Swen Parson Hall, Room 151
DeKalb, IL 60115-2890
Phone: 815.753.8595; Fax: 815.753.5680
E-mail: lawadm@niu.edu; Website: www.niu.edu/law
Northern Illinois University was founded in 1895, and the College of Law was established in 1978. NIU Law seeks to prepare its graduates not only for the traditional role of lawyers but also for the myriad tasks lawyers are called upon to perform. The school has a diverse and professionally distinguished faculty dedicated to teaching and scholarship.
NIU Law is located in DeKalb, a community conveniently located approximately 65 miles west of Chicago and 25 miles from the suburban area on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88). DeKalb is close enough to the Chicago metropolitan area to draw on its many resources, yet it retains its own college town flavor. It is a safe and affordable environment with a high quality of life.
The university's main campus is set on 755 acres of rolling country land. The lush campus features two lagoons, several museums, and a vast variety of cultural opportunities. It provides an excellent environment for the study of law.
Though on a relatively large campus with all of the associated activities and opportunities, the College of Law is a small oasis at NIU's center.
The David C. Shapiro Memorial Law Library provides one of the best ratios of library materials to students of any American law school. The law library offers in-depth, research-level coverage of more than 32 areas of American law and study-level coverage of almost all other areas. Coverage of international, European Union, and British law is provided at study level. As a federally designated depository, the law library also receives selected government documents. In addition to its physical collection of over 262,000 volumes and volume equivalents, the library also offers access to Westlaw, LexisNexis, and a wide range of other web-based legal resources. Laptop users enjoy convenient access to these electronic resources anywhere in the law school through NIU Law's wireless network. Access to most of these resources is also available off campus. The library also features a student computer lab that offers desktop high-speed Internet access and laser printing.
Further research support is provided through Founders Memorial Library, the university's main library, which is conveniently located adjacent to NIU Law. Founders Memorial Library contains over 2 million volumes and an additional 1.3 million federal, state, and international government documents. It also subscribes to diverse collections of nonlegal web-based resources that may be accessed either on or off campus.
The student body represents universities from coast to coast and reflects a broad spectrum of ethnicities, cultures, and home states. Our low student-to-faculty ratio, which is normally 15 to 1, facilitates a supportive environment with a lively exchange of ideas. NIU Law provides an atmosphere of shared goals and achievement and a genuine sense of community.
NIU Law provides its students with a curriculum that will make them well-rounded legal professionals. The first-year program consists of the traditional ABA-required courses. After the first year, the only required courses are Constitutional Law II, Professional Responsibility, Introduction to Lawyering Skills, and a seminar; the remaining courses may be selected from a wide range of electives. A total of 90 credit hours are required to graduate from the College of Law. NIU Law offers an Academic Support Program to help first-year students succeed.
During the summer, electives are offered on the main campus. Also during the summer, NIU Law offers an international law program in France. During this program, students receive six hours of credit in international and comparative law.
The clinical lawyering skills programs offer students the opportunity to acquire the essential techniques needed in pretrial and trial work through structured simulations and experiences in an array of legal settings. The externship programs provide students with sound experience under the supervision of highly qualified practicing attorneys or with opportunities to be law clerks for state or federal judges. The Zeke Giorgi Legal Clinic in Rockford gives students the opportunity to apply legal theory as they represent clients and resolve disputes in a real-world setting.
NIU Law has an entering class of 110 to 115 students out of an applicant pool ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 students. NIU Law is a relatively selective institution. NIU Law grants admission on a competitive basis through an evaluation of an applicant's aptitude and professional promise. Factors of most importance to the admission committee are the applicant's undergraduate record, LSAT score, reasons for seeking admission, school or community activities and accomplishments, employment background, and ability to add diversity to the law school community and the legal profession.
