University of Chicago

The University of Chicago Law School, founded in 1902, offers a demanding degree program, which has made it a breeding ground for some of the best lawyers in the country. With just over 600 students, class sizes remain small with a fairly low student to faculty ratio. Just over 80 full-time and 100 part-time faculty members are on hand to help groom Chicago Law students to be ready for Supreme Court clerkships and placements at prestigious law firms. Aside from academics, students can participate in extracurricular organizations and clubs on campus. The school is located in Chicago’s south side neighborhood of Hyde Park and many choose to live in university-owned housing or private apartments near campus.

There are many opportunities for students to expand upon their law education. They can earn joint master’s degrees in business or public policy through Chicago’s Booth School of Business or the Harris School of Public Policy Studies. These dual degrees can be achieved in four years, versus the traditional three for law school. Students can also attend up to four classes at other University of Chicago graduate schools. Second- and third-year University of Chicago Law School students take part in four legal clinics with topics like start-up business issues or human rights grievances. Students can also take advantage of the large metropolis to seek employment prospects. More than 15% of students in the past decade have gone on to pursue US Supreme Court clerkships and between 15 and 25% of students generally take positions in state or federal clerkships.

There are more than 60 organizations to participate in on campus, with groups ranging from the Winston Churchill Gaming Society to the Law School Musical which is performed every winter. Chicago Law was one of the first campuses to have a chapter of the Federalist Society. Many students are also involved with the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy. The Law School has six professional journals, three of which are student run. These include the “University of Chicago Law Review,” “Chicago Journal of International Law” and the “University of Chicago Legal Forum.”

The broad opportunities University of Chicago Law School has to offer also include an International Human Rights Internship Program in Australia, India, Korea and South Africa. The school provides a Law Library that is open 90 hours a week and has 10 full-time librarians. Chicago Law has proven over the years to produce some of the brightest legal minds in the country; students interested in a tight-knit community and fun on-campus activities should look into the campus.