2022 Illinois College of Law Viewbook

Since 1897, the University of Illinois College of Law has provided students a rigorous and comprehensive legal education to help them achieve their individual goals. We have developed a reputation as one of the finest public law schools in the country because of the lawyers we mold and their involvement in the classroom, in the community, and in the field. Located on the campus of one of the nation’s top public research universities, this is a place where the spirit of innovation resides.

An education at Illinois allows you to find your passion and follow it.

Learn from renowned legal scholars and preeminent textbook writers in classes, lectures, events, and casual conversations.

Make lifelong connections and explore your professional interests via one-on-one alumni mentoring.

Get hands-on with the law in the courtroom and in real life in our legal clinics, competitions, trial advocacy, and numerous additional opportunities for experiential learning.

Finding your path at Illinois begins in the first year. As a 1L, you’ll learn the broad legal strokes that will help direct the rest of your education. Whether constitutional law, litigation, public interest or another field sparks your imagination, Illinois has the esteemed faculty and real-life learning opportunities to help you design your own unique experience.

First Year Courses

• Civil Procedure

• Constitutional Law

• Contracts

• Criminal Law

• Fundamentals of Legal Practice

• Introduction to Advocacy

• Legal Research

• Legal Writing and Analysis

• Property

• Torts

The Academic Experience

SPOTLIGHT: Environmental Law at Illinois

Environmental law faculty at Illinois Law come from numerous doctrinal backgrounds. As a result, our environmental law offerings are interdisciplinary and hands-on in a way that is uniquely Illinois.

Beyond the standard courses that make up the backbone of an environmental law curriculum, we offer a variety of advanced electives on topics such as:

• Climate Change

• Sustainable Development

• Environmental Policy

• Environmental Ethics

We are extremely fortunate to boast faculty members exploring the frontiers of environmental law. In practice, that means getting outside the classroom and providing our students with opportunities to participate in groundbreaking research.

In recent years students have explored the jungles, mountains, and beaches of Costa Rica in an intersession course designed to examine the success the country has had in promoting environmental sustainability.

Professors Kenworthy Bilz and Arden Rowell published “The Psychology of Environmental Law” in 2021, examining how laws shape human interactions with the natural world.

“

Geinda Smith ’23 externed with Family Agriculture Resources Management Services (F.A.R.M.S), as part of a partnership between the Environmental Defense Fund and the College of Law, the summer before his 3L year.

This summer I got a chance to observe the EDF and a grassroots organization team called the Pembroke Environmental Justice Coalition, assist local landowners in Pembroke, Illinois navigate the pros-and-cons of bringing natural gas infrastructure to their city. This included a behind the scenes look at the filing of an appellate brief opposing construction of a natural gas pipeline and participation in informational meetings and presentations with landowners about renewable energy options. This externship has helped me recognize the importance of serving in accordance with the specific needs and asks of the client and community one is serving.”

The faculty at Illinois Law are acclaimed teachers, communityminded 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 – 42% of the tenured faculty have advanced degrees in other fields in addition to their law degrees.

• Homegrown talent – of the 46 fulltime faculty members, 6 received their law degrees at the University of Illinois.

• Powerhouse of legal scholarship –Ranked #31 in the Leiter Poll of top law faculties, our faculty are regularly quoted by and pen op-eds for major media outlets, including CNN, NPR, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and many more.

Visit law.illinois.edu/news to see the latest contributions.

Rummana Alam

“My favorite thing about working with Illinois Law students is the enthusiasm and curiosity with which they approach their learning. They bring great energy inside and outside the classroom setting.

I love watching the metamorphosis of each 1L student over the course of the year. I have the pleasure of seeing a student in their very first week of class and then that same student during their final oral argument at the end of the year. I get a glimpse of the lawyer they will become.

I teach the skills students will need as they go into practice – legal writing and analysis and advocacy. These are skills that are not only fundamental but also each student will use them far beyond the first

“

Our Faculty

I have the pleasure of seeing a student in their very first week of class and then that same student during their final oral argument at the end of the year.”

