October 2019 – Pre-Law Advising Services Blog

September and October LSAT Takers – The LSAT is over! Now what?

So the LSAT is behind you. Congratulations! Now what? Here is a checklist of items you should be working on to get those applications completed and submitted as soon as possible, with a target deadline of Fall Break.

Complete the writing portion of the LSAT. You will not be able to submit your applications until you finish the writing section of the LSAT so hop on that ASAP!
Register for the Credential Assembly Service if you haven’t already. This is the account where your letter of recommendation writers will send your letter–and they can’t write your letter until you set this up. Click here for more information.
Follow up with your recommenders. By now you should have already approached your letter of recommendation writers, but if not, now is the time. Provide a resume and allow at least 6-8 weeks for them to write and upload the letter to your CAS account.
Order your transcript(s) now. Note: You will need to order a transcript from every undergraduate institution where you took courses–even summer courses–so now is a good time to reach out to the registrar of any community colleges or schools from which you transferred. Here is where you order your UIUC transcript. Want more information about the LSAC’s transcript policies? Go here.
Write your personal statement. Not sure where to start? Sign up for our next Personal Statement and Resume Workshop, set for Tuesday, November 5, 4-5pm, Room 514 IUB. If you are unable to attend a workshop, we also provide a quick overview of the personal statement in our PLAS Handbook. Click on the “Applying to Law School” tab. Once there, select the “Personal Statement” tab. We have additional information in the “Applying to Law School” section of our PLAS Compass page. As both of these resources explain, each law school will have its own prompt(s) for the personal statement. While you may discover that many of these personal statement prompts are similar, you need to CAREFULLY REVIEW each prompt for each law school and reply to that prompt. Besides giving you a topic or direction to take, the prompt may also contain information about font size, page limits, etc. You need to open your CAS account and then begin to apply to each law school to see the details in each application. Note: just because you open an application today does NOT mean you have to finish it today. You can begin your law school applications and then go back and work on them at your own pace. The law schools do NOT see anything until you actually submit your application.
Research law schools. The very first thing to consider is: What are your top 3 priorities in a legal education? (Location, employment, affordability, and admissibility are common priorities.) You’ll want to develop a list of 8-10 law schools that meet those priorities. You can find LSAT/GPA data, employment information, tuition, and more by using a resource like the American Bar Association’s Required Disclosure reports. On this website you will find these reports:
1. 509 Required Disclosures = Previous year’s incoming class data such as GPA, LSAT, ethnicity, number of applicants + admits, etc., plus you can find tuition, number and amount of scholarships awarded, and transfer data.
2. Employment Outcomes = Law schools are required to report the employment status of graduates 10 months after graduation. Here you will see how many of the law schools’s most recent grads are employed, and in what sectors.
3. Bar Passage Outcomes = Law schools must report bar passage data about a year out. This report will show which state bar exam this school’s grads take, how many pass, and comparisons to the general state pass rate.

If you have questions and would like to meet with an advisor, go here to schedule an appointment.

Mark Your Calendars – Week of October 28, 2019

Scroll down for information on GRE vouchers, law school open houses and tours, our Pre-Law 101 session set for tomorrow, the Midwest Law School Virtual Fair, jobs, internships, scholarships and more!

Taking the GRE? We have vouchers for a $50 discount on GRE registration fees. Email Jamie at thomas99@illinois.edu if you are planning to take the GRE to apply to law school and we can provide you with one of the vouchers.

Pre-Law 101 – TOMORROW, Tuesday, October 29, 4-5pm, Room 514 IUB. This workshop is designed for students who are new to pre-law or are interested in learning more about it. All Illini are welcome. We will cover: What it means to be pre-law at Illinois, course selection, majors, and extracurriculars, building a pre-law resume, and what law schools are really looking for. We will outline a four year plan to maximize your undergraduate experiences in order to make a great law school candidate. We’ll also take any questions about law school and legal careers. Each Pre-Law 101 session is the same, so pick the one that best suits your schedule. Incoming freshmen should attend a Pre-Law 101 prior to setting up an individual pre-law advising appointment. Please register here so that we can ensure we have enough seating and materials.

Personal Statement & Resume workshop–Nov. 5 at 4:00 pm.

This workshop will cover:

What the personal statement is (and isn’t)
The role of the statement in the application process
A suggested plan for drafting it
An overview of law school resumes
How to make sure that your resume and personal statement complement each other.

All Illinois students and alumni are welcome, particularly those who will be applying to law school this fall. Register here.

Go here to check out other upcoming PLAS Events!

Law School/Legal Education Events

University of Toledo College of Law – Launch into Law Program – Applications due THIS THURSDAY, October 31, 2019! Launch into Law is an immersive, 5-day experience at Toledo Law designed to prepare students from traditionally underserved groups for the law school application process. Learn test-taking strategies for the LSAT, enhance your legal writing skills, and connect with student and professional mentors to explore law school options and legal career paths. The program will be held at Toledo Law January 13-17, 2020.

Students who complete the program and later apply to Toledo Law are eligible for a $1,000 scholarship upon acceptance to The University of Toledo College of Law. Go here for more information and to apply. This program is open to highly-qualified undergraduates at no cost. Space is limited. Students from traditionally underserved populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Selected students will be notified on or before November 8.

Harvard Law School Online Info Sessions. Interested in learning some tips about applying to Harvard Law School? HLS has begun offering online information sessions. Some concern the admissions process, others offer insight into campus life, student organizations, and clinical opportunities at HLS. Click here to register for these upcoming sessions, and to see the entire schedule.

- Political Discourse at HLS — Tuesday, October 29, 2019, 6:00 — 7:00 PM Eastern
- International Students at HLS – Thursday, October 31, 2019
  12:00 – 1:00 PM Eastern

AccessLex, a nonprofit working to educate law students about the financial aspects of legal education, invites all who are interested to these free upcoming webinars. Click here to register and to view their full schedule.

