Rising Attorneys Inclusive Summer Experience 2026
intro
Join us for Rising Attorneys Inclusive Summer Experience (R.A.I.S.E) 2026, a free, exciting two-day immersive event for students interested in learning more about law! Explore how to prepare for, apply to, and finance law school; learn what to expect during law school; and discover how you can use a JD degree to improve yourself, your community, and society.
Join Us Wednesday, August 19 - Thursday, August 20, 2026
Open to All Majors
R.A.I.S.E is suitable for ALL majors, from political science to STEM to art to business, and everything else. Join us to learn how you can combine your passions with a law degree! Many previous students who had not considered law school have learned about the possibilities that law school offers.
Eligibility:
- In Summer 2026 we are opening R.A.I.S.E. to the following undergraduate students:
- Current UIC undergrad students (UIC students get priority)
- Current undergrad students in any U of I school
- Current undergrad students in any college with a 3+3 program or an MOU with UIC Law
- Priority will be given to students closer to graduating
- Must be in good academic standing
- Preference will be given to first generation college students
Application Information:
- Applications open on June 15, 2026
- We will accept applications on a rolling basis until the program is full
- If you have any questions, please email sbgreen@uic.edu
Join Us for 2026 Apply Now
What to Expect
Take a look below to see what you can expect from the R.A.I.S.E. program:
Mock Classes
Experience law school firsthand through interactive mock classes led by UIC Law faculty. R.A.I.S.E. 2026 participants will explore Contracts with Vice Dean Julie Spanbauer, Criminal Law with Professor Richard Gutierrez, and Intellectual Property with Professor Yolanda King, Director of the UIC Law Center for Intellectual Property, Information & Privacy Law.
Participants will also hear from a panel of UIC Law faculty discussing current issues in the law, offering an opportunity to explore timely legal topics and different areas of the profession.
Law School Presentations
Learn what it takes to prepare for law school and succeed once you get there. R.A.I.S.E. 2026 will feature presentations on applying to law school with the UIC Law Admissions team, financing your legal education with Financial Aid, and finding your place and succeeding in law school with Assistant Dean Clarence Glenn and current UIC Law students.
Participants will also receive a welcome and guidance from Professor Sonia Green, Associate Dean of Part-Time Programs.
mock trial
Step into the courtroom and put your advocacy skills to the test in an immersive mock trial experience. Participants will work with current UIC Law students and Professor Kelly Navarro, Director of Trial Advocacy, as they prepare for and participate in a simulated trial.
The experience will culminate in a mock trial presided over by Justice Jesse Ruiz and Justice David Navarro, giving participants a firsthand look at courtroom advocacy and the trial process.
networking
Connect directly with the people who make up the UIC Law community. Throughout R.A.I.S.E. 2026, participants will have opportunities to talk one-on-one with current students and faculty, ask questions, hear about their experiences, and learn more about life at UIC Law.
These conversations give participants a chance to build connections while gaining firsthand insight into law school, the legal profession, and the many paths a law degree can offer.