College of Law

Summary

Triggered by changes in our global economy, the demand for legal services has shifted and the market is requiring that newly minted lawyers are practice ready, possessing skills not traditionally taught in law schools. At the University of Illinois College of Law, we educate and prepare our students for the practice of law from their very first days on campus, through both rigorous classroom instruction and in-depth practical experiences. The Chicago Program, our Fundamentals in Legal Practice course, and our growing list of clinical offerings are bringing the practice into the classroom, and vice versa. Our faculty bring a unique combination of significant practice experience and strong interdisciplinary research credentials, including empirical studies of law and advanced theory, all aligned for propelling bright minds. We produce ethical, public-service minded lawyers, and upon graduation, our students are practice-ready and positioned to be leaders in their chosen fields. Most important, when they leave our campus, they have a foundation of ethics and professionalism that is instilled in them throughout their Illinois Law experience.

Priorities

Student Scholarship Support: $21M

In today’s highly competitive admission market, the College of Law is placing a particular emphasis on increasing scholarship opportunities through current-use commitments and growing the number of endowed funds. Our dedication to affordability and accessibility will attract the best and brightest students, regardless of means, and enable them to pursue their individual career aspirations without the heavy burden of debt.

Programs and Innovation: $10M

The College of Law will create new and strengthen existing ways in which legal education is delivered. We will continue to prioritize increasing engagement between the academy, the legal and business professions, and the public via large-scale intellectually enriching events, amongst other things. Through a balance of rigorous classroom instruction and in-depth practical experiences, from The Chicago Program to our growing list of clinical offerings, we will lead the way in educating and preparing our students for the practice of law. And we will capitalize on our access to world-renowned University of Illinois programs across campus, particularly in the College of Engineering and the Institute for Genomic Biology, which present our students with opportunities unavailable in most other law schools, and further enhance our strength in law and technology.

Capital Projects: $5M

The College of Law building will benefit from a series of upgrades that will enable both traditional and modern teaching/learning styles in a comfortable, accessible, and technologically-enviable environment for the next generation of students.

Faculty Support: $4M

The College of Law faculty is well-respected and maintains a tradition of being among the most widely cited for their research and scholarship, while placing an equally high priority on their teaching and service. They bring a unique combination of significant practice experience and strong interdisciplinary research credentials, and the campaign will enable them to pursue cutting edge, transformational research while continuing to inspire their students in the classroom.