- The Road to Zero: A Strategic Approach to Student Loan Repayment –Oct. 30, 9:00 pm (EST)

Law School Open Houses/Admissions Programs

Some schools schedule formal open houses and others require you to choose a date for a visit. Open houses are a great opportunity to visit the campus, sit in on a class, see what the students and professors are like, and a great opportunity to answer all of your questions. Most law schools require you to register for these events. We have listed below some upcoming open houses for law schools in Illinois, some of which will happen in the next couple of weeks and over Fall Break. If you want to research other law schools’ open house info, you can begin by checking out our list of the law schools that attended the Law School Fair October 3. Scroll down the page. When you click on the law school, the embedded link will take you to that school’s admissions page.

Chicago-Kent Law School Open House/Admissions Workshop: Preparing for a Legal Career. Saturday, November 16, 9am-12:30pm. This will be an in-depth workshop on Preparing for a Legal Career, including a mini law school class, admissions overview, and tour. Click here to register!

University of Chicago Law School Open House – THIS Friday, November 1, 9am-1pm. The programs for the Open House will give you a glimpse into life at the Law School: you will attend a class, meet with students, faculty, and staff, and take a tour of the school. Members of the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid will be available to answer any questions you have about applying for admission to the Law School or about the Law School in general. Click here for more information and to register!

DePaul University College of Law – Saturday, November 23, 10am. The faculty, students and staff of DePaul University College of Law invite you and a guest to our Open House events for prospective students. Our programs provide you with information about admission requirements, areas of concentration and financial aid. Each Open House also includes a student panel discussion, mock class, lunch and a tour of our facilities. Programs begin promptly at 10 a.m. For more information and to register, go here.

Loyola University School of Law – Friday, November 22, 11:15am We host information sessions to provide an informal opportunity to ask questions of a member of the JD Admission team. Approximately 45 minutes will be allotted for the information sessions. These sessions are offered on select dates during fall and spring semesters. Information sessions are intended for prospective students; admitted students should select from our other visit options. To register, go here and scroll down the page to find the registration for the November 22 information session.

Northern Illinois University College of Law Open House—Saturday, November 16, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. Includes a student panel, mock class, tour, and lunch with current law students. For more information and to RSVP visit their website here.

Northwestern University School of Law – Super Saturday – November 9. After requesting an On-Campus Interview within your JD application (so you need to submit your application first), the Admissions Office will send you an invitation and you will be equipped to select from available slots for your interview. Go here for more info. Note: Early decision / ED applicants are required to complete an online video interview. Upon submitting your ED application to Northwestern Law, you will receive an invitation to our online video interview portal and guidance for completing this requirement. For additional information on the interview process, visiting the school and other questions you may have, check out the FAQs on Northwestern Law’s website here.

Southern Illinois University School of Law The best way to really connect with SIU is the see it for yourself. Visits are scheduled during normal business hours – Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Complete the information here and an admissions representative will be in contact with you to customize your visit. We appreciate 48 hours notice for any campus visit. If you have any questions, please call the Office of Admissions at (618) 453-8858.

University of Illinois College of Law – Nothing will give you a greater sense of the College of Law at Illinois than an in-person visit. We look forward to meeting you on campus.

Please reach out to our Office of Admissions to schedule your visit. You may also want to browse our events calendar, in case you’d like to schedule your visit to coincide with one of our upcoming events. For more information, go here.

UIC John Marshall Law School Throughout the academic year, the Office of Admission offers open house programs for prospective students interested in UIC John Marshall. The open house programs provide an overview of curriculum, the classroom experience, and student life, and offer prospects a chance to familiarize themselves with legal education. In addition, the Law School offers guided tours to prospective students at scheduled times throughout the week. To schedule a tour, call the Office of Admission at 800.537.4280. For more information, go here.

Marquette University Law School – Open House Saturday, November 16, 9:00am-11:30am. Tours begin at 9am followed by an Information Session and Student Panel beginning at 10am. RSVP online here or by calling 414.288.6767.

Midwest Law School Virtual Fair – Wednesday, November 13, 10am-2pm CST

Over 25 law schools are registered and eager to connect with prospective students in a virtual way. To see a list of participating law schools, click on this link. Registration is FREE! Interested students should register here.

Internships and Jobs

We’ve been posting job opportunities for December grads over on our Pre-Law Compass page and on our Facebook page. Follow us on Facebook to make sure you don’t miss any postings! We will be posting summer internships too.

2020 Census Takers Needed

Looking for a way to make some extra money this year? The U.S. Census Bureau is looking to hire individuals all across the United States to help collect data for the 2020 Census. Hourly rates vary by location, with pay starting at $15 per hour in Champaign County and ranging from $18-$22 per hour in Cook County. Go here for more information and to apply!

International Programs in Engineering (IPENG) Communication & Multimedia Intern: IPENG is responsible for the delivery of study abroad services and resources to students and faculty in the College of Engineering. For more information, please visit www.engineering.illinois.edu/ipeng .

We are currently seeking a student intern who will create digital and print materials that will brand, position and promote International Programs in Engineering. In addition, our intern will take photos at IPENG Events as needed and maintain a strong database of images to be used across the multiple advertising platforms. This opportunity may extend into additional semesters by mutual agreement. This part time position offer flexible hours, requiring approximately 8-10 hours per week. The starting pay is $9.00/hour. We are looking for a self-starter who can work both independently and on a team.

Interested candidates should submit resume, cover letter, and a portfolio of work as a single .pdf file attached to an email message sent to Jana Gadbury, jgadbury@illinois.edu by November 18, 2019. Please put “Communications and Multimedia Intern” in the subject of the email.

