Best Law Schools in Illinois
Law is one of the most lucrative professions in the world and has remained relevant from time immemorial. Lawyers help people with legal proceedings such as defense, contracts, etc. Being a lawyer also affords one a high societal standing and respect among peers.
The first step in becoming a legal practitioner is finding a good law school. There are so many law schools in the country but one has to go for quality if he/she wants to excel in his/her chosen career.
There are about 9 law schools in Illinois, however, one has to take cognizance of one simple fact; quality over quantity. Every law school has its strengths and weaknesses and every law student also has what he/she needs from his potential place of study. Some law students are looking for affordability while some are going for flexibility and others are focused on the available programs.
This article will be focused on the top law colleges in Illinois to enable potential law students to find which school best fits their needs.
Best Law Schools in Illinois
1. Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago – Kent College of Law
The Chicago-Kent College of Law is one of the oldest law schools in Illinois, it is in fact the second oldest Law School. Since its inception, this law school has impacted the legal world positively by way of graduating brilliant lawyers.
Street Media ranked Chicago Kent College’s Intellectual Property Law course as number one in the nation. The Chicago-Kent College of Law beat over 140 law schools to win the National Trial Competition in 1988,2007,2008, and 2015. This goes to show that this College ranks top of our list with reason.
Application for admission into Chicago-Kent is ongoing and the deadline for submission of applications is 15th March. Tuition for full-time students is $51,120 and for part-time students, tuition is $37,560.
2. Loyola University School of Law
Loyola University’s School of Law is one of the most prominent schools of Law in the Chicago Area. The School of law offers a healthcare law specialty program that is highly ranked in the country.
In addition to the theoretical instructions given at Loyola, students are also given the opportunity to learn through a live-client experience program. 88% of Law graduates from Loyola University School of Law pass the bar examinations at the first trial.
Applications for admission is ongoing and the deadline for applications is 1st May 2023. Loyola does not charge any application fees for both full-time or part-time students. Tuition costs about $51,636 for full-time students and $38,380 for part-time students.
3. University of Chicago Law School
The University of Chicago Law school has since its establishment maintained its reputable standards. Time Higher Education University rankings ranked this law school as number 4 in the world. This proves that you cannot go wrong if you choose to study law there.
UChicago law schools make use of the interactive method to train law students. They are aware that some legal situations do not have a straightforward solution so they teach students to think critically.
The University of Chicago Law school has a widely recognized publication University of Chicago Law Review, and some of the reviews have been cited in Court cases. The College of Law graduates boasts 98% first trial rates at the bar examinations.
4. University of Illinois, Chicago – John Marshall Law School
The Law school is named after Chief Justice John Marshall, the Us Supreme court Chief Justice. It is the only public school in Illinois that offers programs in law.
The university is committed to public education and community service, encouraging students to practice their legal skills while helping people in need. Law students are required to work in a clinic or externship during their time at UIC.
Its tuition for full-time students is $40,762 and $49,762 for in-state and out-of-state students respectively. For part-time students, the tuition is $30,782, and $37,382 for in-state and out-of-state students.
5. Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law was the first school of law established in Chicago, it was founded in 1859. The school’s Bluhm Legal Clinic helps students gain skills including interviewing, counseling, and negotiating, and the Fred Bartlit Center for Trial Strategy uses simulation-based teaching to train students in trial advocacy and more.
The school’s Bluhm Legal Clinic helps students gain skills in interviewing, counseling, and negotiating. The Fred Bartlit Center for Trial Strategy uses simulation-based teaching to train students in trial advocacy and more.
Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law has a few notable alumni of Northwestern Law including Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, the first African American mayor of Chicago, Harold Washington, and the first female American law school graduate, Ada Kepley.
The deadline for application for admission into Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law is February 15th. It costs $75 to apply for admission at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. Tuition for full-time students is $69,650
6. DePaul University
The College of Law offers both a full-time and part-time law program. DePaul University Law School has various areas of interest in legal studies. They offer programs in Intellectual Property Law, Business and Taxation Law, criminal law, and health law.
The DePaul College of Law also has many research institutes and centers, the centers are:- the Health Law Institute, The Center for Animal Law, the Center for Church-State Studies, and the International Weapons Control Center.
Application for admission into DePaul University College of Law is ongoing, and the deadline is April 1st. Tuition for full-time students is $50,140 and tuition for part-time students is $32,750