Rummana Alam

year. My hope is that somewhere in that journey, each of my students discover how much they improve and learn in that process.”

Heidi Hurd

“I love how curious, warm, and gracious Illinois law students are. They are ambitious without being competitive. They are kind and generous of judgment while still being spirited and intellectually edgy. They are confident enough to be willing to be wrong, so they enter into discussions and debates with gusto while good-

naturedly giving ground when their arguments lose out.

Law school is a playground of ideas and a smorgasbord of institutional means by which to resolve human conflicts and advance human ambitions. It is a joy to introduce 1L students who come to Illinois to the ways in which the law realizes fundamental values. But it is also enormously rewarding to show them why the law needs their passion and commitment, because there are still so many ways in which the law falls short of protecting those who most need the law’s protection.”

SPOTLIGHT: Illinois Law faculty assist in Senate evaluation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson

In March of 2022, a group of faculty at the College of Law was invited to review and assess Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s opinions and other writings in order to help inform the ABA Committee’s evaluation and rating of her qualifications to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. Professor Jason Mazzone, who co-chaired the faculty group at Illinois, noted that the opportunity to participate in the process was “a tremendous honor for the College of Law and an extraordinary form of public service.” Following Judge Jackson’s confirmation, Senator Dick Durbin, chair of the Judiciary Committee, visited the law school for a conversation with our students about the process.

A Involvement

nalytical thinking, problem-solving, research, pre-trial and trial skills, negotiation, and interviewing are critical skills needed for real-world success. Beginning in the first year, students receive instruction and practice in critical lawyering skills, including client interviewing and oral advocacy. During the second and third years, students “learn by doing” in live-client and professional skills courses. Students and alumni frequently report that these active learning programs are among the most meaningful experiences that they have at the College of Law.

Law Competitions

Competitions present students with practical challenges that lawyers typically face in a modern legal practice, and students learn how to analyze and master a case file, navigate a courtroom environment, handle hostile or aggressive witnesses, and turn the laws of evidence into allies.

At Illinois we are proud to have several teams competing in nationwide competitions, including client counseling, negotiation, and multiple moot courts. Students at Illinois have had the chance to participate in events at the College of Law and around the world, in such places as New York, Texas, and even Maastricht, Netherlands, where the ABA Client Counseling team won the World Championship in 2018.

Beyond travel, law competitions provide immediate feedback, foster teamwork, provide networking opportunities, and give students a chance to see novel techniques – all of which help develop talented legal professionals.

After two years of delays, Federal Civil Rights Clinic attorneys Robert Harding ’22 and Elizabeth Nielsen ’22 were able to earn a favorable jury decision for their client in an excessive use of force case against correctional officers. “I’ve spent two years building a relationship with our client,” Harding said. “To be able to bring this to fruition for him and validate what he’s been working toward…was really special.” Read more about their successful trial at law.illinois.edu/fcrc-2022.

12Clinics, Field Placements, and Live Client Courses

The American Bar Association has honored Illinois as a Top 10 Competition Law School, recognizing our commitment to preparing students for practice and becoming highly skilled lawyers.

the Law

SPOTLIGHT: Trial Advocacy at Illinois

A

s the heart of the trial advocacy program at Illinois, the Kimball R. and Karen Gatsis Anderson Center for Advocacy and Professionalism was established in 2021 to provide best in class training to Illinois students in a wide variety of advocacy skills as well as professional responsibility. This emphasis on the latter component, already long a part of our advocacy-training culture, is an important aspect that sets our program apart from others in the legal academy.

Professor Anthony Ghiotto was brought on in 2022 as the inaugural director of the Center, where he will oversee the initial developmental phases and design and implement a strategic plan intended to further the goals of the Center. Ghiotto also directs the College of Law’s successful Trial Advocacy, Trial Team, and Moot Court programs, as well as teaches related courses, instructing students in basic and advanced trial advocacy techniques.