The International Business Immersion Program is one of the oldest faculty-led study abroad programs on campus. In Spring 2020, the course (ACE/BADM 436) will be traveling over spring break to northern India to explore contemporary issues in agriculture, business, and development in India. The application deadline for this program has been extended to Nov. 15. Click here to apply.

I-STAR Applications DUE November 1, 2019!!

Career Center https://www.careercenter.illinois.edu/

Handshake–Looking for internships, jobs, career fairs, networking receptions, or other professional opportunities? Handshake is where it’s at! All students, not just seniors, should set up an account and start checking in on a consistent basis to see what opportunities interest you. Set up your account here.

ALL students should utilize the Career Center’s services! They offer a variety of programs to help you identify career paths through workshops, career fairs and individual meetings. Click on the link above to view all of their offerings.

Here are some of their upcoming events:

- - Careers at the United Nations – Wed., Oct. 30, 5-6:30pm, Main Library, Room 66
  - Drop In Coffee Chat with the United Nations – Thurs., Oct. 31, 9:30am-11:00am, Career Center Interview Suite Room 213, 616 East Green Street
  - Resume, Cover Letter, and Linked In Reviews are offered almost every day. Check the website for times and locations.

Scholarships

Beinecke Scholarship – Information Sessions

The Beinecke Foundation is looking for students who have demonstrated superior standards of intellectual ability, scholastic achievement, and personal promise during their undergraduate years. The program seeks to encourage and enable highly motivated U.S. citizen juniors to pursue graduate studies in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Each scholar receives $4,000 immediately prior to entering graduate school and an additional $30,000 while attending graduate school. Preference is given to candidates for whom the awarding of significant financial aid would increase the likelihood of the student’s being able to attend graduate school.

The University of Illinois is one of a select few institutions that may endorse a candidate for the Beinecke Scholarship, and the National and International Scholarships Program has planned two sessions to assist students interested in earning this $34,000 award. The campus deadline for nomination is January 21, 2020. Additional information about the award may be found at: https://topscholars.illinois.edu/beineckebros

If you are interested in applying, please plan to attend our informational sessions:

Beinecke Scholarship Information Session: Thursday, October 31st, 3:30-4:30 pm, 514 Illini Union Bookstore Building

Beinecke Scholarship Writing Workshop: Friday, November 1st, 3:00-4:00 pm, 514 Illini Union Bookstore Building

For more information, contact the scholarships office at topscholars@illinois.edu or visit our website at www.topscholars.illinois.edu

Graduate Hotels’ $150K Payoff – Applications DUE October 31!

Graduate Hotels and Scholly are teaming up to conquer $150K
in student loan debt. Three current college students or college
graduates will each receive a $50,000 scholarship or loan payoff! Part 1 of the application is due THIS THURSDAY, October 31. Click here for more information and to apply. Interested in other scholarships? Check out the list of over 150 scholarships on our Compass page!

University of Illinois Women’s Career Institute Student Survey

The University of Illinois Women’s Career Institute will be on Sunday, February 9th, 2020. In order to create a more worthwhile event, the planning committee is asking students to fill out a short survey. Students can take the survey here! More information regarding the event can be found here https://oiir.illinois.edu/womens-center/our-programs/career-leadership-development-programs.

How to Interview for Law School – Including Changes to NW Interview Process

Here’s everything you need to know about law school interviews–what they are, how to prepare for them, and what to expect. Note: Registration is already open for many law school interviews!

What is the purpose of the interview? In addition to admission, law schools might use the interview to screen candidates for scholarships, research opportunities, or special programs such as law school ambassadors. It is definitely worth an applicant’s time and effort to take the interview seriously.

The Illinois Career Center holds Mock Interviews for student. Mock interviews provide an opportunity to practice interviewing and receive feedback in preparation for actual interviews. Click here to schedule a mock interview

Know what kind of interviews your law schools offer

Research your law schools’ websites to see whether and what format of interview is offered. We posted a list of known interview types by school over on our Compass page.
First come, first served interviews–Some law schools offer interview slots to all applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.
Group interviews–Some schools like Georgetown will offer group interviews in selected cities. Visit their website here for details.
By invitation only–some law schools like University of Chicago choose to interview applicants after applications are submitted and by invitation only.
Recorded interviews. Some law schools are now offering applicants the opportunity to record an interview. Usually this is how it works: You are given a prompt, and then 2-3 minutes to think about that prompt. Then the webcam records you for a few minutes while you give your answer to the prompt.
- TIP: Make sure that you look professional and are in a quiet place without interruptions. Also, take a picture with your webcam before the interview so that you can see what’s behind you…you may be surprised to see that pile of laundry or unmade bed in the background.

Preparing for the interview

Do your research. You should expect them to ask you “Why this law school?” and they will want to hear specific answers. Take a careful look at the school’s website, employment data, and social media.
- Do be prepared with specific talking points about the school that interest you: A particular journal, clinic, moot court, externship, or certificate program is a good example.
- Avoid general platitudes like “you have a national reputation” or “you’re the best ranked school I can get into.” They want to see that your interest goes beyond their ranking.
Carefully review your resume and be prepared to discuss anything on it.
Many schools will also ask something like “What are your career goals?” or “Where do you see yourself in 5/10 years?,” or even “Why do you want to be a lawyer?” and you should be prepared to discuss your career interests.
Decide how you will address the inevitable “What are your strengths and weaknesses” question.
Behavioral interviewing. This mode of interviewing will ask you to “Tell me about a time when…” For example, you’ll be asked to tell about a time when you resolved a conflict, managed a team project, made a mistake, or made a big decision.
Practice. Sign up for a mock interview with Career Services, or have a lawyer/professor/trusted person sit down with you and ask you mock questions. Think carefully about what you want to say, and how you can best convey it.
At the interview

