With the significant resources of a major research university, the expertise
of world-renowned faculty members, and a variety of special program opportunities,
the College of Law consistently ranks among the top law schools in the country
and among the top 10 public law schools.
Backed by the prestigious reputation of the University of Illinois, the
College of Law resides on the University's flagship Urbana-Champaign campus.
Established in 1897, the College was a charter member of the Association of
American Law Schools, and was home of the founding chapter of the law honor
society now known as the Order of the Coif. The College has specialized
expertise in the areas of business and commercial law, employment law,
environmental law, intellectual property law, international and comparative law,
public interest law, and taxation law.
Currently there are 662 students in the J.D. Program, many of whom pursue
joint degrees in 10 subjects ranging from business administration or urban
planning to computer science or medicine. Formal exchange agreements with
universities in Argentina, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, and Japan offer
study abroad opportunities. Forty-three students from 11 countries are
enrolled in the one-year international LL.M. program, one of the oldest
in the nation. A select number of international visiting scholars are in
residence at the College to complete research and dissertations for
the Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD) degree.
The student body represents 42 states, 14 countries, and 189 undergraduate
institutions. Thirty-five percent are students of color — the top percentage
among public universities in Illinois and in the Big Ten. Students also enjoy a
broad network of alumni support with nearly 9,000 alumni in virtually every
major U.S. city and some 60 countries. Illinois graduates are dynamic leaders
in the legal community who hold key positions at many of the nation's top 100
law firms and major corporations. They also hold important posts in the public sector,
including judgeships and elected positions in local, state, and federal government.
The College's scholarly journals include the University of Illinois Law Review,
The Elder Law Journal, and the
Journal of Law, Technology & Policy. In addition,
the College serves as the home institution for the Comparative Labor Law and
Policy Journal, and for Law and Philosophy.
An all-inclusive learning environment features dining facilities, a bookstore,
student lounge, wireless computing areas, and a computer lab. The
Albert E. Jenner, Jr. Memorial Library is the country's 14th largest academic
law library, with some 750,000 volumes and access to thousands of
electronic legal information sources.
The College of Law is a place not only to learn the law, but to gain a full
understanding of it. Our mission is to train well-rounded, critical, and
socially conscious individuals to become outstanding lawyers.
Current Profile Statistics at a Glance
