The College of Law at University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign

Law School Admissions

Application

Director of admissions Jenny Carroll
Application deadline March 15
Full-time program application fee $0
Part-time program application fee N/A
Besides the fall semester, can enter in N/A

The College of Law at University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign

Admissions & Enrollment (Overall)

Acceptance rate 20.2% – Low
Median undergraduate GPA for all program entrants 3.70
Median LSAT score for all program entrants 163

Admissions & Enrollment (Full-time)

Acceptance rate 20.2%
LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) 156-168
Undergraduate GPA (25th-75th percentile) 3.38-3.85
Median undergraduate GPA for full-time program entrants 3.70
Median LSAT score for full-time program entrants 163

Admissions & Enrollment (Part-time)

Applicants N/A
Acceptance rate N/A
LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) N/A
Undergraduate GPA (25th-75th percentile) N/A
Median undergraduate GPA for part-time program entrants N/A
Median LSAT score for part-time program entrants N/A

Law School Academics

Academic Program Details

Academic calendar Semester
Joint degrees offered
J.D./M. Business Administration J.D./M. Natural Resources & Envir Sci
J.D./M. Human Resource & Industrial Rltn J.D./M. Chemistry
J.D./Doctorate of Medicine J.D./Doctorate of Political Science
J.D./M. Urban Planning J.D./Doctorate of Philosophy
J.D./Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine J.D./Interdisciplinary
J.D./M. Computer Science J.D./M. Political Science
J.D./M. Journalism
Special programs offered to J.D. students (as provided by the school)
The College of Law offers multiple courses in areas ranging from traditional to practical with clinics and very robust externship, trial advocacy and experiential programs. Around 125 of the upper-level courses had an enrollment of less than 25 students. There are also study abroad options. Finally, students may pursue multidisciplinary study with cross-listed courses and joint degree programs.
Programs/courses offered in
appellate advocacy intellectual property law
clinical training international law
dispute resolution tax law
environmental law trial advocacy
health care law

Curricular Offerings (Overall)

Classroom course titles, beyond the first-year curriculum, offered last year 141
Seminars 46
Positions available in seminars 858
Positions available in simulation courses 1,264
Positions available in faculty-supervised clinical courses 114
Student activities (as provided by the school)
Numerous student organizations ensure that students have the opportunity to become actively involved in the law school community. There are multiple journals and opportunities for student publications. Students actively participate in a number of skills-oriented activities, including moot court and negotiation competitions.

Curricular Offerings (Full-time)

Typical first-year full-time section size taught by full-time faculty (excludes small sections) 56
Is there typically a full-time “small section” of the first-year class taught by full-time faculty (excluding Legal Writing)? Yes
Typical size of first-year “small section” 38
Positions filled in full-time program seminars 561
Positions filled in full-time program simulation courses 1,139
Positions filled in faculty-supervised full-time program clinical courses 111
Full-time students involved in field placements 233
Full-time students involved in law journals 174
Full-time students involved in advanced moot court or trial competitions 66
Full-time students enrolled in independent study 27

Curricular Offerings (Part-time)

Typical first-year part-time section size taught by full-time faculty (excludes small sections) 0
Is there typically a part-time “small section” of the first-year class taught by full-time faculty (excluding Legal Writing)? No
Positions filled in part-time program seminars N/A
Positions filled in part-time program simulation courses N/A
Positions filled in faculty-supervised part-time program clinical courses N/A
Part-time students involved in field placements N/A
Part-time students involved in law journals N/A
Part-time students involved in advanced moot court or trial competitions N/A
Part-time students enrolled in independent study N/A

Faculty Profile (Fall 2011)

Student-faculty ratio 12.6:1 – Medium
Full- and part-time faculty 96
Full-time minority faculty 23.3%
Part-time minority faculty 22.6%
Total faculty 116
Total faculty (men) 63.8%
Total faculty (women) 36.2%
Total faculty (minorities) 24.1%

