Discover 1
Welcome
I made the University of Illinois College of Law my professional home more than fifteen years ago. It was one of the very best decisions I ever made.
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ince 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.
I’ve lived in several parts of the country during my career, working both inside and outside of the legal profession. While each place was wonderful in its own way, none quite compare to Illinois Law. Its excellence isn’t captured solely by the publicly available data marking it as one of the most highly regarded law schools in the country. We also have a first-rate faculty of teacherscholars who dedicate themselves to their students. We have a large, enthusiastic, and incredibly accomplished alumni corps who welcome opportunities to give back. We are a proud part of one of the nation’s most impactful research universities, which offers innumerable opportunities for our students to deepen their understanding of both the law and the world. Most importantly, the academic rigor, intellectual excitement, and easy camaraderie that defines our law school community is truly unique. Despite all of these assets, Illinois Law never rests on its laurels. The legal profession is constantly evolving to keep up with an increasingly complex society. We continually strive to be at the forefront of understanding this change, seeking new opportunities to deliver value to our students, the bench and bar, and society as a whole. I invite you to learn more about what Illinois Law can offer you. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly (jcsharpe@illinois.edu) or contact our Admissions Office to schedule an in-person visit. Thanks for considering Illinois Law, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Jamelle C. Sharpe 2
Dean, Professor and Guy Raymond Jones Faculty Scholar
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Individuality
The Academic Experience
SPOTLIGHT: Environmental Law at Illinois
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nvironmental 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.
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inding 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.
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First Year Courses • Civil Procedure • Constitutional Law • Contracts
Joint Degree Programs
• Criminal Law • Fundamentals of Legal Practice • Introduction to Advocacy • Legal Research • Legal Writing and Analysis • Property • Torts
More info at law.illinois.edu/joint-degrees
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Geinda Smith 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 during the summer of 2022.
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.”
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Impact 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.
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he 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 – 40% of the tenured faculty have advanced degrees in other fields in addition to their law degrees. • Homegrown talent – of the 45 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.
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 the pleasure of seeing “ Iahave student in their very first
year. My hope is that somewhere in that journey, each of my students discover how much they improve and learn in that process.”
week of class and then that
Heidi Hurd
same student during their
“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-
final oral argument at the end of the year.” Rummana Alam
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
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n 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.
Visit law.illinois.edu/news to see the latest contributions.
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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. The newest addition to the College of Law’s live client courses, the First Amendment Clinic, welcomed its first cohort of students in the fall of 2023. Made possible by a generous gift from the Stanton Foundation, a private organization established by long time CBS president Frank Stanton, the First Amendment Clinic aims to support freedom of expression and civic engagement by enhancing students’ understanding of the First Amendment. In addition, the Clinic will serve as a resource for organizations, students, journalists, and citizens defending and advancing First Amendment protections. The First Amendment Clinic is led by Lena Shapiro, a doubleIllini who graduated from the College of Law in 2015. She brings broad and deep civil litigation experience from her work at two Chicago firms, Chapman Spingola and Swanson, Martin & Bell, as well as experience with the Cook County Circuit Court and the Federal Public Defender in Central Illinois. “The point of the clinic is to make sure that we get students both actual civil litigation practice and a good knowledge of the First Amendment,” Shapiro said.
More about our clinics at law.illinois.edu/clinics. 8
Involvement
Law Competitions
Apply the Law
SPOTLIGHT: Trial Advocacy at Illinois
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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.
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 advocacytraining culture, is an important aspect that sets our program apart from others in the legal academy.
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. The team of second-year students Allison Heil ’24, Madelyn Foster ’24, Eliza Powers ’24, and Mariana Renke ’24 (pictured) won the 15th National Ethics Trial Competition (NETC) on March 26, 2023, one of the most prestigious competitions in the law school trial advocacy circuit.
Professor Anthony Ghiotto oversees the Anderson Center and directs the College of Law’s successful Trial Advocacy, Trial Team, and Moot Court programs. The Anderson Center is also supported by an array of faculty and administrators at the College of Law, and also benefits from the energy and expertise of notable practicing attorneys around the nation who serve on the Anderson Center Advisory Board.
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.
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20+
Clinics, Field Placements, and Live Client Courses
Professional Skills Courses
The Anderson Center Seventh Circuit Moot Court Competition, held in March 2023, was the first of its kind law school moot court competition, being the only moot court competition focused on advocacy, professionalism, and ethics grounded in issues litigators actually face in a courtroom. Hosted at the Dirkson Federal Courthouse in Chicago, the event brought students from top law schools to compete by briefing and arguing an issue of legal ethics arising in a real-life complex litigation setting.