As the state’s flagship university, our goal for the Anderson Center and for advocacy at the University of Illinois will be to tap into the vast resources and networks available to us to be the nation’s top advocacy school, winning not only national recognition, but also producing professional and competent advocates that will litigate in real world courtrooms nationwide.”

Key Components

• Chicago ceremonial courtroom and 20-seat teaching/ practice courtroom in Champaign

• Advocacy-focused lecture series

• Colloquium on advocacy, legal ethics, and professional responsibility

• 2-day advocacy intensive for students

Learn more about Trial Advocacy at Illinois at law.illinois.edu/andersoncenter

Anthony Ghiotto

AndersonCenter

Kimball R. and Karen Gatsis

for Advocacy and Professionalism

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 Chicagobased 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 real-world 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 postgraduation jobs early; intern with firms, government agencies, and judges to gain valuable experience; and interview with prospective employers.

Chicago Connection

Chicago Program Student Experiences

Dmitri Kachan ’18

WillCountyState’sAttorney’sOffice, AssistantState’sAttorney

“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.”

Alice Fan ’18

Deloitte,TaxAttorney

“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.”

Hear more about what to expect in the Chicago Program at law.illinois.edu/chicagoprogram

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.

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

The Leadership Project

Launched in January of 2021, this new academic program is designed to focus on the development of future leaders in the legal profession. The Leadership Project showcases the expertise of current leaders and scholars while creating opportunities for discussion and debate on the topic of leadership and the law.

“

Having worked before coming to law school, I’ve seen how crucial effective leadership is to achieving goals in the workplace. The Leadership Project helps develop those important skills that you can’t get from just reviewing the law.”

Alex Bailey, Leadership Scholar

“

The Leadership Project was a fantastic experience. I enjoyed the various discussions we had with prominent figures, including former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar. Conversations with these well-respected leaders allowed me to extrapolate useful skills that I will use in my own experiences as a leader throughout my career.”

Akshay Soman, Leadership Scholar

Bar Passage Rate (July 2021 Illinois Bar, first-time takers)

Employment Rate (Class of 2021, full-time, long-term, JD-preferred)

Attorney-Counselors

1 based in Chicago,

1 dedicated to students pursuing public interest and government work

More about Career Services at law.illinois.edu/careers

Preparing for Practice Career Planning and Professional Development

Judicial Clerkships

Each year, a portion of our graduates land the most coveted of positions coming out of law school – judicial clerkships. While our career counselors and faculty members play a significant role in securing these placements, Illinois Law students have also benefited tremendously from a unique new course that aims to prepare them for clerkships. Directed by Janice Farrell Pea, herself a long-time judicial clerk to Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita Garman, our Judicial Opinion Writing course gives students the opportunity to write different types of memos and draft judicial opinions. In addition, students engage with several guest speakers, many of them alumni, with valuable insights to offer to the potential future judicial clerks.

Legal Externships

Through the Legal Externship Program, students can volunteer their time to perform legal work for pre-approved sponsors (judges, government agencies, and non-profits) and obtain course credit for their work. Externships are comprised of two components: the field placement (work experience) and coursework. This arrangement provides students with a substantial lawyering experience similar to the experience of a lawyer engaged in legal practice. The opportunity to work with practicing attorneys outside of the classroom environment helps students connect what they are learning in class with their future careers as lawyers.

My externship experiences have all stemmed from working with Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services in Chicago. I have been working with LAS since Summer 2021 and I am on the Domestic Violence team. Our work consists of helping victims of DV in their divorce cases and in some instances also helping them with their Orders of Protection. Last semester I built upon this experience by appearing in court as a 711 student and even having the opportunity to represent my own client.

“

I cannot express enough how useful this class was to my current role as a law clerk. From minor pieces of advice that consistently prove useful, to large fundamental concepts writing, this is an extraordinarily useful class to those seeking a clerkship.”

