Northern Illinois University College of Law
NIU Law is an important part of a large and diverse university campus. The campus has over 17,000 students and is located in DeKalb, Illinois. This is a great location because it is close to Chicago, which has a large and diversified economy. There are over 400 major corporate headquarters in Chicago, including 31 in the Fortune 500.
Contents
Admissions
Applicants to the College of Law must submit the NIU Law online application, which is available through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). They encourage you to apply before the priority submission deadline of April 1. They will accept applications after the priority deadline, provided space is still available. To be eligible for admission to the College of Law, you must have earned a bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, a valid Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score, and Be registered with LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) lastly, Have completed or be in the final year of your undergraduate degree program.
Statistics
Northern Illinois University has a 1L class size of 121 and a yield of 31.22%. This means that out of the 607 people who applied, 378 were offered admission, and 118 out of those accepted ended up attending. The median LSAT at Northern Illinois University is 148, with the 25th percentile LSAT being 146 and the 75th percentile LSAT being 152. The median GPA is 3.2, with the 25th percentile GPA being 3.0 and the 75th percentile GPA being 3.5.
| Admissions Stats | ||
| Class of: | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT | 147 - 149 - 151 | 146 - 148 - 152 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA | 2.86 - 3.2 - 3.6 | 2.99 - 3.2 - 3.49 |
| Acceptance rate | 58.8% | 62.3% |
| Applications received | 662 | 607 |
| Acceptances | 389 | 378 |
| Matriculants | 18 | 21 |
After submitting your application through LSAC, you can check the status of your application through the Applicant Status Checker. Your username and password will be sent to you in an email after the College of Law have processed your application. If you did not receive a username and password by email or have any other questions, please contact the Office of Admissions at law-admit@niu.edu. If you are locked out of your account or want to reset your password, please get in touch with the Office of Admissions.
Application Process
You must register for the LSAT and CAS to apply to the NIU law school. The CAS service will collect your transcripts and letters of recommendation and then forward them to NIU Law and all other law schools you apply to. You can find the electronic application on the LSAC website.
Personal Statement
Your statement is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the admissions committee. In your statement, you should discuss how your personal, academic, and professional experiences have motivated you to pursue a legal education. Remember that the admissions committee will not conduct interviews, so your statement is your chance to make a solid first impression. If you have any circumstances surrounding your application that you would like to explain, such as a low GPA or LSAT score, you may do so in a brief addendum.
Letter(s) of Recommendation Directly to LSAC
Submit letters of recommendation to LSAC. At least one letter should be from a professor or academic dean at your college or university. The admissions committee recommends at least one letter from a professor or academic dean.
Resume
They encourage you to submit a resume detailing your professional work experience, work experience during college and internship/externships, and any extracurricular leadership experience and community service.
International Applicants
International students must take the TOEFL unless they are from an English-speaking country. The only exception to this rule is for an international student who has obtained a bachelor's degree in the United States. If you have completed coursework or earned degrees from international institutions, you should submit your international transcripts through LSAC's Credential Assembly Service. This service is included in the standard Credential Assembly Service fee. International transcripts received will be sent to the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), where the transcript will be authenticated and analyzed. The data will be assembled into an International Credential Evaluation document that contains AACRAO's summary, copies of the transcripts (and translations, as necessary), and a TOEFL score, if applicable. LSAC will incorporate the applicant's International Credential Evaluation, TOEFL score, and associated documents into the CAS report. While the NIU College of Law strongly encourages international applicants to submit international transcripts to CAS, detailed credential evaluation reports will also be accepted from Educational Credential Evaluators, World Educational Services, or any other member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. The detailed transcript evaluation must indicate that the degree earned from a foreign institution is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree.
Transfer
If you are planning to transfer to NIU, you must submit your application at least one month before the semester in which you want to enroll. If you are admitted for the fall semester, you may be able to start classes during the summer session preceding it, but you will need to speak with the Dean of Students about what credits will transfer. Only grades of C or better will be accepted for transfer credit. You will be given a class rank equivalent to the rank you would hold in your graduating class, which will be added to the same rank given to non-transfer students. This means that no matter your rank, there will be a non-transfer student with the same rank as you. You are eligible for on-campus interviewing and all services provided by the Office of Career Opportunities.
