Southern Illinois University School of Law

Southern Illinois University
School of Law
The School of Law's main entrance
Established 1972
School type Public
Dean Interim Dean Cindy Buys
Location Carbondale, Illinois, USA
Enrollment 270 Full-Time approximate
Faculty 28
USNWR ranking RNP (150-196)[1]
Bar pass rate 67% (2017)
Website law.siu.edu

Southern Illinois University School of Law (SIU Law) is one of three public law schools in the U.S. state of Illinois. Located in Carbondale, Illinois, it is the only law school in the southern region of Illinois.

About the School of Law

The Southern Illinois University School of Law's mission to serve the public good began in 1972, when it was established by the Illinois state legislature. Its first class started in August 1973. Presently, the school resides in the Lesar Law Building, named for its first dean Hiram H. Lesar. The School of Law offers the Juris Doctor degree through a full-time program.

The School of Law offers specializations in Business and Transactional Law, Health Law, Intellectual Property, International and Comparative Law, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, and Public Interest Law.

In addition, joint degree programs include: J.D./Doctor of Medicine, J.D./Doctor of Political Science, J.D./Master of Accountancy, J.D./Master of Business Administration, J.D./Master of Science in Education, J.D./Master of Electrical and Computer Engineering, J.D./Master of Public Administration, and J.D./Master of Social Work.

Employment

According to SIU Law's official 2017 ABA-required disclosures, 58.62% of the Class of 2017 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment as of March 15, 2018.[2][3]

Costs

The tuition at SIU Law for the 2018-2019 academic year is $17,504 for Illinois residents and out-of-state students (with a tuition offset covering the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition rates).[4]

Health Law and Policy Program

The Health Law Program at the Southern Illinois University School of Law was developed in the early 1980s to advance education and research regarding critical issues in health law, public policy, and medical ethics.[5]

Student Organizations

The School of Law offers its students the opportunity to join an array of student activities such as Law Journal, Moot Court Society, and Trial Advocacy Society. There are also a number of student interest groups.

Journal

Southern Illinois University Law Journal

The Southern Illinois University Law Journal is a student-edited journal that publishes articles designed to assist the legal community and to stimulate critical discussion of current legal, policy, and social issues. The Journal publishes three issues per year.

Clinics and Externships

  • Civil Practice/Elderly Clinic[6]

The Civil Practice/Elderly Clinic provides a full range of civil legal services to those 60 and over in 13 counties in southern Illinois. These services include the drafting of simple wills and powers of attorney, assistance with securing public benefits and entitlements including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and Veteran's benefits. In addition, the clinic handles family law (divorce, etc.) matters, consumer problems, and public utilities problems.

  • Domestic Violence Clinic[7]

The Domestic Violence Clinic provides legal representation to victims of domestic violence in Jackson, Williamson and Union counties. In an average order of protection case, students will interview the client, prepare the client for a hearing, appear before the court in a contested or uncontested hearing, prepare an order for the court, and follow through with the necessary steps to make the order enforceable.

  • Juvenile Justice Clinic[8]

Students enrolled in the Juvenile Justice Clinic work with an experienced clinic attorney and perform legal services and duties to minors for whom the clinic attorney has been appointed guardian ad litem.

  • Veterans' Legal Assistance Program Externship

The Veterans' Legal Assistance Program Externship provides free legal assistance to veterans in southern Illinois who cannot afford or do not have access to legal representation in the appeals of claims for compensation for service-connected disabilities, pension benefits, survivor benefits, and education benefits.

  • Judicial Externship

The Judicial Externship offers an opportunity for law students to learn about the legal system by working for a sitting judge.

  • Public Interest Externship

The Public Interest Externship offers hands-on experience working in a publicly-funded law office providing public-service legal assistance. Placements include state's attorney offices, public defender offices, legal service offices, and non-profit organizations and governmental agencies.

Rankings

As of the 2018 ranking, SIU School of Law is ranked "RNP" (Ranking Not Published) putting it in the 150-196 range of ABA approved law schools in the US News Rankings of Best Law Schools with a median starting salary of employed graduates of $50,000.[9]

In 2012, National Jurist ranked SIU School of Law as one of the best value law schools in the nation with a grade of "A-."[10]

Notable alumni

  • William Enyart - United States Representative (D-12th)
  • Rich Whitney - Illinois Green Party politician, civil rights attorney
  • Sue E. Myerscough - District Judge, United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
  • Kim Foxx - State's Attorney Cook County, Illinois
  • Nancy J. Rosenstengel - District Judge, United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
  • David R. Herndon - District Judge, United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
  • Paul Schimpf Illinois State Senator (R-58th District of Illinois)
  • Jil Tracy Illinois State Senator (R-47th District of Illinois)
  • Lena Taylor Wisconsin State Senator (D-4th District of Wisconsin)
  • Ryan Hatfield Indiana State Senator (D-77th District of Indiana)
  • Whitney Westerfield Kentucky State Senator (R-3rd District of Kentucky)

References

  1. ↑ "USNews Best Law Schools 2016". US News and World Report. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  2. ↑ "EMPLOYMENT SUMMARY FOR 2016 GRADUATES - SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY-CARBONDALE". employmentsummary.abaquestionnaire.org. American Bar Association. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  3. ↑ "2017 Questionnaire Definitions & Instructions". employmentsummary.abaquestionnaire.org. American Bar Association. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  4. ↑ "Cost and Aid".
  5. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-06-20. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  6. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-09-22. Retrieved 2013-06-22.
  7. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-09-22. Retrieved 2013-06-22.
  8. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-09-22. Retrieved 2013-06-22.
  9. ↑ "Southern Illinois University--Carbondale RNP Best Law Schools". usnews.com. U.S. News & World Report LP. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  10. ↑ http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cypress/nationaljurist0912/index.php#/22

Coordinates: 37°42′49.2″N 89°13′48.6″W / 37.713667°N 89.230167°W / 37.713667; -89.230167

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