LAW SCHOOL PROFILE
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University of Chicago Law School, Chicago, IL [By Heather Jung] The University of Chicago Law School believes in teaching based on the interdisciplinary education system. This method blends the study of law with studies in humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. According to the school’s website, this devotion to interdisciplinary education stems from the “conviction that the law does not exist in a vacuum; we can understand the law and legal methods only if we understand both how the law affects the behavior of the society it governs and how the law reflects the values of that society.” Faculty members are not only lawyers but also philosophers, historians, economists, and medical doctors.
Because of its interdisciplinary approach
under the semester system, but students
Neighbors (a public service group that
to teaching, many people believed the
have three sets of classes and professors
helps the Hyde Park neighborhood), Scales
school would fail when it first opened in
each year instead of two.
of Justice (an a cappella group), and Law School Musical (a student show that features
1902. Today, however, it is a Top 10 law school, and the interdisciplinary method
Prospective students are often concerned
new lyrics put together with familiar tunes
is widespread. In his letter to prospective
about the number of exams they will have
and original dialogue to create a parody of
students, Dean Saul Levmore describes the
to take during the first year. The school’s
law school life).
drastic changes the school has undergone
website assures students that they will not
during its first 100 years:
have more exams than first-years at any
In an effort to alleviate growing educational
other school. Some classes will overlap
problems in the United States, the law school
“In our first century, we evolved from
from quarter to quarter, so students will
has partnered with Teach for America,
an upstart school with five teachers, 75
sometimes have two professors but only one
a national corps of college graduates
students, a small set of courses, and no
exam. During the first quarter, students
dedicated to helping students in inner-city
building into a place that is at the leading
have two exams. During the second and
schools reach their full potential. Through
edge of legal education, with interdisciplinary
third quarters, students have three exams,
the program, college graduates (of various
approaches, an amazingly productive faculty,
with the possibility of a fourth during the
majors) commit themselves to teaching at
and a formidable library. Our graduates go
third quarter, depending on the electives
urban schools for two years. In order to
on in record numbers to clerk for leading
they choose to take.
encourage graduates to participate in this program, University of Chicago Law School
judges, to build businesses, to teach, and, of course, to practice law. We begin
Because University of Chicago Law School is
offers several incentives: a two-year loan
this second century with newly renovated
a Top 10 law school, admissions are highly
deferment for those who are accepted into
classrooms, public policy initiatives that seek
competitive. The admissions office expects
the program, application fee waivers for
your involvement, a new program supporting
5,000 applicants for the 190 to 195 class-
Teach for America teachers and alumni
public interest careers, and post-graduate
of-2010 spots. The average undergraduate
interested in attending the school, and
opportunities that are second to none.”
GPA for incoming students is 3.66, and the
scholarships for qualified participants.
average LSAT score is 171. Since opening its doors, the school has had
In addition to employing a unique teaching approach, the University of Chicago Law
The school offers numerous opportunities for
some very distinguished alumni. Some of
School is one of the few law schools in the
students to get involved. It is home to three
the nation’s most influential and prominent
country that use the quarter system rather
legal clinics: the Edwin F. Mandel Legal Aid
lawyers and politicians obtained their J.D.s
than the semester system. While initially
Clinic, the Immigrant Children’s Advocacy
at the school. University of Chicago Law
a source of concern for many students, the
Project, and the Institute for Justice Clinic on
School’s list of notable alumni includes
quarter system has its distinct advantages.
Entrepreneurship. The clinics give students
former U.S. Attorney Generals John Ashcroft
Since quarters are shorter than semesters,
hands-on experience under the supervision
and Ramsey Clark; the first openly gay U.S.
the university can offer three to four sessions
of clinical teachers. There are also more
ambassador, James Hormel; and Carol
of a class each year. The overall amount
than 50 student organizations and activities,
Moseley-Braun, the first African-American
of time spent in school is the same as it is
including Amicus (for married students),
woman elected to the Senate.
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LAW SCHOOL PROFILE
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Students who enjoy big-city life will love
the Victory Gardens Theater. The city is also
Busch. “Beyond that, I make sure to check
Chicago. According to the 2005 Census,
home to numerous museums, including the
in on the city’s world-class comedy clubs and
Chicago has a population of 2,842,518, the
Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum
museums periodically. Even just spending a
third-largest city population in the United
of Natural History, and the Museum of
couple hours walking around the zoo with a
States. And along with that metropolitan
Contemporary Art.
friend can make for a great afternoon.”
Sports fans are sure to love at least one
ON THE NET
population comes a metropolitan lifestyle. Those interested in the arts will not be
of the city’s 15 sports teams. Chicago is
disappointed, as Chicago is a mecca for
home to two Major League Baseball teams
University of Chicago Law School
the arts. As the birthplace of modern
(including the White Sox, the 2005 World
www.law.uchicago.edu
improvisational theater, Chicago is well-
Series champions), a championship NFL
known for its theater scene. Amongst the
team, a world-renowned basketball team, a
Dean’s Message
hundreds of theater companies in Chicago
championship soccer team, and one of the
www.law.uchicago.edu/prospective/
are the world-renowned Steppenwolf
Original Six NHL teams.
deanletter.html
native Gary Sinise), the Goodman Theatre
“Chicago has a vibrant nightlife with plenty
Steppenwolf Theatre Company
(built as a tribute to playwright and
of options available no matter which nights
www.steppenwolf.org
Chicagoan Kenneth Sawyer Goodman), and
of the week are convenient,” said 2L Frank
Theatre Company (co-founded by Illinois
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