Loyola University Chicago School of Law

Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Established 1908
School type Private
Dean Michael J. Kaufman
Location Chicago, Illinois, United States
41°53′50″N 87°37′38″W / 41.8973°N 87.6271°W / 41.8973; -87.6271Coordinates: 41°53′50″N 87°37′38″W / 41.8973°N 87.6271°W / 41.8973; -87.6271
Enrollment 869
USNWR ranking 74th (U.S. News Rankings 2018)
Website www.luc.edu/law

Loyola University Chicago School of Law is the law school of Loyola University Chicago, in Illinois. Established in 1909, by the Society of Jesus, the Roman Catholic order of the Jesuits, the School of Law is located in downtown Chicago. Loyola University Chicago School of Law offers degrees and combined degree programs, including the Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.). Loyola University Chicago and its Water Tower campus also holds art exhibitions and other cultural events.

The Fall 2017 entering class had a median GPA of 3.38 and a median LSAT of 158.[1] 34 percent of the 2017 entering class were students of color.[2] The July 2016 Illinois Bar Exam pass rate for first-time test takers was 77%, placing the school sixth out of Illinois' nine law schools.[3] While Loyola's overall U.S. News ranking fell in 2017, the school's specialty rankings have improved. The school was ranked 72nd in 2016, and is currently ranked at 74th according to USNWR.[4] In 2017, Loyola was ranked 6th in the country in health law, 6th in trial advocacy, and 14th for its part-time program, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2017 specialty rankings.[5] In 2015, Loyola was ranked #1 in the country in family law according to Law Street Media.[6] Law Street Media ranked Loyola's healthcare law and business law programs #1 and #9 in the country, respectively, in 2014.[7][8] Loyola recently launched a weekend JD program to provide a flexible option for working professionals.[9]

According to Loyola's 2017 ABA-required disclosures, 57.4% of the Class of 2016 obtained full-time, long-term, bar passage required employment ten months after graduation. 9.1% of graduates from the Class of 2016 were unemployed 10 months after graduation.[10]

Academics

There are fourteen major degree programs offered at the School of Law: doctor of jurisprudence (J.D.), master of laws (LL.M.) in either business law, child and family law, health law or tax law. Specialized certificates are available in advocacy, child and family law, health law, international law and practice, public interest law, tax law, and transactional law. Students may pursue a master of jurisprudence (M.J.) in either business and compliance law, child and family law, health law, global competition, and rule of law for development. There are two major doctoral degrees: doctor of juridical sciences in health law and policy (S.J.D.) which is the highest degree any attorney may obtain in the United States and the doctor of laws (D.Law). Dual degree programs are offered with the Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work (J.D./M.S.W. and M.J./M.S.W.), Department of Political Science (J.D./M.A.), Graduate School of Education (J.D./M.A. in International Comparative Law and Education) and the Graduate School of Business (J.D./M.B.A.). Loyola offers a master of laws and master of jurisprudence in rule of law for development at the University's John Felice Rome Center in Italy. Loyola offers seven online degree programs and online certificate programs in school discipline reform and privacy law.

Like most U.S. law schools, Loyola imposes a grade curve.[11] Loyola's curve has a median GPA of 3.0. The grade curve prevents many students from transferring to higher ranking law schools.[12] In addition, the curve makes Loyola's top students more attractive to legal employers that are less inclined to hire graduates of lower ranking law schools.[13] The curve puts many students at a disadvantage, because legal employers typically will only consider hiring graduates with a minimum GPA of 3.0.[14]

Employment

According to Loyola's official 2016 ABA-required disclosures, 62.2% of the Class of 2016 obtained "bar passage required" employment within ten months of graduation.[15] A "bar passage required" position is defined as one that requires the graduate to pass a bar exam and to be licensed to practice law in one or more jurisdictions. The positions that have such a requirement are varied and include, for example, positions in law firms, business, or government. However, not all positions in law firms, business, or government require bar passage; for example, a paralegal position would not. Positions that require the graduate to pass a bar exam and be licensed after beginning employment in order to retain the position are included in this category. Judicial clerkships are also included in this category.

