Part-Time Evening JD Program Overview

First of Its Kind in Chicago Heading link

Whether you are balancing a full-time job and family obligations, or maybe you have been out of school for awhile, UIC Law offers the flexibility of part-time evening study to earn your degree on your own schedule.

UIC Law’s newly revamped Part-Time Evening Program launched Fall 2023 under the appointed leadership of Associate Dean, Professor Sonia Green, and is the only program in Chicago with a dean dedicated solely to the program and its students.

Dean Green explains what makes the UIC Law Part-Time Evening Program so unique.

Learn more about the part-time evening program, how to apply, and course information below.

  • UIC Law is the only law school to offer a part-time evening program that requires students to be downtown just two evenings a week. A third night per week will require a course to be taken online, in real time, via Zoom
  • Our newly unified program will give the evening cohort a chance to bond and build connections within the cohort
  • Students can complete the program in 4 to 5 years
  • Part-time evening students participate in student government, moot court, law review, and other student activities

Please note: Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credit hours in the summer in order to be eligible for financial aid.

  • For the first two years of the program, students will take classes on campus two nights a week, and will take a class that meets in real time, on Zoom, one night a week.
    • In the fall of years one and two, the schedule looks like this:
      • Mondays: Class on Zoom, 6-8 or 6-9 pm
      • Wednesdays: Class in person, 6-8 or 6-9 pm
      • Thursdays: Class in person, 6-8 or 6-9 pm
    • In the spring of years one and two, the schedule looks like this:
      • Mondays: Class on Zoom, 6-8 or 6-9 pm
      • Tuesdays: Class in person, 6-8 or 6-9 pm
      • Thursdays: Class in person, 6-8 or 6-9 pm
  • In addition to the class meetings, students will also have readings to complete, work to do outside of class, asynchronous online work, and other class related preparation and review.
  • Students who stay in the evening program will complete the first set of required credit hours by spring of year 2, and will be eligible to take summer courses AFTER year two.
  • The evening program is meant to be a program where students are in lock-step for at least the first two years. Students can choose to leave the evening program any time, but if they do, they cannot be guaranteed placement in evening courses.

Take a look at the required part-time evening JD track.

  • By the end of Year 2, students will complete the first 36 credits
  • After the first 2 years, students have flexibility on how quickly they want to complete the remaining credits
  • Students can graduate in a total of 4 years, 4.5 years, or 5 years
  • After year 2, students are eligible to take summer school and additional classes to complete the program in 4 years
  • After year 2, students may alternatively take fewer classes each semester after the first 2 years and finish in 5 years

Juris Doctor Application

Completed applications must include:

  1. Electronic Application Form (Paper application forms are not accepted.)
  2. LSAT/GRE Score
  3. Transcripts and Letters of Recommendation
  4. Personal Statement
  5. Resume
  6. Application Fee: Your application fee has been waived.

Additionally, transfer applicants should review the transfer student information tab for further requirements.

UIC Law operates on a rolling admission policy. The Office of Admissions continues to review applications until the entering class is full. Applications submitted after the deadline will only be considered if space is available.

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Frequently Asked Questions Heading link

Additional details about the part-time evening program can be found below:

No. You will be able to complete the program with just evening classes, as long as you follow the required course sequence outlined above.

You cannot take any day classes during the first four semesters of the program. After that, you will be eligible to enroll in day classes as long as there is room in the class and you have met the prerequisites.

  • No more than ⅓ of any in person or hybrid class will consist of online content;
  • No more than 30 credits will consist of completely online courses
  • Yes.  You should discuss this with Dean Green or your academic advisor, but generally, students can switch.
  • Yes! We encourage evening students to participate fully in all school activities.
  • Part-time evening students are eligible for Honors programs after year 2.
  • Explore information about the Honors programs.

How and when will my class rank be determined?

Please review this policy to see how class rank is determined.

 

  • 4 years
  • Note that if you want to do this, you will need to take summer courses

We hope that students will complete the program within 5 years, but the school policy notes that: “To be eligible for the J.D. degree, a law student must complete the course of study required for the degree in no fewer than 24 months and no more than 84 months after the student has commenced law study at the Law School or at a law school from which transfer credit has been accepted.”

Faculty/Staff Heading link

Associate Dean of Part-Time Programs; Associate Professor of Law
Sonia Bychkov Green
Associate Dean of Part-Time Programs; Associate Professor of Law