WE GET STUDENTS CLOSER TO WHAT MATTERS MOST
MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Southern Illinois University School of Law. The decision to attend law school is an important one. You are preparing to make a significant investment of your time, money, energy, and passion. At SIU, we are prepared to help you make the most of that investment. Let me tell you briefly about why I believe this is so, and then I invite you to read more about our program in the pages that follow. First, SIU Law emphasizes excellence in academics. You will learn from faculty members who are nationally recognized in their fields and who have earned prestigious honors for their teaching and scholarship. Second, SIU Law will help you master legal skills as well as legal doctrine. You will have opportunities to study abroad, to engage in interdisciplinary studies, to gain practical legal skills by working in our clinic or as an extern, and to participate in a wide variety of extra-curricular organizations, clubs, teams, and journals. Third, SIU Law provides a rigorous legal education in a supportive environment. We will challenge you and provide the tools and support that you need to meet and make the most of those challenges. You will receive individual attention from professors and administrators who genuinely care about your success. We have an exceptional student development system that includes nationally recognized programs in Lawyering Skills, Professionalism, and Academic Success. Most importantly, SIU Law offers a community of students who have a desire to change their world. I am truly inspired by the passion and determination with which our students embrace complex social, commercial and global challenges. They come to us with these ambitions, and we give them the knowledge, skills and support to help turn their passions into actions. I invite you to visit our law school, sit in on a class, meet our students and faculty, and explore for yourself the intellectually vibrant community that awaits you at Southern Illinois University School of Law. With best regards,
Cynthia L. Fountaine Dean and Professor of Law 1
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WE GET STUDENTS CLOSER TO WHAT MATTERS MOST THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THEIR DEGREES TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT. Through relationships to professors and connections to the profession, we open doors for our students so they can navigate their careers on their terms. Whatever their career goals, we give them the experiences they need to be successful from day one. Even as massive changes reshape the legal profession, our students have the agility and determination to work with and through change. And when they graduate, they enter their careers with real momentum.
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WE NEVER STOP RETHINKING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A LAWYER. AND NEITHER DO OUR STUDENTS. As the legal profession has changed, and society has become increasingly globally connected, SIU Law has stayed ahead of the curve. Our graduates are equipped to do more than react to change—they become change agents themselves, with a fundamental understanding of what legal skills are needed most now, while never losing sight of what it means to be a lawyer.
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THE FIRST YEAR Our first-year program successfully integrates fundamental legal theory with the development of the basic skills and professional traits required of a successful law practice. As a first-year (1L) law student, you will receive a solid foundation in the basic principles of the law. In our nationally recognized Lawyering Skills Program you will participate in small classes designed for active learning in which you will practice a range of skills including legal research and writing, client interviewing, client counseling, advocacy, and negotiation. In our Professionalism and the Law course you will learn about the core values of the legal profession and your responsibilities as a member. You will participate with your class in the drafting of a ‘Declaration of Professional Commitment’ which you will recite during your induction as a lawyer-in-training during a ceremony presided over by an Illinois Supreme Court Justice.
FIRST YEAR COURSES Civil Procedure Contracts I & II Criminal Law Lawyering Skills I & II Legislative and Administrative Process Professionalism and the Law Property I & II Torts
Pictured left: After the ‘Arab Spring,’ Stephanie Macuiba, Class of 2013, was interested in learning more about one of the most complex regions of the world. To truly understand the region and the current political climate, she decided to spend her summer working at the Arab Center for the Development of the Rule of Law and Integrity in Beirut, Lebanon.