Make eye contact, introduce yourself, and shake hands. (You would be surprised how many people skip this. Seriously.)
DO NOT BE LATE under any circumstances. The biggest sign of disrespect to lawyers is wasting their time. Allow yourself plenty of time for parking/traffic/restroom. If you absolutely cannot avoid being late, call the office to let them know.
Dress up. This is not a business-casual situation; business formal is best.
Engage in small talk. How’s the weather, what a lovely office/view, how is your semester going, etc., is not only socially necessary but also gives the interviewer an idea of how good you are at making people feel comfortable talking with you–a critical skill to be a successful lawyer. This might even be part of the interview itself.
Bring questions for the interviewer. Most interviewers will ask if you have any questions for them. Use the opportunity. Some examples might include:
- What are the most important qualities in a Law School X student?
- How would you describe the student body/atmosphere here?
- What challenges do you see current law students facing?
- What’s the best advice you have for an aspiring law student?
Thank the interviewer for their time. Reiterate your interest.

After the interview

Follow up with an email thanking the interviewer for their time.
Include something specific that you learned or enjoyed about the interview. Examples:
- Thank you for your advice about _______________; I found that very insightful.
- It was so interesting to hear your perspective on the unique qualities of this school.
- I appreciate your candid advice for prospective law students.
Take the opportunity–again–to reiterate your interest in the school.

Changes to Northwestern University Early Decision Process

Applicants must submit their ED application before having an interview
Upon submission of your application the Office of Admissions will send you an invitation and detailed instructions to complete the interview
ALL ED interviews must be held ONLINE
Completion of an online video interview is a requirement for ED applicants
Applicants admitted through the ED program will receive a $120,000 merit scholarship, split evenly over the three years of their legal education.

Mark Your Calendar: Week of October 21

Pre-Law 101 – Tuesday, October 29, 4-5pm, Room 514 IUB. This workshop is designed for incoming students who are new to pre-law or are interested in learning more about it. All Illini are welcome. We will cover: What it means to be pre-law at Illinois, course selection, majors, and extracurriculars, building a pre-law resume, and what law schools are really looking for. We will outline a four year plan to maximize your undergraduate experiences in order to make a great law school candidate. We’ll also take any questions about law school and legal careers. Each Pre-Law 101 session is the same, so pick the one that best suits your schedule. Incoming freshmen should attend a Pre-Law 101 prior to setting up an individual pre-law advising appointment. Please register here so that we can ensure we have enough seating and materials.

Go here to check out other upcoming PLAS Events!

Law School/Legal Education Events

Pre-Law Honors Society: Guest Speaker Tony Allegretti – The Pre-Law Honors society is having Tony Allegretti from Illinois Student Legal Services come and speak about his experiences working with students and the law. The event will be from 5-6 pm at Lincoln Hall Room 1002

University of Toledo College of Law – Launch into Law Program – Applications due October 31, 2019! Launch into Law is an immersive, 5-day experience at Toledo Law designed to prepare students from traditionally underserved groups for the law school application process. Learn test-taking strategies for the LSAT, enhance your legal writing skills, and connect with student and professional mentors to explore law school options and legal career paths. The program will be held at Toledo Law January 13-17, 2020.

- Clinics & Student Practice Organizations — Oct. 24
- Political Discourse a HLS — Oct. 29

- Financing Your Legal Education–Oct. 22, 4:00 pm (EST)

Law School Open Houses/Admissions Programs

Some schools schedule formal open houses and others require you to choose a date for a visit. Open houses are a great opportunity to visit the campus, sit in on a class, see what the students and professors are like, and a great opportunity to answer all of your questions. Most law schools require you to register for these events. We have listed below some upcoming open houses for law schools in Illinois. If you want to research other law schools’ open house info, you can begin by checking out our list of the law schools that attended the Law School Fair last week. Scroll down the page. When you click on the law school, the embedded link will take you to that school’s admissions page.

University of Chicago Law School Open House – Friday, November 1, 9am-1pm. The programs for the Open House will give you a glimpse into life at the Law School: you will attend a class, meet with students, faculty, and staff, and take a tour of the school. Members of the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid will be available to answer any questions you have about applying for admission to the Law School or about the Law School in general. Click here for more information and to register!

Northern Illinois University College of Law Open House–Saturday, November 16, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. Includes a student panel, mock class, tour, and lunch with current law students. For more information and to RSVP visit their website here.

Internships and Jobs

2020 Census Takers Needed

We are currently seeking a student intern who will create digital and print materials that will brand, position and promote International Programs in Engineering. In addition, our intern will take photos at IPENG Events as needed and maintain a strong database of images to be used across the multiple advertising platforms. This opportunity may extend into additional semesters by mutual agreement. This part time position offer flexible hours, requiring approximately 8-10 hours per week. The starting pay is 9.00/hour. We are looking for a self-starter who can work both independently and on a team.

The application deadline for this program has been extended to November 15^th! Please share the attached flyer with your students, and please contact me with any questions.

Career Center https://www.careercenter.illinois.edu/

Here are some of their upcoming events:

- - Resume, Cover Letter, and Linked In Reviews are offered almost every day. Check the website for times and locations.

Spring 2020 Pre-Law Class/Course Guide

Spring 2020 Registration Time Tickets – Available Starting Monday, October 21! Registration is almost here, which means pre-law students are asking: What courses should I take? As you know, students in ANY major can attend law school, and there are NO specifically required courses for pre-law undergrads. Law schools do not require any particular major or coursework. However, given an interest in law, here are some spring courses that pre-law students may find particularly helpful and interesting. These courses are only suggestions and are NOT requirements. For some additional information about course planning, go here to check out an earlier blog post with some good tips about planning your schedule.

CHART FORMAT: Want to see these suggestions in a handy chart format? Click here: Spring 2020 Class Chart

Some of these courses have prerequisites; check Course Explorer and speak to your academic advisor about the best courses for you.