Gabe Young ’21 Clerking for the Honorable John Daniel Dailey, Colorado Court of Appeals

“

The College of Law’s litigation courses did a great job of teaching us to think adversarily, but judicial opinion writing is a completely different, almost neutral approach. The judicial opinion writing course helped me transition my approach before being thrown into the fire, so to speak, and I think I was better prepared for clerking as a result.”

“ Nayeli Cadenas ’23

From this experience working with LAS, I have been able to see what procedures in the courtroom look like. I have been lucky enough to also speak with judges and learn why they do the things that they do in their specific courtrooms. Additionally, this experience helped me when I took family law because I was able to see the reasoning behind some of the things that my supervisor has told me regarding family law.”

13 Nathan Henderson ’21 Clerking for Federal Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long, Central District of Illinois

Family Advocacy Clinic students

Daniel James and Madison Freeman made their first appearances in court at the Champaign County Courthouse in the spring of 2021.

Shivani Govani ’23

As part of the state’s land-grant university, an important aspect of our mission is to advance justice and the public good. We offer significant resources to our students that aspire to careers in the public sector, including clinics, field placements, and courses specifically focused on legal aid.

Public Interest Clinics

Family Advocacy Clinic

Federal Civil Rights Clinic

Immigration Law Clinic

Medical Legal Partnership Clinic

Veterans Legal Clinic

Public Interest Field Placements

Legal Externships

Racial Justice Practicum

State Appellate Prosecutor

Public Interest/Social Justice Courses

(Sample Listing)

Animal Law

Climate Change and Corporate Accountability

Feminist Legal Theory

Poverty & the Law

Race, Society, & the Law

Spanish for Lawyers

My involvement in the Immigration Law Clinic has reaffirmed my passion for the law and my desire to help others through providing pro bono services. I have been able to work on rewarding DACA, asylum, and other immigration cases that have helped members of the UIUC and greater Urbana-Champaign community.”

Practice the Law While Making a Difference

SPOTLIGHT: Immigration Law Clinic

The main mission of the College of Law’s Immigration Law Clinic is to provide direct legal services to members of the community who cannot otherwise afford them. Led by Professor Lauren Aronson, a seasoned immigration law professional, students receive instruction on substantive law, procedures, and concepts required

to represent clients in a multitude of immigration matters. Students hone their advocacy skills by directly serving clients in interviews and counseling, in trial preparation, and in court.

Clinic Victory

Filing briefs, compiling evidence, and submitting motions are part of a legal education, but Immigration Law Clinic

clinicians Emma Graham ’22 and Jeronimo Simonovis Armas ’22 had to translate their education to reality as they represented a client before the Chicago Immigration Court. In an asylum case for clients fleeing gender- and gang-based violence in Central America, the clinicians had to navigate a tangled web of COVID delays and demonstrate their advocacy skills in court. Thanks to their hours working with the client and their determination, Graham and Simonovis Armas were able to get a ruling in the client’s favor, granting asylum to her and her eight-year-old son.

“

The clients were fleeing gender-based and gangbased violence in Central America, a type of persecution and a region which renders applicants at a notorious disadvantage in the asylum context. The work Graham and Simonovis Armas did on this case was a pure and extreme example of zealous advocacy.”

Lauren Aronson, Immigration Law Clinic Director

Student clinicians Emma Graham ’22 and Jeronimo Simonovis Armas ’22 celebrate victory at the Chicago Immigration Court with their client.

PRACTICUM

Amy Moreno

Externed at The Immigration Project

“I enrolled in the Racial Justice Practicum because I saw it as an opportunity to learn how to be a better advocate and contribute to efforts to bridge the gap between underserved communities and accessible, adequate legal help. I think the class portion of the Practicum made me realize that the law does not always offer an adequate or perfect solution to problems. While the law can and does help bring change, the legal aspects must be combined with social/cultural solutions that the impacted community has a hand in.”