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
Kimball R. and Karen Gatsis
AndersonCenter
for Advocacy and Professionalism
Learn more about Trial Advocacy at Illinois at law.illinois.edu/andersoncenter. 9
Innovation
The Chicago Connection
Chicago Program Student Experiences
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he 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.
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THECHICAGOPROGRAM
• 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.
Jake Tennant ’23
Miranda Greene ’23
Srinithi Narayanan ’23
McGuire Woods
Ice Miller
Kirkland & Ellis
“I went to undergrad at University of Illinois, and then I went right into law school and part of the attraction for Illinois Law was the Chicago Program, knowing that I’d be able to do that during my 3L year and have an experiential, practical learning experience and taking classes from working professionals that were really tailored and unique – that was really what made me want to participate in the program.”
“Just being in the city provides a different outlook to school in the first place because you’re surrounded by people who aren’t in law school, so your frame of thinking is beyond a classroom setting, which I think is really valuable. I can walk down the street and see things that are going on in Chicago and be able to bring that back to class and say, “In this real-world example, here’s what we were just talking about last week and here’s how I saw it in my real life,” which I think is really nice.
“All of our professors are practitioners, so it’s a different perspective from what we’re getting at the law school. I want to go into transactional law and I feel like a lot of these classes that I’m taking now have been the most applicable to my legal career and my future. It’s a unique program and such a great opportunity to get a head start in what I’m going to be doing.”
Hear more about what to expect in the Chicago Program at law.illinois.edu/chicagoprogram
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Impact
Practice the Law While Making a Difference
SPOTLIGHT: Immigration Law Clinic
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he 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
Each fall students from the Federal Civil Rights Clinic are provisionally sworn in to practice in the Central District of Illinois. Under faculty supervision, students work with clients to prepare their case and try it before a jury during the enrolled academic year.
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s 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 Immigration Law Clinic Medical Legal Partnership Clinic Veterans Legal Clinic
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8 Shivani Govani ’23
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
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.
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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.”
Average # of student clinicians
35
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Countries served
Asylum wins Green card wins
Student clinicians Emma Graham ’22 and Jeronimo Simonovis Armas ’22 celebrate victory at the Chicago Immigration Court with their client.
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21
Children approved for special immigrant juvenile status
DACA renewals
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clients were fleeing “ The gender-based and gang-
based 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
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T
he 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.
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96%
The Leadership Project has been a wonderful reminder that practicing law is not all about legal research, writing, and analysis. By pursuing law and becoming attorneys, we will be presented with the opportunity to be leaders for our clients, our firms, and our field. It has been rewarding to continue to hone the skills that are required to do just this in the future.”
90% Bar Passage Rate (July 2022 Illinois Bar, first-time takers)
94%
Preparing for Practice 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.
Sam Barder ’23
clerking in the Southern District of Indiana
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Emily Cranny, Leadership Scholar
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Leadership is a very learnable skill that too often goes untaught, leaving new leaders to learn lessons the hard way. The Leadership Project is doing great work to help future leaders learn from the experience of others and develop their skills so that they can better support their teams in the real world from day one.” Josh Hanson, Leadership Scholar
More about Career Services at law.illinois.edu/careers 14
Individuality
Career Planning and Professional Development
Employment Rate (Class of 2022, full-time, long-term, JD-preferred)
4 Attorney-Counselors
1 based in Chicago,
1 dedicated to students pursuing public interest and government work
I would like to be a litigator at both the trial and appellate levels, and can think of no better way to learn how to be a great attorney than by learning from judges at the district and appellate levels. My professors have been instrumental in preparing me for this role. I have looked to many of my professors for advice throughout the clerkship process and they have always been happy to help.”
Kyler Baier ’22
clerking for Associate Justice Fiti A. Sunia at the High Court of American Samoa
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This has been the best learning experience I could have hoped for. I have been lucky to work on a variety of cases, both civil and criminal in nature, which have challenged me to think more about the law, read more, research more, and become a better legal practitioner. My work product has improved by a factor of ten since I began clerking, and I love the confidence that I have gained from this experience.”
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.
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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. 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.”
Nayeli Cadenas ’23
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[ [
PRACTICUM
C
onceived 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.
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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.”
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Impact 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
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o 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.
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.”
Jared Ecker, Class of 2024
Keerthi Madala, Class of 2023
John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship
John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship
Office of the Public Defender, Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida in Orlando
Chicago Volunteer Legal Services
“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.”
“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.”
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Inspiration T
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.
11,270
Total U.S. Alumni NORTHEAST
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llinois 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.
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WEST
1,440
MIDWEST
7,747
SOUTH
1,349
734
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.
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.
Lisa Holder White ’93 became the first Black woman on the Illinois Supreme Court in July of 2022.
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.
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.
Michael Osanloo ’91 is the CEO of Portillo’s.
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.
