
E MPLOYME NT Locations
94% % Full-time, long-term employment for which a JD was required or preferred. (Class of 2019)
63% 16% 11% 8% 2%
LAW FIRMS GOVT/PUBLIC INTEREST JUDICIAL CLERKSHIPS BUSINESS / INDUSTRY ACADEMIA
24% of those employed from the Class of 2019 accepted positions outside of Illinois in 15 states, D.C., and 3 countries. After Illinois, the largest employment states were California and New York.
CLAS S OF 202 3 PRO FI LE Median LSAT 25th 156
162
Median GPA
3.64
75th 164
25th 3.31
75th 3.79
58% Over
Illinois Residents
23
States Represented
89
Institutions Represented 27
Your Law Career Begins at Illinois. law.illinois.edu/apply
504 East Pennsylvania Avenue Champaign, IL 61820
28
@uillinoislaw