ACE 240: Personal Financial Planning. Understanding financial instruments, records, and tax implications is critical for nearly all lawyers.

ADV 310: Intro to Public Relations Introduces the student to the practice and profession of public relations. Course material covers topics such as the history of public relations, the role of law and ethics in public relations, and theories that guide public relations research and practice.

ANTH 160: Contemporary Social Issues considers how anthropological theory and methods enhance understanding of contemporary social and political issues, such as immigration, education, affirmative action, and welfare. Examines the relationship between social policy and social science.

BTW 263: Writing in the Disciplines teaches very practical writing skills for aspiring professionals. This spring’s topic is Cross-Cultural Communication.

BTW 271: Persuasive Writing examines persuasive writing in a variety of contexts including ads, argumentative essays, proposals, and campaigns.

CHLH Community Health 101: Introduction to Public Health and 210: Community Health Organizations are both good options for those interested in pursuing healthcare law.

Communication courses are helpful, as all lawyers must demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills. Here are some examples of helpful courses:

CMN 101: Public Speaking (this is a prereq for most upper level CMN courses)
CMN 211: Business Communication
CMN 220: Communicating Public Policy
CMN 230: Intro to Interpersonal Communication
CMN 232: Intro to Intercultural Communication
CMN 260: Intro to Health Communication (for those interested in healthcare law)
CMN 321: Strategies of Persuasion
CMN 323: Argumentation

ECON 484: Law and Economics Applications of economic theory to problems and issues in both civil and criminal law and the effect of legal rules on the allocation of resources; includes property rights, liability and negligence assignment, the use of administrative and common law to mitigate market failure, and the logic of private versus public law enforcement.

EDUC 202: Social Justice, School, and Society Examines the nature of justice and the dynamics of a pluralistic society to derive a conception of social justice.

ENGL 360: Environmental Writing for students interested in environmental law. Write about food, water, and energy resource systems. Students will also have the opportunity to meet working journalists and to practice professional skills like interviewing, conducting historical research, and drafting pitch letters.

ESE 210: Social & Environmental Issues for those interested in environmental law.

FIN 241: Fundamantals of Real Estate. A survey of real estate finance, appraisal, investment, law, brokerage, management, development and economics. Special attention is given to the analysis of aggregate real estate and mortgage markets, to the individual transactions within these markets, and to the legal and institutional factors which affect these markets.

FSHN 101: Intro to Food Science & Human Nutrition for those interested in food regulation or public policy related to food or nutrition. Discusses the evolution of the food system to meet the needs and desires of a complex, heterogeneous society. Provides an overview of food in relation to nutrition and health, composition and chemistry, microbiology, safety, processing, preservation, laws and regulations, quality, and the consumer.

GEOG 101: Global Development & Environment and GEOG 210: Social & Environmental Issues for those interested in international or environmental law and public policy.

GLBL 260: Global Human Rights Examines how ideas about human rights are defined and how they are differentially deployed. Looks at human rights claims and crises, and examines how governmental and non-governmental individuals and organizations have sought to deal with human rights violations in order to address problems of justice, retribution, and reconciliation at personal, national, and international levels.

HDFS 120: Intro to Family Studies and SOCW 200: Intro to Social Work. Both of these courses may be of interest to students who want to be advocates for families, juveniles, the elderly, or other vulnerable populations.

HDFS 420: Inequality, Public Policy, and U.S. Families for those interested in public policy and/or family law. Includes critical analysis of health care, employment, immigration, family leave, welfare and other social policy options that affect family life and well-being.

HIST 281: Constructing Race in America. Interdisciplinary examination of the historical, cultural, and social dimensions of race and ethnicity in the United States. Explores the complex and intricate pursuit of multiracial and multicultural democracy.

HIST 312: Immigrant America for those interested in immigration law. History of immigration and immigrant groups in the United States from 1830 to 1980. Covers major waves of immigration and focuses on the diverse cultural heritage, social structure, and political activism of immigrants from Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

HIST 442: Roman Law and Legal Tradition. Examines Roman law and legal tradition in the context of historical, political, and social developments; origins of law in primitive and ancient classical societies; surveys development of precedent, codification, and preservation of Roman law, and the impact of Roman law on western legal traditions.

INFO 303: Writing Across Media, a skill that all legal careers integrate and value.

JOUR 311: Media Law. Detailed analysis of the theories of freedom of expression, the legal doctrines of greatest concern to mass communicators, and contemporary issues related to free speech and press, including libel, copyright, and news-gathering in a digital age.

LAW 303: Living the Law This course first applies the legal understanding developed in LAW 301 to situations in the real world, and then explores how the law is viewed through different social science lenses. Students interested in deepening their knowledge of how the law operates in today’s world, and how the law is studied in the social sciences, will benefit from this class. Prerequisite: Law 301.

LAW 305: Art and Cultural Property Law. This course concerns the emergence of “art” and “cultural property” law as a distinct field of legal inquiry and practice. Among the dozens of important relevant issues in this field are the successes and failures of law in policing cultural heritage crimes, the rise of artistic nationalism, cultural heritage as a casualty of war, censorship, and provenance studies.

LER 100: Intro to Labor Studies for those interested in corporate or employment law. Looks at economic, political, and workplace issues facing working people, why and how workers join unions, how unions are structured and function, and how unions and management bargain a contract. Provides a historical overview of the American labor movement, and discusses the contemporary struggles workers and unions face in a rapidly changing global economy.

LER 120: Contemporary Labor Problems for those interested in corporate or employment law. Focuses on problems and challenges facing American workers and the U.S. labor movement. Topics include the deterioration of the labor-management “social contract” in recent decades; a review of labor and employment law; the health care crisis; globalization and cross-border union alliances; and union democracy.