Class Size

Law School Ranking

#35 Best Law Schools

(1) Ranking by Specialties

#28 in Law Firms Rank Schools

Law Ranking Scores

Score 64
Peer assessment score (out of 5) 3.1
Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5) 3.8
GPA (25th-75th percentile) 3.38-3.85
Median undergraduate GPA for all program entrants 3.70
LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) 156-168
Median LSAT score for all program entrants 163
Acceptance rate 20.2% – Low
Student-faculty ratio 12.6:1 – Medium
Graduates known to be employed at graduation 72.8% – Medium
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 87.2% – Medium
Bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 92.7% – High
State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar IL
Statewide bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 89.2%

Law School Student Body

Student Body (Overall)

Total Enrolled 639

Student Body (Full-time)

Enrollment (full-time) 639

Student Body (Part-time)

Enrollment (part-time) N/A
Gender distribution (part-time) N/A

Attrition Rates for Full- and Part-time Students (2010-2011)

First-year students discontinuing law school 4.4%
Second-year students discontinuing law school 1.4%
Third-year students discontinuing law school 0.5%
Fourth-year students discontinuing law school N/A
Male students discontinuing law school 2.4%
Female students discontinuing law school 1.9%

Law School Cost

Financial Aid Contact Information

Financial aid director Jenny Carroll
Financial aid phone (217) 244-6415
Financial aid application deadline March 15

Expenses

Tuition and fees
Full-time: $38,567 per year (in-state)
Full-time: $45,547 per year (out-of-state)
Room and board $12,058
Books $1,800
Miscellaneous expenses $2,760
Is the tuition the same for first-, second-, and third-year students? No
Does the university offer housing restricted to law students? No
Does the university offer graduate student housing for which law students are eligible? Yes
Does the university offer a public-interest scholarship program to current J.D. students? Yes

Grants (Full-time students)

Students receiving grants of less than one-half tuition 57.7%
Students receiving grants of one-half tuition or more but less than full 36.9%
Students receiving grants of full tuition 0.0%
Students receiving grants of more than full tuition 4.9%
Median grant amount $19,542
Grant range (25th–75th percentile) $10,000–$25,000
Full-time students receiving grants 99.5%

Grants (Part-time students)

Students receiving grants of less than one-half tuition N/A
Students receiving grants of one-half tuition or more but less than full N/A
Students receiving grants of full tuition N/A
Students receiving grants of more than full tuition N/A
Median grant amount N/A
Grant range (25th–75th percentile) N/A
Part-time students receiving grants N/A

Indebtedness

Average indebtedness of 2011 graduates who incurred law school debt $90,432
Proportion who borrowed 85.3%
Does the school offer a loan repayment assistance program for 2011 J.D. graduates? Yes

Law School Library

Library Information Resources

Print titles (excluding nonbook titles) 272,988
Microform titles 0
Electronic titles 0
Other non-book titles 0
Total titles 272,988
Volumes (excluding microforms) 636,478
Volume equivalent microforms 164,889
Total volumes and volume equivalents 801,367
Number of volumes in the collection that are stored off site and are systematically retrievable 73,213
Library’s online catalog or website includes links to electronic titles or databases made available by another campus library or consortia Yes

Library Schedule of Operation

Number of hours per week library is open on a regular schedule 102
Number of hours per week professional staff are on duty on a regular schedule 50
Number of hours per week only full-time support staff are on duty on a regular schedule 25
Number of hours per week only students or other part-time staff are on duty on a regular schedule 33
Number of hours of reference service provided per week on a regular schedule 50
Number of weeks per year library operates on an abbreviated schedule 17
Number of hours per week library is open on an abbreviated schedule 67
Number of hours per week professional staff are on duty are on an abbreviated schedule 40
Number of hours per week only full-time support staff are on duty on an abbreviated schedule 5
Number of hours per week only students or other part-time staff are on duty on an abbreviated schedule 0
Number of hours of reference service provided per week on an abbreviated schedule 40
Number of weeks per year library operates on expanded schedule 4