An additional 20.5% of the Class of 2016 obtained "J.D. advantaged" employment within ten months of graduation.[16] A "J.D. advantaged" position is one for which the employer sought an individual with a J.D., and perhaps even required a J.D., or for which the J.D. provided a demonstrable advantage in obtaining or performing the job, but which does not itself require bar passage or an active law license or involve practicing law. Examples of positions for which a J.D. is an advantage include a corporate contracts administrator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, government regulatory analyst, FBI agent, and accountant. Also included might be jobs in personnel or human resources, jobs with investment banks, jobs with consulting firms, jobs doing compliance work in business and industry, jobs in law firm professional development, and jobs in law school career services offices, admissions offices, or other law school administrative offices. Doctors or nurses who plan to work in a litigation, insurance, or risk management setting, or as expert witnesses, would fall into this category, as would journalists and teachers (in a higher education setting) of law and law related topics. It is an indicator that a position does not fall into this category if a J.D. is uncommon among persons holding such a position.

Bar Passage

Loyola has posted below average pass rates on the Illinois Bar exam in recent years. In 2013, 88% of graduates passed the Illinois Bar exam.[17] By July 2016, the Illinois Bar exam pass rate for Loyola grads had fallen to 77%, below the state average.[18] The passage rate placed Loyola sixth out of Illinois' nine law schools behind the University of Chicago, University of Illinois, Northwestern University, IIT Chicago-Kent, and Northern Illinois University.

Prior to 2011, law schools published fraudulent employment statistics suggesting that over 90% of their graduates were employed in attorney positions earning six figure salaries.[19] Loyola was noted as a law school that previously provided inaccurate consumer information.[20] When the ABA required law schools to publish accurate graduate employment statistics, applications to law schools fell precipitously. In response, law schools lowered admission standards to maintain class sizes without considering the consequences on bar passage rates. Since 2011, applications to law schools, including Loyola, have fallen by over 50%.[21] Loyola responded by lowering admission standards. In 2011, Loyola admitted a class with a 25th/75th percentile GPA of 3.13/3.57 and a 25th/75th percentile LSAT of 156/162. By 2016, Loyola's entering class had a 25th/75th percentile GPA of 3.02/3.54 and a 25th/75th percentile LSAT of 154/160. The decline in admissions standards to maintain enrollment has resulted in falling bar passage rates across the country.[22]

Costs

The total cost of attendance (including the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses) in the full-time JD Program for the 2017-2018 academic year is $70,224.[23]

The total cost of attendance (including the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses) in the part-time, Weekend JD Program for the 2017-2018 academic year is $59,922.[24]

Student body

The School of Law currently occupies the Corboy Law Center at 25 East Pearson Street. The Law School previously occupied Maguire Hall, at One East Pearson, but switched buildings with the Loyola University Chicago Quinlan School of Business in the fall of 2005. Each day, its student body of over 1,000 congregates at the Water Tower Campus to receive instruction from full-time and part-time professors, who are the leading jurists of the City of Chicago and State of Illinois. Students are involved in over thirty student organizations and six distinguished law publications: Annals of Health Law, Children's Legal Rights Journal, Consumer Law Review, International Law Review, Loyola University Chicago Law Journal, Public Interest Law Reporter and Loyola University Chicago Journal of Regulatory Compliance.

Administration

From July 2005 until May 2016, David N. Yellen served as Dean and Professor of Law. Professor of Law and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Michael J. Kaufman assumed the role of interim dean after Yellen left Loyola to become president of Marist College. After an extensive national search, Kaufman was appointed Loyola University Chicago's 12th law dean. Kaufman has been a member of Loyola's full-time law faculty since 1986. His areas of expertise are education law and policy, securities regulation and litigation, civil procedure, and jurisprudence.

The Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition

In 1993, the APA Law Student Association of the South Texas College of Law founded the Thomas Tang National Moot Court Competition. The competition is administered by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association ("NAPABA") Law Foundation and the NAPABA Judicial Council. Judge Thomas Tang was a champion of individual rights, an advocate for the advancement of minority attorneys and an ardent supporter of NAPABA and the moot court competition. This moot court competition was established to continue Judge Tang's legacy. From 1977 until his death in 1995, he served on the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The format of the competition divides the country into six regions: central, northeast, southeast, southwest, west, and northwest. The top two teams from each region advance to the national competition that is held simultaneously with the NAPABA National Convention. The convention sites have included, but are not limited to Hawaii, New York City, Scottsdale, Arizona, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, California, Atlanta, Georgia, Dallas, Texas, and Las Vegas, Nevada.

In 2017, Loyola won both the regional and national Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ "ABA Required Disclosures". Loyola University Chicago - School of Law - JD Admissions. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  2. ↑ "Welcoming 1Ls".
  3. ↑ "Chicago Daily Law Bulletin" (PDF).
  4. ↑ https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/loyola-university-chicago-03048. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/loyola-university-chicago-03048. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ↑ https://lawstreetmedia.com/schools/top-10-law-schools-family-law-1-loyola-university-chicago-school-law/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ↑ https://lawstreetmedia.com/schools/top-10-law-schools-healthcare-law-1-loyola-university-chicago-school-law/
  8. ↑ https://lawstreetmedia.com/schools/top-10-law-schools-business-law-9-loyola-university-chicago-school-law/
  9. ↑ (PDF) http://www.luc.edu/media/lucedu/law/pdfs/national-law-journal-article.pdf. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ↑ "Employment Data" (PDF). Luc.edu. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  11. ↑ "Loyola Law Curve".
  12. ↑ "The Cruel Grading System".
  13. ↑ "The Cruel Grading System".
  14. ↑ "The Cruel Grading System".
  15. ↑ https://www.luc.edu/media/lucedu/law/career/pdfs/2016%20ABA%20EmploymentSummary.pdf
  16. ↑ https://www.luc.edu/media/lucedu/law/career/pdfs/2016%20ABA%20EmploymentSummary.pdf
  17. ↑ "ABA Required Disclosures" (PDF).
  18. ↑ "Chicago Daily Law Bulletin" (PDF).
  19. ↑ "The Fall of Systemic Deception At Law Schools".
  20. ↑ "Loyola Alumni Magazine Spring 2006" (PDF).
  21. ↑ "Loyola Admissions Data".
  22. ↑ "Compare LSAT Scores, Bar Exam Performance for Law Schools".
  23. ↑ https://www.luc.edu/law/admission/jdadmissions/financialaid/2017-18costofattendance/
  24. ↑ https://www.luc.edu/law/admission/jdadmissions/financialaid/2017-18costofattendance/
  25. ↑ Illinois Blue Book 1977-1979 pages 58 and 143
  26. ↑ "Hon. William R. Quinlan 1939-2013 | Illinois Lawyer Now". iln.isba.org. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  27. ↑ "William Quinlan, lawyer, judge, dies". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  28. ↑ "William J.Quinlan - Illinois Lawyers - Going Public". Super Lawyers. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  29. ↑ "40 Under 40 2006". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  30. ↑ Schwieterman, Joseph P.; Caspall, Dana M.; Heron, Jane (2006-01-01). The Politics of Place: A History of Zoning in Chicago. Lake Claremont Press. ISBN 9781893121263.
  31. ↑ Tajanko, Darius. "Board of Commissioners of Cook County - File #: 14-0179". cook-county.legistar.com. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  32. ↑ http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/_assets/_news/Judge%20John%20Darrah.pdf
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