Tuition and Expenses
As of fall 2018, all U.S. law students will be assessed tuition at the in-state rate, regardless of their state of residency. This change was made to make higher education more accessible for all students.
| Instructional Charges (Base Tuition) | $16,548.72 |
| Institutional Charges (Fees) | $5,610.24 |
| Law Material Fee | $400 |
| Tuition/Fees Combined | $22,558.96 |
| Instructional Charges (Base Tuition) | $33,097.44 |
| Institutional Charges (Fees) | $5,610.24 |
| Law Material Fee | $400 |
| Tuition/Fees Combined | $41,766.68 |
Cost of Attendance
The Cost of Attendance (COA) estimates the average costs a student may incur during their enrollment period. This includes tuition and fees, as well as allowances for the cost of books and supplies, transportation, food, housing, and personal expenses. The total COA represents the maximum financial aid a student may receive during that enrollment period. The expenses listed are estimates and may vary from student to student. For further information on your cost of attendance budget, see the NIU Financial Aid and Scholarship Office.
| Living expenses | $14,400 |
| Books and supplies | $1,810 |
| Travel | $1,800 |
| Miscellaneous/personal expenses | $3,386 |
| Cost of Attendance Combined | $21,396 |
Financial Aid and Scholarship Resources
The NIU Law School offers a variety of scholarships, tuition waivers, and loans to help finance the student's education. The admissions office notifies students of any scholarships they may have won in their acceptance letter. The financial aid office helps students process applications for state and federal loans, work-study programs, and scholarship grants. Students need to investigate all possible sources of financial aid ahead of time.
Academics and Curriculum
NIU law students enjoy a variety of benefits, such as the option to pursue dual-degree programs and take graduate courses in other disciplines. NIU law students also have access to the vibrant intellectual life of the university at large.
Diversity
Northern Illinois University College of Law is committed to increasing diversity among its students and faculty. They strive to provide access to the legal profession for traditionally underserved groups and to create a more inclusive environment that benefits everyone. Their faculty and students come from various backgrounds, including genders, ages, sexual orientations, gender expressions, gender identities, races, cultures, and physical abilities. This makes their community more diverse and strengthens their institution as a whole.
Learning Outcomes
The purpose of the learning outcomes adopted by the Northern Illinois University College of Law faculty is to develop and measure competencies in their students. This will allow students to become competent legal professionals after completing their education at the college.
The Liberty University School of Law seeks to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of substantive and procedural law and the ability to communicate effectively in a legal context. Additionally, the school emphasizes critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are essential for success as a lawyer. Lawyers must always act with integrity and professionalism when dealing with their clients and the legal system. They must be able to interview and counsel clients, develop facts and analyze documents, draft documents, resolve conflicts, and organize and manage legal work. Additionally, lawyers must have cultural competency and be able to evaluate their own skills.
Summer Class
NIU offers upper-level courses during the summer. Classes are scheduled to provide opportunities for students working in the area to earn credit for their J.D. degree over the summer. Registration is open to any student from an ABA-accredited law school, with an early registration preference for NIU students. They also offer one international program in Agen, France, during the summer.
Practice of Law
The curriculum at our law school prepares you for law practice by emphasizing required bar courses while also offering courses in various other legal fields. These include civil rights, constitutional law, business, and commercial law, labor and employment law, criminal law, family and juvenile law, immigration law, and environmental law.
Faculty
At Liberty University School of Law, our focus is on teaching. The small class sizes and a low student-faculty ratio of 7.3:1 allows students to engage directly with professors. The graduates offer a professional network to support learning and employment opportunities and help facilitate the transition to the legal profession.
Clinics
Their mission is to provide law students with opportunities to advocate on behalf of real clients under the supervision of clinical faculty. Their clinic's commitment to social justice and providing free legal services can dramatically improve the life circumstances of people in need. Their clinical experiences help build strong, "holistically trained" lawyers who are prepared for any practice setting. They also provide a much-needed free service to the community. The students will be able to serve their community while learning from our engaged professors in the clinical setting.