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. He was recently elected as an Alderman for Chicago’s 43rd Ward.
Brian Shaw ’93 is a Member of Cozen O’Connor in the Chicago office. He is a fellow at the American College of Bankruptcy and has served as president, chairman, and vice president of membership at the American Bankruptcy Institute and previously chaired the Chicago Bar Association’s Bankruptcy and Reorganization Section.
“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.”
“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.”
“One of the things that keeps me going, even today, are my Illinois connections…. The Illinois connection for me is still a constant connection.”
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Inclusion
The Student Experience
@uillinoislaw
Follow us on Instagram for a sneak peek at student life!
30+
student organizations
College-sponsored
The Student Experience llinois Law students are smart, driven, and
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student trips
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.
Study abroad opportunities in 20 countries
5 journals,
with 3 being student-edited
20
100+
lectures and events per year
Chanelle Fagbemi
Daniel Oster
Angelica Parrilli
“I am overwhelmed with emotion to not only have my legal career financially supported, but also to become part of a greater vision. The selflessness embedded in the Foundation’s purpose only further encourages me to create opportunities for others out of the resources I have so fortunately been awarded. It is beyond an honor to be among the law students able to manifest Mr. Walter Jones Jr.’s mission; this offer is truly affirming, and I sincerely look forward to dedicating any means to give back to those involved in materializing his vision.”
“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.”
“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.”
Chanelle is an inaugural recipient of the Walter Jones Jr. Memorial Scholarship, a private, outside scholarship to support Black and African American students who graduated from Chicago Public Schools.
Learn more about our students at law.illinois.edu/student-life
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Inclusion
T
he 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.
The Student Experience
The Power of I at Work on Campus and in Our Community
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t 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.
Chicago
Champaign Urbana
Indianapolis
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
Campus Highlights
21 men’s and women’s NCAA teams
1,500
acres of outdoor recreation at the University-owned Allerton Park and Retreat Center (located 24 miles from campus)
St. Louis
500,000+ living alumni
$120,000,000+
in National Science Foundation awards— more than any other university, six out of the last 7 years in a row
470,000
square feet of recreational space between two newly expanded campus recreation and wellness centers
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10,000+
works of art at Krannert Art Museum and Kinkead Pavilion’s permanent collection
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Fostering Diversity in the Legal Profession
Admissions Timeline
$
Join Us
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Applicants seeking admission for the following fall are encouraged to take the LSAT or the GRE 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 22
In-Person Admitted Student Open House
April 12
Virtual Admitted Student Open House
April 15
First seat deposit due
May 20
Second seat deposit due
More at 2civility.org.
Application Requirements • Complete academic history • Law school admission test (LSAT) or GRE
$36,500
$46,500
Fees
$5,393
$5,393
Room and Board
$14,514
$14,514
• All admitted students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships.
Books and Supplies
$1,800
$1,800
• Our Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) offers partial loan forgiveness and enables graduates to pursue public interest careers.
Other Expenses
$2,750
$3,090
$60,957
$71,297
Resident
TOTAL
Non-Resident
• 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
Credit: Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism.
• Letters of recommendation (two are required, will accept up to four)
Cost of Attendance (Expenses for Academic Year 2023-2024) Tuition
24
January
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.
The College of Law will only accept applications submitted through the LSAC Electronic Application. Applications must include:
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.
• Federal loans are available through the University of Illinois.
Applications for the following fall are accepted.
• Resume
Tuition & Aid
L
$
September 1
25
Illinois Law at a Glance
8
524
Total JD Enrollment
$ $
11
$
Over 90%
of our student body receives a scholarship from the College of Law.
Joint Degree programs
150
Clinics, field placements, and other live client courses
Employment
94%
31%
Class of 2026 Profile
49
49%
Majors
161
Matriculants
26
50% Male 47% Female 3% Nonbinary
60% Bring
Work Experience
25
Average Age
90%
the Class of 2022 accepted positions outside of Illinois in 14 states, D.C., Guam, and 3 countries. After Illinois, the largest employment states were Michigan and California.
Minority
Student Faculty
Employment Rate Full-time, Long-term employment for which a JD was required or preferred. (Class of 2022)
Locations 29% of those employed from
Offered Courses
5:1
69% 17% 9% 5%
24
States Represented
Illinois Residents
Median LSAT
165
25th162
75th 167
Median GPA
3.75
25th3.54
75th 3.88
LAW FIRMS GOVT/PUBLIC INTEREST BUSINESS/INDUSTRY JUDICIAL CLERKSHIPS
First attempt bar passage rate for the July 2022 Illinois Bar.
103
Institutions Represented
27
University of Illinois College of Law 504 East Pennsylvania Avenue Champaign, IL 61820
28
@uillinoislaw