University of Illinois Chicago School of Law

students at UIC Law

The University of Illinois Chicago School of Law (UIC Law) is on a mission to connect aspiring law practitioners to their purpose in the world.

UIC Law, Chicago’s only public law school, provides students with the opportunity to advance social justice and impact communities in a unique interdisciplinary environment.

As a UIC Law student, you’ll:

  • Choose courses from our robust curriculum
  • Gain valuable, real world law practice and client experience
  • Begin to develop your professional network with our alumni and law school community who are dedicated to helping you navigate the complexities of the legal landscape

 

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  • 2024 Leading Law Program 2024 (NewsWeek)

  • 2024 Best Law School 2024 (Princeton Review)

  • 2024 Best Law School for Women in Leadership (preLaw magazine)

Flexible J.D. Program Explore Full-Time & Part-Time Opportunities

Build the Legal Skills and Experience Employers Value

Turn Your Passion Into Purpose with These UIC Law Programs.

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Nestled in the center of it all, UIC Law is located in the heart of downtown Chicago, the 3rd largest legal industry in the nation. The law school is conveniently housed alongside the Chicago Bar Association building, federal court houses, and a host of prestigious law firms, creating ample opportunities for students to intern, extern, and turn their passion into purpose.

Whether you are looking to augment your studies by externing in a specific area or for a specific organization, or you want to explore your options before participating in a clinic, you’ll find the perfect choice among more than 50 placements with the UIC Law JAD Extern Program.

Breakdown of Summer 2024 and Fall 2024 Placements

  • Judges/Courts: 33%
  • Criminal (prosecutor and public defender placements): 24%
  • Government: 6%
  • Public Interest Agencies: 14%
  • Corporate In-House Legal Departments: 17%
  • Law Firms: 6%
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UIC Law has seven specialty area clinical opportunities that offer JD candidates the chance to develop legal experience under the mentorship of a judge or attorney.

Passion: Ending Housing Discrimination

Purpose: Represent persons who have been denied housing in violation of federal, state, and local fair housing laws in the UIC Law Fair Housing Legal Support Center & Clinic.

Passion: International Human Rights

Purpose: Advocate for human rights in international and domestic tribunals and other forums in the UIC Law International Human Rights Clinic.

Passion: Advocating for the Under-represented

Purpose: Represent individuals in federal and state courts in criminal and civil matters in the UIC Law Pro Bono Litigation Clinic.

Passion: Serving Those Who Have Served 

Purpose: Provide legal assistance to veterans who have been improperly denied benefits in the UIC Law Veterans Legal Clinic

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Fuel your passion by adding a competitive distinction from a specific area of law. Our concentrations are designed to help students create real-world impact, whether it is in the courtroom, in society, or around the globe.

Business Law 

Passionate about influencing policy on business-related matters? Consider Business Law.

Criminal Law and Procedure

Passionate about influencing change within law enforcement or the criminal justice system? Study the doctrines of criminal law and hone the skills related to practice before Illinois and federal courts.

Critical Race and Gender Studies

Want to understand how our difference influence society? Study the intersection of race, class, and gender in the law and develop the tools to navigate issues of privilege and power.

Health Equity, Law and Policy

Have a passion for aiding in the creation of policies that target public health? Prepare to creatively solve society’s complex public health issues and effect equitable, sustainable health in our communities.

Intellectual Property, Information, and Privacy Law

Passionate about cyber security, artificial intelligence, and protecting the rights of creators? Study the issues presented by patent law, trademark and copyright law, art and cultural property, and other IP areas.

International Human Rights Law

Want to seek justice and influence change on an international scale? Explore the interplay of international human rights and issues of gender, race, sexual orientation, and constitutional law.

Sustainability

Interested in real estate, environmental, and regulatory legal work? Explore the emerging, interdisciplinary area of sustainability and its increasing importance in energy law, environmental law, local government law, and real estate.

Trial Advocacy & Dispute Resolution

Are you a justice-seeker who wants to develop sharp skills for the courtroom? Prepare for a career in litigation and dispute resolution by developing practical arbitration, mediation, negotiation, and trial skills

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2L and 3L students choose from an expansive selection of elective courses that allow students to fuel their passion by designing a unique path to justice. UIC Law’s curriculum is designed to teach strategic, analytical, and transactional skills that equip students with the tools to succeed from their first day on the job.