Applicants must submit their applications online at the Law School Admission Council's (LSAC) website at LSAC.org. In addition to the applications, prospective students must submit personal statements, résumés, and application fees directly through LSAC.org. NIU Law requires applicants to use the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS). International students who do not have a degree from a United States institution must submit all international transcripts and TOEFL scores to CAS. In order for NIU Law to receive LSAT scores, applicants need to submit official undergraduate and graduate transcripts as well as two letters of recommendation to CAS. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications early, even if they have not taken the LSAT, due to the limited number of seats in each entering class.
tudents are offered a wide variety of educational and professionally oriented activities. Among these are the Northern Illinois University Law Review, a forum for the expression of serious legal scholarship; the Trial Advocacy Society; and the Moot Court Society. Students compete in a wide selection of moot court and alternative dispute resolution competitions. Organizations range from the Asian American Law Student Organization to the Women's Law Caucus.
NIU Law offers its students small class sizes and a quality legal education at an affordable cost. For the 2011–2012 academic year, in-state tuition and fees equal $19,204, and out-of-state tuition and fees equal $34,060. Out-of-state residents may apply and qualify for in-state tuition within six months. Accordingly, few second- and third-year students are classified as out-of-state residents.
Scholarships and grants are available for students from a variety of sources. After their first year, students may qualify for research assistantships or graduate assistantships.
Information on scholarships, grants, and loans is available on our website at www.niu.edu/law. The priority deadline for the FAFSA application is March 1.
The Office of Career Opportunities has a strong track record in assisting and preparing graduates for rewarding careers through references to prospective employers and through on-campus interviews. The office assists current students in obtaining enriching summer legal employment. Due to NIU Law's small class size, personalized counseling is a reality.
Affordable housing is available both on and off campus. Handicap-accessible housing is also available. For information about on-campus housing, prospective students may telephone 815.753.9669 or visit the student housing website at www.niu.edu/housing.
Many moderately priced apartments are available close to the university. The housing budget is $10,600. Prospective students may contact off-campus housing at 815.753.9999 or visit the website at www.niu.edu/comnontrad/housing.
We encourage you to visit our law school community and our website. Check our admissions web pages for activities and programming, or call us at 815.753.8595.
This grid includes only applicants who earned 120–180 LSAT scores under standard administrations.
| GPA | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LSAT Score |
3.75+ Apps |
3.75+ Adm |
3.50– 3.74 Apps |
3.50– 3.74 Adm |
3.25– 3.49 Apps |
3.25– 3.49 Adm |
3.00– 3.24 Apps |
3.00– 3.24 Adm |
2.75– 2.99 Apps |
2.75– 2.99 Adm |
2.50– 2.74 Apps |
2.50– 2.74 Adm |
2.25– 2.49 Apps |
2.25– 2.49 Adm |
2.00– 2.24 Apps |
2.00– 2.24 Adm |
Below 2.00 Apps |
Below 2.00 Adm |
No GPA Apps |
No GPA Adm |
Total Apps |
Total Adm |
| LSAT score 170–180 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| LSAT score 165–169 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| LSAT score 160–164 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 51 |
| LSAT score 155–159 | 13 | 13 | 28 | 25 | 37 | 36 | 50 | 46 | 29 | 21 | 19 | 9 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 194 | 155 |
| LSAT score 150–154 | 31 | 29 | 51 | 38 | 90 | 67 | 74 | 54 | 52 | 20 | 29 | 2 | 20 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 358 | 216 |
| LSAT score 145–149 | 23 | 10 | 30 | 7 | 60 | 17 | 51 | 9 | 24 | 0 | 38 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 254 | 45 |
| LSAT score 140–144 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 22 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 143 | 2 |
| LSAT score Below 140 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 52 | 0 |
| Total | 83 | 65 | 137 | 85 | 230 | 133 | 228 | 120 | 147 | 48 | 116 | 13 | 68 | 10 | 30 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 1065 | 477 |
Apps = Number of Applicants
Adm = Number Admitted
Reflects 99% of the total applicant pool; highest LSAT data reported.