PRACTICUM

Conceived as a response to the protests that swept the United States in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, the Racial Justice Practicum is part of the College of Law’s commitment to make a lasting impact in the area of racial justice. The program includes a two-week classroom component, providing education in constitutional legal principles, labor and employment, health care legislation and its effects on Americans of color, as well as the ways in which the criminal justice system discriminates against people of color. The experience culminates in work experience with legal aid agencies or non-profit organizations that represent populations affected by racism in Illinois and elsewhere across the nation.

Daniella Gonzalez

Externed at Greater Chicago Legal Clinic

“I knew coming to law school that I wanted to work in public interest because of my passion for social justice. The Racial Justice Practicum provided the perfect chance to work with a great agency while expanding my knowledge on the relationship between race and the law. I am fortunate to work on expungement and sealing petitions for clients at the Greater Chicago Legal Clinic (GCLC), helping people clear their records to obtain better jobs and housing. Through this practicum experience, I hope to get a better sense of what it means to advocate for the ignored and undervalued of society.”

“ This is an opportunity to help teach and mentor the next generation of lawyers about the various ways in which the law can be used as a tool for racial justice. The level of energy and institutional commitment to this initiative has been outstanding.”

Professor Margareth Etienne leads the coursework aspect of the Racial Justice Practicum.

Making Public Service an Accessible Career Path

To financially assist students in building careers in the public sector, the College of Law offers a range of resources:

Public Interest PostGraduate Fellowship Program

These six- to twelve-month fellowships offer new graduates unique opportunities to pursue careers as prosecutors, public defenders, assistant attorneys general, and similar roles across the United States.

Kimball and Karen Anderson Summer Fellowship

Targeted at current law students, these fellowships allow students to work in paid positions with a variety of public interest organizations.

John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship

In summer 2022, the College of Law was honored to be one of eight new schools selected by the John Paul Stevens Foundation to be part of the John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship. The program provides grants to participating law schools to support their students working in unpaid public interest summer

internships. The first cohort of Illinois fellows included four young lawyers working in public interest internships at nonprofits and government agencies.

Loan Repayment Assistance Program

Because the burden of law school debt can hinder students from choosing careers in public service, government, and nonprofit organizations, we have created the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP), which offers partial loan forgiveness to qualifying applicants.

Jared Ecker, Class of 2024

John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship

Office of the Public Defender, Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida in Orlando

“By receiving this Fellowship, I was able to work at my dream 1L summer job and have learned a lot about the criminal justice system and litigation processes, and have met really great mentors. Throughout my work, I have had the ability to interact with many clients I may not come across in my everyday life and have had the honor to listen to their stories, hear about their lives and their dreams going forward, and have been able to play a part in bettering their situations, which I take seriously.”

Keerthi Madala, Class of 2023

John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship

Chicago Volunteer Legal Services

“Even as a law student, the legal system is incredibly difficult to navigate. Working in civil legal aid allows me to use my education to help clients who otherwise would not have legal representation. The Stevens Fellowship connected me with a network of people from across the country who are pursuing similar careers. It has been a great opportunity to learn from others about where they are working and what they are passionate about.”

he College of Law provides a myriad of formal and informal opportunities to connect with our alumni during your time at Illinois. One of our most popular offerings is the Alumni-Student Mentoring Program, which pairs 1Ls with alumni in one-on-one, student-driven relationships for students to benefit from the knowledge and experience of our alumni.

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.

Our Alumni Network

Alumni Spotlights

Reema Dodin ’06 currently serves in the Biden administration as White House Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs.

Amber Polk ’16 is a Teaching Fellow for the Environmental Law and Policy LLM program at Stanford Law School. She credits the mentorship she received at the College of Law with putting her on the path to academia.

Richard Hanus ’88 is an Immigration Attorney at the Law Offices of Richard Hanus. His work on a deportation case was recently turned into a feature film titled “The Courtroom.” The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2022.

“U of I has always had an amazing reputation as a top law school, both in the Midwest and nationally, and I knew that reputation would serve me well no matter where I lived or the profession I pursued.”