NRES courses that can be helpful for students interested in pursuing environmental law include:
NRES 102: Intro to Natural Resources and Environmental Science
NRES 105: Climate Change Impacts on Ecological Systems
NRES 287: Environment and Society

PHIL 102/103: Logic & Reasoning. Especially helpful for students who have yet to take the LSAT, as two sections of the LSAT are based on logical and analytical reasoning.

PHIL 104/105: Intro to Ethics. Basic exploration of ethics, including the relationship between social morality and the law.

PHIL 107: Intro to Political Philosophy. Introduction to core ideas in political and legal philosophy, for example, rights, equality, political obligations, legitimacy of states, nationalism, and oppression.

Political Science options to gain a foundational understanding of our legal system and its role within broader political structures include the following. Review course restrictions for prerequisites.

PS 220/322: Intro to Public Policy/Law & Public Policy
PS 271: Environment and Society
PS 280: Intro to International Relations
PS 301/302: US Constitution I & II are both helpful primers for law school
PS 313: Congress and Foreign Policy
PS 329: Immigration & Citizenship
PS 370: Justice in the Law
PS 396: International Conflict

PS 491: Internship with the Champaign County Public Defender’s Office. Are you interested in how criminal courts work? Would you like to see an arraignment, a motion hearing, or a real criminal trial? Want to meet with Public Defender clients and help an attorney prepare cases for court? The Department of Political Science and the Champaign County Public Defender’s Office will offer an internship for academic credit in Spring, 2020. In this internship, students will earn 3 hours of credit for their work in the Public Defender’s Office combined with a series of structured academic assignments requiring integration of internship experiences with readings on the political systems, the legal system and constitutional and human rights. This class requires one hour of class time per week, and about six hours per week of work at the internship site. Admission is competitive: We expect to have five openings for Spring of 2020.

To apply: By Friday, October 25, students seeking to participate in the Public Defender Internship Program must submit an application online at https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/2536463. The application consists of a cover letter, informal transcript, resume and writing sample. All of those materials will be reviewed for a decision on acceptance into the program by the departmental internship committee. At a minimum, students seeking to participate in this program need (1) to have completed 45 credit hours by Spring, 2020 (2) with at least one year of residence on this campus and (3) to have earned a cumulative UIUC grade point average of 3.0 or higher. They must (4) have completed PS 101: U.S. Government & Politics and (5) have no arrests or criminal convictions – as an adult or juvenile – or serious campus disciplinary violations involving campus or local law enforcement.

PSYCH 144: Stereotypes, Prejudice & Discrimination

Sociology has a Criminology, Law and Society minor. These courses may be helpful for students exploring criminal legal issues and the criminal justice system on a societal level, such as:

SOC 275: Criminology
SOC 375: Criminal Justice System
SOC 378: Sociology of Law
SOC 479: Law and Society

UP 160: Race, Social Justice, and Cities. Explore everyday racial conflicts in selected cities as expressions of historical struggles for social and spatial justice, across multiple scales. Focus on the governance of routine social practices ranging from policing, to education, to gentrification and memorialization in public places.

More courses to explore different areas of law include the following. Some have restrictions; check Course Explorer.

ACE 403: Agricultural Law
GEOG 210: Social & Environmental Issues
RST 354: Legal Aspects of Sport
SE 400 Engineering Law (only pre-req is RHET 105)

Business classes can provide a helpful foundation for those interested in corporate careers, however, most are restricted to College of Business majors or minors. Some courses will release any leftover seats after a restricted period; check Course Explorer for more details.

BADM 300 Legal Environment of Business
BADM 314 Leading Negotiations
BADM 340: Ethical Dilemmas of Business
BADM 380: International Business
BADM 403: Corporate & Commercial Law

Remember that these are only suggestions and that people come to law school from a variety of academic disciplines. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Courses get added all the time, and many are added after we publish this list. Many other great courses can be found in Course Explorer, some of which have prerequisites. Do additional research and talk with your academic advisor to identify other good options for you.

September LSAT takers: Extended Nov LSAT deadline just for you

September LSAT results are in today. If you took the September LSAT and want to retake, the LSAC has extended the deadline for you to register for the November LSAT through TOMORROW–Tuesday, October 15. (This extension only applies for September LSAT takers…for everyone else, the deadline to register for the November LSAT was Oct. 10.)

You’ll need to make a quick decision, since the deadline is tomorrow. What should you know/consider about the November exam? Here’s an overview (taken from our Guide to Remaining 2019 LSATs).

November 25, 2019 LSAT Details

- IF you are planning to apply to law school this cycle (to enter in Fall 2020), then this is the latest LSAT we advise taking. (Why? The next LSAT isn’t until January 2020, which is getting late in the cycle due to rolling admissions.)
- This exam is on a Monday, but it’s also during our Fall Break, so current students won’t have to miss class. It may be necessary to miss work.
- This LSAT is not offered on our campus, so takers should plan to travel elsewhere. Registering as early as possible will help secure a seat at a strategic location near campus or near home, if you want to avoid hotel expenses.
- For current students–This exam is very close to finals, and LSAT prep will need to be carefully balanced with academic performance throughout the fall semester.
- This exam is disclosed, meaning that test takers will receive a full report of questions answered correctly and incorrectly.

If you decide to retake, then:

Get back to LSAT studying right away. This test is six weeks out, and you’ll want to maximize that time in order to see improvement.
Review your score report carefully from the Sept. exam. What types of questions did you get wrong? Spend your time wisely on improving in those areas.
Explore a different LSAT prep resource than you used last time.
Make sure that you are timing yourself, taking full length practice tests, and taking a mix of paper and digital tests (as opposed to using only paper-based previous exams) to get used to the digital format.