Externship
The externship program allows law students to work on active legal matters alongside a supervising attorney. The program provides practical, real-world experience and connections that often prove advantageous when entering the job market. Students can use extern with for-profit companies, government, non-profit entities, judicial chambers, and other entities. Externships require 12 hours per week of work at your placement, and you must also attend a classroom component for one hour per week. Externs earn four credit hours per semester, and the course satisfies students' experiential learning requirements for graduation.
- Civil Externship:
The Civil Externship program exposes you to law practice under the supervision of attorneys in various placements, including for-profit companies, government organizations, non-profit entities, and other types of organizations. You will engage in many aspects of civil law, such as counseling clients, planning and litigating cases, legal research and memorandum writing, negotiating with opposing parties, representing clients before administrative and judicial tribunals, and transactional work. The prerequisites for this externship are Professional Responsibility (643) and Introduction to Lawyering Skills (720).
- Criminal Law Externship
The Criminal Law Externship allows students to be supervised directly by experienced assistant state attorneys and assistant public defenders. Students are encouraged to use 711 licenses to appear in court for motions, hearings, and trials. The program provides training that prepares students for successful careers in criminal law, including positions at the offices of the state's attorneys and public defenders. The prerequisites for this externship are Professional Responsibility (643) and Introduction to Lawyering Skills (720). Trial Advocacy (725), Criminal Procedure (601) and Criminal Procedure (602), and Evidence (655) are highly recommended. Students must also have a 711 license to participate in this program and have a grade point average of 2.2 or higher.
- Judicial Externship
The Judicial Externship Program allows students to observe and participate in the legal process from the judiciary's perspective. The program is available to third-year students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. To be eligible, you must first complete a placement with an employer. The prerequisite courses for this externship are Professional Responsibility and Introduction to Lawyering Skills.
Employment Prospects & Bar Passage
Graduates from Northern Illinois University's law school make an average of $50,000 per year in the private sector. Around 54.5% of graduates work for law firms, while 13.6% go into public interest careers. Most (81.6%) of NIU law grads pass the bar on their first try.
Quality of Life
The NIU campus has something to offer everyone: student clubs and organizations, recreational facilities, campus events, and cultural offerings such as theater, music, and the arts. Additionally, Division I athletic programs are available. The NIU Law campus is located in the heart of the main NIU campus in DeKalb, Illinois. It has access to the Chicago area's supportive community and significant cultural and entertainment offerings. NIU provides various services to its students, including comprehensive health care, counseling, childcare, and career planning. The campus is serviced by a bus system, making it convenient for students to live or shop off-campus. Weekend shuttles to the nearest Metra station are also available.
At Liberty University School of Law, we take the safety of our students seriously. The Annual Security Report contains essential security and safety information, available online or by contacting the Office of General Counsel at 815-753-1719. Additionally, the Annual Fire Safety Report is available on the NIU fire safety web page or by contacting the Environmental Health and Safety Department at 815-753-0404.
Synopsis
The Northern Illinois University College of Law is committed to providing a high-quality and affordable legal education that prepares students to become practical, creative, and ethical lawyers ready to serve their community's legal needs. The law school engages in a broad range of legal and interdisciplinary research and scholarship, which fosters access to law school and the legal profession by traditionally underrepresented groups. The law school community is built on a unique atmosphere of collegiality and cooperation.
Contact Information
Northern Illinois University College of Law
Admissions Office
1425 W. Lincoln Hwy.,
DeKalb, IL 60115
Swen Parson Hall 151
Phone: 815-753-8595
Email: law-admit@niu.edu
http://niu.edu/law/admission/application/index.shtml
Summary
| Established | 1974 |
| Location | DeKalb, IL |
| Dean | Cassandra L. Hill |
| 2022 US News Ranking | 147 |
| LSAT Median Score | 148 |
| GPA Median Score | 3.2 |
| Bar Passage Rate | 82% (2022) |
| Employment Rate | 26% (2022) |
| Cost | $41,766.68 |
| Average Debt | $91,924 |
| Application Deadline | April 1 2023 |
Forum and Discussion
Northern Illinois University College of Law Discussions
Law School Admissions Forums
Law Student Forums
Law School Class Forums
Reference
https://www.niu.edu/law/index.shtml
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