Karen Layng ’87 leads M.A.I.T. Co., a law firm specializing in the construction, manufacturing and engineering industries, and serves as National President of the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of the USA.

Michal Nowicki ’18 is an Associate Attorney at Marashlian & Donahue, PLLC. Legally blind since birth, he is also actively working to build a strong practice at the intersection of accessibility and information and communication technology.

Tim Knudsen ’15 is Of Counsel at Croke Fairchild Morgan & Beres and he also currently serves as the Chair of the City of Chicago’s Zoning Board of Appeals.

“Part of the reason I went to Illinois for law school was to remain involved with student government, which has great power at a state’s flagship university.”

Lisa Holder White ’93 became the first Black woman on the Illinois Supreme Court in July of 2022.

Michael Osanloo ’91 is the CEO of Portillo’s.

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.

The Student Experience

Jihan Dubose

“The College of Law is a legal community. Professors are eager to meet with students, and upperclassmen are enthusiastic about providing guidance. The admissions committee and student organizations work to create mentor-mentee relationships amongst students and alumni, which supports students during and after law school. If you’re looking to have a quality legal education with a built-in support system throughout your time in law school, the College of Law is the place for you!”

Daniel Oster

“I have been very fortunate to be able to attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and be a part of their larger community, where my physical disability is readily accepted and embraced. If you meet someone that has a physical disability, such as myself, and you happen to know someone with the same diagnosis, please do not assume that you know exactly how the physical disability impacts the life of your new acquaintance, because chances are that they may be impacted in ways that you might not even be aware of.”

Learn more about our students at law.illinois.edu/student-life

Angelica Parrilli

“The law school truly cares about us and that was exemplified by all the professors, deans, and even the TAs! This was an extremely difficult year, but I never felt alone and I always felt heard. I feel like I matter. The law school has an undeniable passion for fostering great attorneys, fostering great relationships with alumni, and with incredible legal job opportunities. I would emphasize the inclusive environment it offers without the competitive nature.”

The University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign is proud to have more than 51,000 students enrolled from 100+ countries. The mission of the University is to enhance the lives of citizens in Illinois, across the nation and around the world through our leadership in learning, discovery, engagement and economic development. For more than 150 years, Illinois has carried out this mission and helped shape the minds of Nobel laureates, Pulitzer prize winners, MacArthur Genius Grant recipients, and other outstanding individuals.

Campus Highlights

and women’s NCAA teams

of outdoor recreation at the University-owned Allerton Park and Retreat Center (located 24 miles from campus)

in National Science Foundation awards— more than any other university, six out of the last 7 years in a row

feet of recreational space between two newly expanded campus recreation and wellness centers

at Krannert Art Museum and Kinkead Pavilion’s

The Student Experience

The Power of I at Work on Campus and in Our Community

At the crossroads of three interstates, a short drive from Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis, Champaign-Urbana is a micro-urban community that offers big-city amenities with small-town charm. With a vibrant arts scene, remarkable dining, and countless cultural events, there are so many reasons to love our community.

Community Highlights

• #1 “Best Midwest Food Town” (August 2017, Midwest Living)

• #1 Best college town for young adults 2021 (Realtor.com)

• #2 in Illinois for LGBTQ Policies and Services (Municipal Equality Index 2021)

• #16 in “40 places young people are moving”, 2019 (USA Today)

• 85% hybrid mass transit fleet (including new zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell buses), which is free for students

Indianapolis

Chicago St. Louis

Champaign Urbana

aw 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 merit-based 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.

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 or the GRE no later than this month.

March 15

March 24

April 7

Preferred deadline for applicants. Applications will be accepted after this date, however, decisions will be released as we are able.

In-Person Admitted Student Open House

Virtual Admitted Student Open House

April 17 First seat deposit due

May 22 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) or GRE

• 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.

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.

University of Illinois College of Law

504 East Pennsylvania Avenue Champaign, IL 61820