Mark Your Calendars: Week of October 14

Pre-Law Advising Services Events & Services

Pre-Law 101 – Today, Monday, October 14, 4-5pm, Room 514 IUB. This workshop is designed for incoming students who are new to pre-law or are interested in learning more about it. All Illini are welcome. We will cover: What it means to be pre-law at Illinois, course selection, majors, and extracurriculars, building a pre-law resume, and what law schools are really looking for. We will outline a four year plan to maximize your undergraduate experiences in order to make a great law school candidate. We’ll also take any questions about law school and legal careers. Each Pre-Law 101 session is the same, so pick the one that best suits your schedule. Incoming freshmen should attend a Pre-Law 101 prior to setting up an individual pre-law advising appointment. Please register here so that we can ensure we have enough seating and materials.

Go here to check out other upcoming PLAS Events!

Law School/Legal Education Events

Volunteer jurors needed for law students in Trial Advocacy who will hold trials next week! Email Skylar Layman at slayman2@illinois.edu to sign up; indicate which date you’d like. Cookies will be served.
Tues, Oct. 15, 6-8:30 pm
Mon, Oct. 21, 6-8:30 pm
Tues, Oct. 22, 6-8:30 pm

All Illini are invited to hear from Judge John Coady, Illinois alumnus, on Oct. 18 from 2-3 pm in 404 David Kinley Hall. Judge Coady will speak about his career as a state’s attorney and then judge. RSVP here: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/6720206

Illini are invited to join the Federalist Society at Illinois Law for a Minimum Wage Debate on Wed, Oct. 16 at noon in Room D of the Law Building. Lunch will be served.

- Journals, Research, & Scholarship at HLS — Oct. 17
- Clinics & Student Practice Organizations — Oct. 24

NYU Law School Online Info Session–Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 3:00 pm EST. The Office of JD Admissions is inviting all prospective applicants to attend their Online Information Sessions to learn more about the law school application process and about NYU Law’s offerings. The presentations will be a special broadcast of a live information session with an admissions representative. Participants will have an opportunity to submit questions about NYU’s curriculum, student life, and the admissions process via our online chat tool. Click here to register for an upcoming session and to see the entire schedule.

- Applying to Law School: A Strategic Approach — Oct. 17, 4:00 pm (EST)
- The Road to Zero: A Strategic Approach to Student Loan Repayment–Oct. 17, 12:00 pm (EST)
- Financing Your Legal Education–Oct. 22, 4:00 pm (EST)

Law School Open Houses/Admissions Programs

Some schools schedule formal open houses and others require you to choose a date for a visit. Open houses are a great opportunity to visit the campus, sit in on a class, see what the students and professors are like, and a great opportunity to answer all of your questions. Most law schools require you to register for these events. We have listed below some upcoming open houses for law schools in Illinois. If you want to research other law schools’ open house info, you can begin by checking out our list of the law schools that attended the Law School Fair last week. Scroll down the page. When you click on the law school, the embedded link will take you to that school’s admissions page.

ADMISSIONS EXPERT PANEL–All Illini are invited to the Admissions Panel Road Show featuring admissions deans from the University of Chicago, Stanford, Cornell, and Duke law schools today, Oct. 14, 5:30-7:30 at Posinelli in Chicago. To register and find additional details visit this website.

Internships and Jobs

2020 Census Takers Needed

Career Center https://www.careercenter.illinois.edu/

Here are some of their upcoming events:

- - Coping with Cultural Differences in the Job Search –Oct. 16, 5:30-7:00pm, Asian American Cultural Center 1st Floor
  - International Career Festival--Oct. 19, 1:00-5:00 Location TBD. Check the website for updates.
  - Resume, Cover Letter, and Linked In Reviews are offered almost every day. Check the website for times and locations.

Gap Year Job Opportunities for December 2019 Grads

Are you graduating in December and planning on working for a year or two before law school? Are you still looking for a job? Click here to check out the PLAS Compass page to view a list of job opportunities for those of you graduating this December. Current openings include law firm project assistant/junior paralegal positions in Chicago, NYC and Washington, D.C., as well as an entry level project assistant opening with an e-discovery company in suburban Washington, D.C., and jobs with AmeriCorps.

We will continue to post job opportunities for Dec grads and recent alumni on our Facebook page too as we hear of them, so make sure to follow us there!

Also – don’t forget to register for Handshake to check out lots of other listings. If you need a good refresher on how to find and apply for jobs outside of these listed resources, including resume and cover letter tips, you can check out the Career Center’s website. You should also take a look at the PLAS Internship Newsletter, found on our Compass page. Finally – remember to keep checking these resources and links for updated information about job openings as employment opportunities are being updated frequently!

Mark Your Calendars – Week of October 7, 2019

Pre-Law Advising Services Events

Pre-Law 101 – NEXT Monday, October 14, 4-5pm, Room 514 IUB

This workshop is designed for incoming students who are new to pre-law or are interested in learning more about it. All Illini are welcome.

We will cover: What it means to be pre-law at Illinois, course selection, majors, and extracurriculars, building a pre-law resume, and what law schools are really looking for. We will outline a four year plan to maximize your undergraduate experiences in order to make a great law school candidate. We’ll also take any questions about law school and legal careers.

Each Pre-Law 101 session is the same, so pick the one that best suits your schedule. Incoming freshmen should attend a Pre-Law 101 prior to setting up an individual pre-law advising appointment. Please register here so that we can ensure we have enough seating and materials.

Go here to check out other upcoming PLAS Events!

Law School/Legal Education Events

Harvard Law School Online Info Session

Interested in learning some tips about applying to Harvard Law School? HLS has begun offering online information sessions. Some concern the admissions process, others offer insight into campus life, student organizations, and clinical opportunities at HLS. Click here to register for these upcoming sessions, and to see the entire schedule.