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UPPER LEVEL COURSES 2L REQUIRED COURSES
BUSINESS/CORPORATIONS
CRIMINAL LAW
Civil Procedure II Constitutional Law Evidence Legal Profession
Advanced Real Estate Transactions Agency and Partnership Administrative Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Antitrust Bankruptcy Business Planning Consumer Protection Corporations Federal Business Taxation Federal Income Taxation Insurance Law Intellectual Property International Business Transactions Introduction to Commercial Law Introduction to Transactional Skills Law and Economics Securities Regulation Not-For-Profit Corporations (Senior Seminar)
Criminal Procedure: Post Investigations Criminal Procedure: Pre-Trial International Criminal Law Pre-Trial Advocacy Semester in Practice Externship: Criminal Practice Advanced Criminal Procedure Topics (Senior Seminar) International White Collar Crime (Senior Seminar) Sentencing Law Trial Advocacy White Collar Crime
EMPLOYMENT/ LABOR LAW Alternative Dispute Resolution Employment Discrimination Employment Law Labor Law Workers’ Compensation
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW Administrative Law Advanced Environmental Litigation Agricultural Law Environmental Law: Law and Policies Land Use Planning Natural Resources Law Energy and Natural Resources (Senior Seminar) Global Climate Change (Senior Seminar) Water Law
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EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Civil Practice Clinic Domestic Violence Clinic Judicial Externship Juvenile Justice Clinic Public Interest Externship Semester in Practice: Criminal Practice Semester in Practice: Health Law & Policy Semester in Practice: State & Local Government
FAMILY LAW AND ESTATE PLANNING Advanced Real Estate Transactions Alternative Dispute Resolution Basic Estate Planning Children and the Law Elder Law Education Law Family Law Trusts and Estates
HEALTH LAW Administrative Law Advanced Torts Antitrust Bioethics and the Law Corporations Disability Law Elder Law Health Care Legislation Health Policy Law Insurance Law Medical Malpractice Law Medical Malpractice Clinical Rotation, Mental Health Law Public Health Law Regulation of Health Care Professionals Semester in Practice Externship: Health Law & Policy
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW Antitrust Copyright Law Current Developments in International Law: International Intellectual Property and Economic Development Intellectual Property Intellectual Property and Commercialization Patent Law Semester in Practice: Intellectual Property Trademarks and Unfair Competition
INTERNATIONAL LAW Current Developments in International Law: Human Rights Current Developments in International Law: International Intellectual Property and Economic Development European Union Law Immigration Law Immigration Law Practice Experience International Business Transactions International Criminal Law International Law Legal Globalization and Comparative Law Comparative Law (Senior Seminar) International White Collar Crime (Senior Seminar)
LITIGATION AND ADVANCED SKILLS
PUBLIC INTEREST LAW Administrative Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Civil Practice Clinic Civil Rights Client Interviewing and Counseling Constitutional Law: Advanced Topics - 14th Amendment Consumer Protection Domestic Violence Clinic Employment Discrimination Family Law First Amendment Rights Judicial Externship Juvenile Justice Clinic Public Interest Externship State and Local Government Race and the Law (Senior Seminar) Religion and the Law (Senior Seminar)
SEMINARS AND SPECIAL TOPICS Comparative Law (Senior Seminar) Gambling Law (Senior Seminar) Jurisprudence Military Law (Senior Seminar) Redistricting and Reapportionment (Senior Seminar) Sports Law Supreme Court Decisions (Senior Seminar) Women in Leadership Workshop
Administrative Law Advanced Appellate Advocacy Advanced Mock Trial Advanced Torts Advanced Trial Advocacy Alternative Dispute Resolution Client Interviewing and Counseling Conflict of Laws Criminal Procedure: Pre-Trial Criminal Procedure: Post Investigations Federal Courts Introduction to Transactional Skills Law Practice Management Negotiation Pre-Trial Advocacy Remedies Trial Advocacy
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WE’RE POWERED BY RELATIONSHIPS. Our faculty have strong relationships and deep connections to the legal profession. Our students take full advantage of the opportunities these relationships create; they jump into our semester in practice programs, excel in field placements, and take on interdisciplinary paths that allow them to apply their passion to their profession. Through these experiences, our students learn how to work with people at every level and build relationships of their own. That’s the SIU Law Advantage.
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“The environment of SIU Law is what I enjoy the most. The professors are easily accessible, whether it be through email or simply stopping by their office. The professors really take an interest in their students and show that they really care about our success.” -- Joe Venditti III, J.D. 2012
“The letter from the National Immigrant Justice Center, saying that many undocumented detainees were able to get legal relief and reunite with their families, as a result of our visits to the Tri-County Detention Center was a great satisfaction in my life. This is something that one cannot learn just by taking an immigration law class. The visits to the Center and the conversations with real individuals taught me how to be more compassionate about helping people. It taught me how immigration law is not
“Words cannot express how invaluable my judicial externship experience was. The relationships I formed with the judges and attorneys have become valuable resources for the future. The judges and staff at Williamson County are truly wonderful mentors and professionals. I not only learned about the profession but also about myself.” – Paula Roa, Class of 2014
just applying the law, but also helping these people as much as you can with whatever you can.” -- Stavri Vako, J.D. 2012 pro bono volunteer Immigration Detention Project
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RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP SIU Law is a vibrant learning community where students work closely with their professors, who are dedicated teachers, devoted mentors, and expert scholars with significant practice experience. Our students take advantage of opportunities to collaborate with faculty on ground breaking legal research and meaningful public service projects.