Take a look at a few unique electives that can help turn your passion into purpose:

Animal Law

Examines statutes, regulations, case studies, and proposed legislation, related to nonhuman animals and their “legal” status both nationally and internationally.

Advertising Law

Covers litigation under the Lanham Act, private, state, and local remedies, and Federal Trade Commission regulation of deceptive advertising and consumer protection.

Children in the Legal System

Explores juvenile law, including issues of parental and state authority, school authority, consent, abuse, neglect, foster care, adoption and custody.

Criminal Procedure: Investigation

Addresses constitutional law related to police interrogation; right to counsel; arrest, search, and seizure; electronic eavesdropping; entrapment; self-incrimination; lineups; and the exclusionary rule.

Human Rights, Race, and Mass Incarceration

Examines the development of mass incarceration in the U.S. including the cultural, political and judicial constructs that generate and sustain mass incarceration.

International Criminal Law

Explores international criminal law, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, modes of liability and limits on jurisdiction.

Social Justice Lawyering

A simulated impact litigation and advocacy clinic that teaches students written advocacy techniques for social justice issues in a variety of contexts.

Video Game Law

Examines various legal issues related to the video game industry, mainly intellectual property and First Amendment issues.

Women, Law, and Feminist Jurisprudence

Explores the history of women and the law including the historical framework for women’s insubordination, the role of the women’s movement, jurisprudence, and feminist legal theories.

 

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Experiential education is a UIC Law hallmark—in fact, practical training is required for all of our students. In addition to influencing change in our community legal clinics and the externship program, take a look at the other special areas designed to help students turn their passion into purpose:

Trial Advocacy & Dispute Resolution (TADR) Program

The Trial Advocacy & Dispute Resolution (TADR) program is among the leading and most comprehensive programs in the nation and is designed to immerse students in all aspects of TADR. Learn More 

The Restorative Justice Project

Students work to implement restorative justice and learn about the problems faced every day by persons in low-income communities and communities of color. Learn More

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Bar exam preparation begins week 1 of orientation, with the introduction to the Socratic Method, case law, and law school assessments. Additionally, the Office of Academic Achievement offers programs designed to equip future bar takers with the tools needed to help them succeed, including:

  • Multiple Choice Tips: Methods for dealing with bar exam multiple choice questions and avoiding common pitfalls. This program is open to 3L students and handouts will be available only as handouts upon request.
  • Performance Test Analysis: Receive instruction and feedback on writing answers to the performance test part of the bar exam over three sessions. This program is offered to 3L students over 3 consecutive weeks.
  • Bar Exam Preparation Courses: Students prepare for the different items encountered on the bar by regularly engaging in practice exams, obtaining feedback from professors, and discussing test-taking strategies. The courses also help students become familiar with the bar application process and commercial bar preparation programs.
  • Bar Exam Study Room: Spaces are reserved on campus for alumni studying for the bar exam.
  • Bar Exam Housing: UIC Law coordinates with UIC Campus Housing to provide economically-priced accommodations just minutes away from the bar exam test sites.

Choose UIC Law Apply Now

Attend a Law School Admissions Event with UIC Law

Driving Real-World Impact: Students Turn Their Passion Into Purpose at UIC Law

Read More Inspiring Stories: UIC Law Magazine

UIC Law has a social justice mission, and that is the belief that everyone deserves equitable access to rights, opportunities, and privileges in society. We take pride in being a diverse, dynamic, and scholarly community that educates students to become ethical, innovative, and multidisciplinary problem-solvers and counselors who pursue justice in a rapidly changing world.

The UIC Law Social Justice Magazine, Paving the Path, was created to capture the academic excellence our students pursue when vying to turn their passion into a meaningful purpose, and to promote the cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research conducted by our faculty.

 

Read Their Inspiring Stories
Paris Booker

“UIC Law has been instrumental in preparing me for my legal career, offering invaluable professional opportunities, mentorship, leadership roles, and practical experiences.”

Paris Booker  |  (JD '24)

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