- HLS Faculty Session — Oct. 8, 12:00-1:00 pm (EST)
- LGBTQ+ at HLS — Oct. 10, 6:00-7:00 pm (EST)

NYU Law School Online Info Session

The Office of JD Admissions is inviting all prospective applicants to attend their Online Information Sessions to learn more about the law school application process and about NYU Law’s offerings. The presentations will be a special broadcast of a live information session with an admissions representative. Participants will have an opportunity to submit questions about NYU’s curriculum, student life, and the admissions process via our online chat tool. Click here to register for an upcoming session and to see the entire schedule.

- Wednesday, October 16 at 3:00pm EST

AccessLex, a nonprofit working to educate law students about the financial aspects of legal education, invites all who are interested to these free upcoming events. Click here to register and to view their full schedule.

- Financing Your Legal Education–Oct. 7, 9:00 pm (EST)
- Optimizing Your Law School Decisions — Oct. 8, 7:00 pm (EST)

Law School Open Houses/Information Days/Programs

Some schools schedule formal open houses and others require you to choose a date for a visit. Open houses are a great opportunity to visit the campus, sit in on a class, see what the students and professors are like, and a great opportunity to answer all of your questions. Most law schools require you to register for these events. We have listed below some upcoming open houses for law schools in Illinois. If you want to research other law schools’ open house info, you can begin by checking out our list of the law schools that attended the Law School Fair last week. Scroll down the page. When you click on the law school, the embedded link will take you to that school’s admissions page.

Chicago-Kent Law School Open House/Admissions Workshop – THIS Saturday, October 12, 10am-12:00pm

This will be an in-depth workshop on the admissions process and strategies for constructing a strong application. Click here to register!

University of Chicago Law School Open House – Friday, November 1, 9am-1pm

The programs for the Open House will give you a glimpse into life at the Law School: you will attend a class, meet with students, faculty, and staff, and take a tour of the school. Members of the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid will be available to answer any questions you have about applying for admission to the Law School or about the Law School in general. Click here for more information and to register!

Northwestern University School of Law – Super Saturday – November 9

After requesting an On-Campus Interview within your JD application (so you need to submit your application first), the Admissions Office will send you an invitation and you will be equipped to select from available slots for your interview. Go here for more info. Note: Early decision / ED applicants are required to complete an online video interview. Upon submitting your ED application to Northwestern Law, you will receive an invitation to our online video interview portal and guidance for completing this requirement. For additional information on the interview process, visiting the school and other questions you may have, check out the FAQs on Northwestern Law’s website here.

University of Illinois College of Law – Fourth District Appellate Court to Hear Oral Arguments at College of Law – Tuesday, October 8, 10:30am-12:30pm, Room D Law Building

Justice Lisa Holder White, Justice Thomas M. Harris, and Justice Craig DeArmond will hear oral arguments at the College of Law. The judges will hear arguments on a criminal case and a civil case:

10:30 a.m. — Guns Save Life, Inc. v. Kwame Raoul
11:30 a.m. — People of The State of Illinois v. Treshaun M. Jake

This event is FREE and open to the public. For more information, go here.

Marquette University Law School – Open House Saturday, November 16, 9:00am-11:30am, Eckstein Hall, 1215 W. Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI

Tours begin at 9am followed by an Information Session and Student Panel beginning at 10am. RSVP online here or by calling 414.288.6767.

University of Toledo College of Law – Launch into Law Program – Applications due October 31, 2019!

Launch into Law is an immersive, 5-day experience at Toledo Law designed to prepare students from traditionally underserved groups for the law school application process. Learn test-taking strategies for the LSAT, enhance your legal writing skills, and connect with student and professional mentors to explore law school options and legal career paths. The program will be held at Toledo Law January 13-17, 2020.

This program is open to highly-qualified undergraduates at no cost. Space is limited. Students from traditionally underserved populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Selected students will be notified on or before Nov. 8.

Internships and Jobs

ATLAS Internships for all LAS majors. ATLAS internships help students in the College of LAS gain hands-on learning with technology and provide real tech experience. No specific GPA or tech experience required. To apply or for more details visit their website here.

2020 Census Takers Needed

Office of Undergraduate Research

Proposal Writing in Undergraduate Research–Oct. 10, 3:00-4:30 pm. This workshop will discuss the fundamentals of proposal writing, guiding students to formulate successful research projects and explain their research in a concise and compelling manner that is understandable to a general audience. Students will leave the workshop with (1) basic knowledge about research proposals and their structure, (2) tactics and tools to write successful research statements, and (3) a list of resources for assistance in the writing process.Visit the Office of Undergraduate Research website to register.

Career Center https://www.careercenter.illinois.edu/

Here are some of their upcoming events:

- - Finding Your Internship Workshop — Wednesday, Oct. 9, 5-6:00pm, Career Center Conference Room 143
  - Resume, Cover Letter, and Linked In Reviews are offered almost every day. Check the website for times and locations.

New Downloadable Pre-Law Calendar!!

Download the New Pre-Law Calendar!

Staying organized with school work and applying to law school can be a difficult challenge for many students. That is why we have created a Pre-Law Calendar for students to download that will remind you when to work on applying to law school! We have taken the stress off your shoulder and have offered answers to questions such as “when should I start my personal statement?” “when is the next LSAT exam?” and “when should I get my letter of recommendations?” All these answers and more will be available to you on the Pre-law Calendar.

The Pre-Law Calendar is available for ICal, Outlook, and Google Calendar. For students interested in using the google calendar format must follow the additional downloading steps below.

How to Convert ICal to Google Calendar

1. 1. On the left side go to “Other Calendars” and click on the drop down.
  2. Choose “Import calendar“.
  3. Click on “Choose file” and locate the .ics file on your computer. A copy of the .ics file is below. (https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/uiucprelaw%40gmail.com/public/basic.ics)
  4. Click on “Import” and wait for Google to import your events.

Check out some snap shoots of how the calendar works!