“Working with Professor Noble-Allgire on a scholarly article was an invaluable experience. It helped me take my legal writing skills to the next level, a process that was critical in allowing me to have two articles chosen for publication in the SIU Law Journal. It also led to the opportunity to help her with research related to proposed changes to the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. That experience has given me the ability to participate in the process of changing existing legislation for the better.� -- Brian Lee, Class of 2013 Editor-in-Chief, Southern Illinois University Law Journal
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CENTER FOR HEALTH LAW AND POLICY “I am proud of the wide variety of law and medicine courses which this school provides. In conjunction with one of them, Medical Malpractice Law, we offer an elective credit hour in which students are paired with Family Practice residents for a clinical rotation. The students make rounds, visit the ER, attend clinics, view surgery, and witness deliveries with their assigned residents. It is one of the most unique educational experiences in the country, and truly gives the law student an intimate look at the medical profession and the way medical decisions are made.” -- Marsha Garwin Ryan, M.D., J.D, Assistant Professor of General Surgery, School of Medicine, and Adjunct Professor of Law
Developed nearly 30 years ago, SIU Law’s Center for Health Law and Policy advances education and research regarding critical issues in health law, public policy, and medical ethics. The program helps students prepare for careers in health law and policy, in addition to expanding and enhancing educational, research, and program activities within Illinois and the nation. The program offers numerous opportunities for students to participate and brings together some of the nation’s leading health law advocates and medical professionals for lectures and symposiums on critical health-related issues facing the nation.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE • Health Law & Policy Semester in Practice • Dr. Arthur Grayson Distinguished Lecture • Ryan Bioethicist-in-Residence • The Journal of Legal Medicine • National Health Law Moot Court Competition • Southern Illinois Healthcare/ SIU Health Policy Institute • J.D./M.D. concurrent degree program
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WE’RE FOCUSED ON TAKING THE THEORETICAL AND TURNING IT INTO WHAT WORKS. Our students master theory. But they understand that theory will only take them so far. To go the distance, they take on the hard work of developing as professionals with a skill set they never stop adapting—skills that are in short supply and great demand. Our students begin to grow into their roles as expert communicators, negotiators, and advocates as participants in Public Interest Externships, our award-winning Professionalism Program, and our First Year Program which emphasizes professional development from day one. It’s a style of leadership they’ll depend on for the rest of their professional lives. And that’s why, to go the distance, they come to SIU.
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You will be able to immerse yourself in skills-building programs such as moot court, externships, Semester-in-Practice programs, and legal clinic work. You will also have opportunities to collaborate with faculty in their areas of research and pro bono service.
MOOT COURT
SEMESTER IN PRACTICE
Students begin to hone their advocacy skills in our appellate and trial moot court programs. They compete successfully in regional and national competitions where they regularly earn team and individual awards.
Students earn a full semester credit through this substantial externship that combines courses related to a particular field of study with externship opportunities in locations including Chicago, Springfield and southeast Missouri.
LEGAL CLINICS
PRO BONO PROJECTS
Our award-winning clinics serve a 13-county area in southern Illinois and offer students the opportunity to work with clinical faculty to represent clients in cases involving in elder law, civil practice, domestic violence, and juvenile justice.
Students have the opportunity to provide much needed pro bono services under the direction of faculty who work with the Immigration Detention Project and the nationally acclaimed Illinois Innocence Project.
EXTERNSHIPS Our Public Interest Externship program allows students to earn course credit for work in a publicly-funded law office, or in a non-profit organization which has in-house counsel, or in a federal, state or local agency which has attorneys on their staff. Students who are interested in working for a state or federal judge may enroll in a Judicial Externship.