Information Technology

Department(s) responsible for the law school information technology operations law school information technology department, university information technology department
Approximate number of full-time-equivalent information technology staff (excluding hourly students and other temporary staff) 5
Number of open, wired network connections available to students in the law library (excluding computer labs) 80
Number of open, wired network connections available to students in classrooms 589
Number of open, wired network connections available to students in computer labs 48
Number of open, wired network connections available to students elsewhere in the law school 107
Does the law school have a wireless network? Yes
Wireless network is available in the law library, in classrooms, in computer labs, in administrative/faculty offices and work areas, elsewhere in the law school
Does the school require entering students to own a computer? No

Physical Library Facilities

Net square feet of space assigned for library purposes 58,123
Total seats available for library users 387
Details about the library and other facilities (as provided by the school) Renovations have upgraded the library, classrooms, courtroom, and community spaces and have significantly improved functionality and the aesthetics of the learning environment. Every library and classroom seat offers electrical outlets and connections or wireless access. In 2011, the library added high quality seating and expanded the collection of practice skills materials.

Law School Careers

Bar Statistics (Winter and Summer 2010 administrations)

State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar IL
Bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 92.7% – High
Statewide bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 89.2%

Class of 2010 Graduates

Total graduates 195
Graduates known to be employed at graduation 72.8%
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 87.2%

Class of 2010 Graduates-Class Breakdown at Graduation

Graduates whose employment status is unknown 0.0%
Graduates whose employment status is known 100.0%
Graduates known to be employed at graduation 72.8%
Graduates known to be enrolled in a full-time degree program 3.6%
Graduates known to be unemployed and seeking work 20.5%
Graduates known to be unemployed and not seeking work 3.1%

Class of 2010 Graduates-Class Breakdown at Nine Months

Graduates whose employment status is unknown 2.6%
Graduates whose employment status is known 97.4%
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 87.2%
Graduates known to be enrolled in a full-time degree program 3.6%
Graduates known to be unemployed and seeking work 6.7%
Graduates known to be unemployed and not seeking work 0.0%

Starting Salaries of Graduates Employed Full-time (Class of 2010)

25th percentile private sector starting salary $65,000
Median private sector starting salary $130,000
75th percentile private sector starting salary $160,000
Percent in the private sector who reported salary information 72%
Median public service starting salary $42,000

Areas of Legal Practice (Class of 2010)

Percent employed in academia 5.3%
Percent employed in business and industry 12.4%
Percent employed in government 17.1%
Percent employed in all judicial clerkships 6.5%
Percent employed in law firms 54.7%
Percent employed in public interest 4.1%
Percent employed in an unknown field 0.0%

Employment Location (Class of 2010)

Graduates employed in-state 72%
Graduates employed out-of-state 25.3%
Graduates employed in foreign countries 2%
Number of states where graduates are employed 18
New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) 0.6%
Middle Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA) 2.9%
East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) 77.1%
West North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD) 0.6%
South Atlantic (DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV) 7.1%
East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) 0.6%
West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) 0.0%
Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA) 7.1%
Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY) 1.8%
Employment location unknown 0.0%

Career Services

(Data appear as originally submitted by this school)

Career services operations The Office of Career Planning and Professional Development provides the resources necessary to enable our students and alumni to reach their highest professional potential. Offering a wide variety of programs and job fairs to provide opportunities to our diverse student body, our staff includes attorneys with experience in legal, non-legal, governmental and public service employment.

Job Type

Bar admission required/anticipated (e.g., attorney and corporate counsel positions, law clerks, judicial clerks) 83.5%
Bar admission required/anticipated – percent employed in full-time positions 98.6%
J.D. preferred, law degree enhances position (e.g., corporate contracts administrator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, government regulatory analyst, FBI special agent) 10.6%
J.D. preferred – percent employed in full-time positions 77.8%
Professional other (jobs that require professional skills or training but for which a J.D. is neither preferred nor particularly applicable; e.g., accountant, teacher, business manager, nurse) 5.9%
Professional other – percent employed in full-time positions 50.0%
Non-professional other (job that does not require any professional skills or training or is taken on a temporary basis and not viewed as part of a career path) 0.0%
Non-professional other – percent employed in full-time positions N/A