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INTERNATIONAL LAW Our internationally engaged faculty has global ties that empower students to take their learning beyond borders and to another level. Students and faculty are involved in a number of international law-related activities, including a variety of international law courses, a summer study abroad program in Ireland and Wales, an Asylum and Refugee Law moot court team, an Immigration Detention Project, and an active student-run International Law Society which hosts speakers and programs related to international law. Each year, several SIU faculty members and students engage in international and comparative law research, conferences, and other projects. SIU Law is a member of the International Association of Law Schools, and has linkage agreements with the University of Botswana and Mykolas Romeris University in Lithuania. Our legal globalization course gives students the chance to travel abroad for an in-depth study of the impact globalization has on legal issues and culture. In addition to studying in another country for a portion of a semester, students will look at that country’s legal and political structure during the semester.
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VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY CLOSER TO HOME In addition to opportunities to learn about the broader geographic world, our students also take advantage of opportunities to expand their intellectual horizons through the pursuit of dual degree programs. In the increasingly competitive legal market, a dual degree can also provide a competitive advantage to graduates.
We offer seven dual degree programs through the SIUC Graduate School and the SIU School of Medicine that allow students to receive M.D. or Masters degrees while pursuing a law degree.
Doctor of Medicine Master of Accountancy Master of Business Administration Master of Science in Education
Master of Public Administration Master of Social Work Master of Electrical and Computer Engineering
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OUR GRADUATES ENTER THEIR CAREERS UNDAUNTED. They demonstrate the nimble thinking, versatility and savvy know-how that translates into professional longevity. Not only are they ready for anything— they’re ready to go anywhere. And they do.
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SIU LAW ALUMNI ARE EVERYWHERE Our alumni are a testament to the success of the SIU School of Law. Since the first class graduated in 1976, our alumni network has grown to more than 3,600 graduates that include nearly 80 state and federal judges, and practitioners in 49 states and throughout the world. Our alumni are a supportive community who are willing to assist current students and recent graduates in a variety of ways, including externships, networking and employment opportunities.
“SIU’s biggest asset is its small size and personal attention. I highly doubt I would have stayed with a program at a larger school. I really felt like the faculty at SIU cared about my success.” Kristen Johnson ’08 Attorney-Advisor Division of Land and Water Resources Office of the Solicitor U.S. Department of the Interior Washington, DC
“In addition to receiving an outstanding legal education, I developed a statewide network of friends at SIU Law that enriched my law practice and judicial career.” Honorable Ron Spears ’77 Resident Circuit Judge Christian County 4th Judicial Circuit in Illinois Taylorville, IL Past President Illinois Judges Association
“As a student, I found SIU Law to be a great place to learn and grow. The small student body enabled me to become very involved in law school and community activities and it allowed me to closely interact with my colleagues. I found the curriculum challenging and the faculty excited to teach and pass along their knowledge. Overall, my SIU Law experiences were life changing and I am proud to have graduated from the institution.” Andre G. Pineda ’90 Cary Street Partners LLC Fredericksburg,VA
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Southern Illinois University Carbondale is located in Carbondale, Ill., a town of approximately 26,000. A classic university community, the population grows each fall with the addition of approximately 20,000 students. Students at the SIU School of Law enjoy the advantages that come with a University that is a major research institution -- The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classifies SIU Carbondale among the top five percent of U.S. higher education institutions for research. There is also a variety of cultural, athletic, educational and recreational opportunities within the community and throughout Southern Illinois that will enhance your educational experience.
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REGISTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS (RSO) At SIU School of Law, our students are doers who participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities. We have 21 active registered student organizations (RSOs) students can join to expand on their law school experiences. The RSOs represent a variety of interests and diversity with the student body. The Student Bar Association (SBA) is the umbrella organization for all student groups within the law school.
STUDENT RECREATION CENTER Taking a break from studying is important, and the Student Recreation Center offers a wide variety of services and programs to help students keep the mental and physical edge. Offerings include intramural sports, sports clubs, personal trainers, therapeutic massage, aquatics, along with instructional programs such as yoga and pilates, dance, boxing and martial arts. Outdoor adventures, such as scuba diving, camping and boating packages, are also available.
SALUKI ATHLETICS A member of the Missouri Valley Conference, Southern Illinois University sponsors 18 intercollegiate sports. In football, the Salukis compete in the NCAA FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) formerly Division 1-AA division. Since 2001, the Salukis have won 19 conference titles and appeared in 24 NCAA tournaments.
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